Health in General Spring 2014

A PUBLICATION OF LAFAYETTE GENERAL HEALTH

How Timing Saved Her Life Lafayette’s Top Orthopedic Program Expands LA’s Only Lung Cancer Screening Clinic Opens Brain Implant Steadies Violinist

A Not-For-Profit, Community-Owned Health System

SPRING 2014

SPRING 2014 LAFAYETTE GENERAL HEALTH

HEALTH IN GENERAL

IS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

MEDIA

551 Jefferson Street, Lafayette, LA 70501 www.theind.com

Publisher

ODIE TERRY Advertising Director

DRUE KENNERSON LGH SVP Business Development and Strategic Planning

ALLEN MEADOWS LGH Director of Community Relations and Development

DARYL CETNAR Contributing Editors

BRIAN BILLE PATRICE DOUCET GUS FONTENOT KIM MORSE LESLIE PRIMEAUX RAYMOND RUPERT

CONTENTS 2

Miniature Heart Monitor Implanted at LGMC

3

New Specialist at Cancer Center

4 Partner Spotlight 5 UHC Update 6 Traveling with Children 7 Brain Implant

Steadies Violinist

(THEpulse)

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COVER STORY: How Timing Saved Her Life

10

Orthopedic Program Expands

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Cancer Screening Clinic First in Louisiana

12

Eating Balanced Nutrition

13

LGMC Top Eye Donor

15

Construction Update

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Miniature Heart Monitor Implanted at LGMC Lafayette General Medical Center was recently one of the first hospitals in Louisiana to insert the smallest implantable cardiac monitoring device available.

The Medtronic Reveal LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) System is approximately one-third the size of a AAA battery, making it more than 80 percent smaller than other ICM’s. While significantly smaller, the device is part of a powerful system that allows physicians to continuously, and wirelessly, monitor a patient’s heart with 20 percent more data memory than its larger predecessor, Reveal® XT. Cardiologist Patrick J. Welch, M.D., performed the procedure with the help of Lafayette General’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab staff and with assistance from Cardiovascular Institute of the South at Lafayette General, who helped facilitate use of the technology.

Known as a loop recorder, the LINQ ICM monitors a patient’s heart rate and rhythm, providing an electronic record of anything abnormal (up to three years, if needed). The device wirelessly alerts his or her physician after a patient-marked event or at scheduled intervals. It is capable of transmitting patients’ cardiac diagnostic data to clinicians from nearly any location in the world.

Unlike its predecessors, the Reveal LINQ ICM is implantable without requiring IV’s, sedation or stitches. Placed just beneath the skin through a small incision of less than 1 cm in the upper left side of the chest, it is often nearly invisible to the naked eye once inserted. Another plus, the Reveal LINQ ICM is MR-Conditional, allowing patients to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if needed.

The Reveal LINQ ICM is best used for patients who have cardiac arrhythmia, or have increased risk for cardiac arrhythmias. Symptoms are usually dizziness, palpitation, syncope (fainting) and chest pain.

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WALK FROM OBESITY LGMC and Acadiana Weight Loss Surgery will again host the annual Walk From Obesity on Saturday, May 10 at UL’s Intramural Fields on Cajundome Blvd. The Walk is a national fundraiser by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the Obesity Action Coalition to raise awareness of obesity and to fund research. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m., with registration at 8 a.m. For more information, go to WalkFromObesity.com or call LGMC’s Bariatric Department at (337) 289-8484.

CANCER SURVIVORS DAY Cancer Center of Acadiana (CCA) at Lafayette General will join the nation’s cancer survivors in celebrating Cancer Survivors Day. Although the nationally recognized day is June 1, this year’s celebration will be held Friday, May 30 at CCA from 1-3 p.m. Cancer patients, present and past, along with their families, are invited to share in the feeling of hope and accomplishment stirred by the celebration.

Cancer Center Team Brings In Specialty Physician

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ancer Center of Acadiana (CCA) at Lafayette General is proud to announce the addition of specialist William J. Roy, Jr., M.D., Acadiana’s only Gynecologic Oncologist.

Dr. Roy is board certified in gynecologic oncology and advanced pelvic surgery, with expertise in minimally invasive laparoscopic/robotic surgery. This addition to the CCA staff broadens its scope as a comprehensive regional center for the diagnosis and treatment of many types of cancers.

Dr. Roy comes to CCA having completed seven years as the Medical Director of GYN Oncology at the Cancer Center at Providence in Mobile, AL. He brings some of the most advanced surgical techniques in use today, which are typically only available to patients at large university research centers. In addition to providing excellent

William J. Roy, Jr., M.D.

Gynecologic cancers affect the reproductive organs and genitalia of women. The American Cancer Society estimates approximately 78,290 women will be diagnosed

CONTACT INFO: Mon. – Thurs., 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

1211 Coolidge Street, Suite 100 To make an appointment, call (337) 289-8400 care to his patients, Dr. Roy’s primary goal is to educate the public and local physicians about early recognition of cancers of the uterus, ovary, cervix, vagina/ vulva and fallopian tube so that referrals can be made in a timely manner.

“Early diagnosis and referral to a specialist trained in the complex management of these cancers has been shown to greatly improve a patient’s chances for survival,” says Dr. Roy. He has extensive experience with both benign and malignant procedures.

with a gynecologic cancer this year. Such cancers include cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancers. Gynecologic cancers, like all cancers, can be treated. But, the best chance for long-term survival is based on early diagnosis and aggressive intervention.

Before Dr. Roy’s arrival in Lafayette, access to the closest physician with such credentials required extensive travel, and getting appointments was difficult, often taking months to be evaluated. Now, Acadiana

physicians, and those across Southwest and Central Louisiana, have a much closer alternative to care for their patients diagnosed with cancer.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to practice in Lafayette, making it unnecessary for women to have to travel hundreds of miles away from their homes, families and friends to receive treatment for their cancers,” says Dr. Roy. Some of the unique services Dr. Roy offers include novel treatments for pre-cancers of the vagina and vulva, non-mesh prolapse repairs, complete debulking of ovarian cancers and surgery for advanced endometrial cancers not currently offered in this region.

Dr. Roy is known nationally for his minimally invasive surgical skills, performing procedures for complicated benign and malignant conditions, including robotically assisted procedures.

Most recently, he was invited to perform radical surgical procedures at a teaching conference in Shanghai, China.

Dr. Roy earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. He then completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Louisville, followed by fellowships in Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery at Emory University, Ovarian Cancer Research at the University of Southampton in England, and Gynecologic Oncology at The Yale School of Medicine. He has nearly 25 years experience with laparoscopic surgery and spent the last seven years credentialed with the MD Anderson Cancer NetworkTM. HEALTH IN GENERAL SPRING 2014

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PAR T N E R SPOTL IGH T

Savoy Medical Center, Mamou

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ancer Center of Acadiana (CCA) at Savoy Medical Center held its largest annual fundraiser March 3, benefitting not only financially disadvantaged local cancer patients, but also helping privately insured patients with copays and deductibles. Savoy Medical Center’s eighth annual Mardi Gras Social, held in downtown Mamou, drew 400 attendees for an evening of live music, dancing and great Cajun food. The fundraiser has grown significantly, this year raising $60,000 from numerous sponsorships, ticket and T-shirt sales and

proceeds from a live auction.

Each year, these funds help pay for patient copays/deductibles and transportation to and from the center. “Without this financial assistance, many cancer patients treated in Mamou would not be able to afford the vital care they need to fight this disease,” says Sam Zaunbrecher, Manager of CCA at Savoy Medical Center.

Savoy Medical Center became affiliated with Lafayette General in 2011, when CCA at Lafayette General began managing cancer services for the hospital. A goal of Lafayette General Health is to continue to provide cancer care closer to home for the residents of Mamou and surrounding areas.

Dr. John Rainey, Oncologist at CCA at Savoy Medical Center, and wife Su Su

141,700

Number of medication doses administered, on average, in one month at Lafayette General Medical Center.

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UHC Flourishing Under New Management

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t’s been nearly a year since University Hospital & Clinics (UHC) came under new management. The transition was official in June 2013, but the one-year anniversary will not be celebrated until August 13 due to the launch of an electronic medical record system in June.

Under Lafayette General Health, UHC (formerly University Medical Center when managed by the State of Louisiana) has undergone an impressive transformation, and the improvements are noticeable.

Activity is hopping.

The hospital is licensed for 116 beds, but is currently staffing 50.

That is quite a turnaround after state budget cuts threatened to reduce the number to as few as 10.

The plan is to eventually get UHC to a total of 66 beds. After opening a third operating room recently, UHC hopes to reopen a fourth in the next few months.

Within the past year, the hospital reopened its Medical Detoxification Unit, Orthopedic Clinic and Pediatric Clinic, which were closed under Louisiana budget cuts.

UHC is also in the midst of implementing its Electronic Medical

Records (EMR) system. “EMR will offer patients more coordinated care,” says Glenn Craig, Chief Operating Officer at UHC. “Phase I will incorporate the outpatient clinics and Phase II will tackle inpatient services and financial records,” he says.

UHC is working with the State of Louisiana Glenn Craig, to get total Chief Operating Officer upgrades to at UHC its elevators and replace air conditioning chillers throughout the state-owned building. The hospital is also attempting to secure the necessary legislative funding to expand the Emergency Department. These funding commitments were made by the state prior to the transition.

Under the Lafayette General Health (LGH) umbrella, UHC has access to many more resources.

“We are working with Cancer Center

UHC patients are offered the following clinics: Cardiology Dermatology Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Endocrinology Family Medicine Gastroenterology General Surgery Geriatric Medicine Gynecology Infectious Disease

Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Ophthalmology Orthopedic Pediatric Pulmonology Rheumatology Urology

of Acadiana at Lafayette General to improve oncology services, and getting assistance from cardiologists with Cardiovascular Institute of the South at Lafayette General. Right now, they are recruiting physicians to staff here full time,” says Craig.

Aramark, Inc., is also now in charge of food service at UHC. “We are adding new items to the menu, have expanded cafeteria hours and we’ve gotten a lot of compliments from patients. We hope to continue to improve on that,” says Craig.

LGH has invested over $2 million in facility upgrades and new equipment since the takeover. UHC has new EKG equipment that can do stress EKG’s; a new vascular ultrasound unit; a new nuclear medicine camera allowing for more cardiac and nuclear medicine studies; and advanced audiology equipment that reduces the need for sedation.

LGH is also coordinating the rotation of residents between Lafayette General Medical Center and UHC, Acadiana’s only two Major Teaching Hospitals. That cooperation enabled UHC to continue its orthopedic residency clinic. “We are also working with several colleges and universities to develop programs to provide training for non-physician personnel,” explains Craig, which could help expand clinical services in the future.

While Craig says they still have many more projects they want to undertake, they have accomplished a lot and he encourages people to discover the new UHC. “It’s been refreshing, and we look forward to building UHC’s services to meet the needs of the Acadiana area.”

For more information, call UHC at (337) 261-6000.

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Screamin’ Down The Road – Traveling With Children

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n January 13, 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Joe Stiley, one of the few survivors, saw the crash coming, seeing out his window how the plane was falling to the river. He tucked into the “brace” position and told his secretary to do the same. The plane crashed into a bridge and then into the Potomac. Joe blacked out and awoke with the cabin full of water.

He methodically unbuckled his seat belt, undid his secretary’s and they swam to the exit and to the surface. Joe was one of the few people who read the safety card every time he flew, noting his nearest exit and counting how many rows to that exit.

In disasters like these, surviving comes down to following safety instructions to the letter, immediately. When flying, read that safety card every time. Find your exits. Read how to open the emergency doors. If the oxygen masks come down, put yours on first so you don’t black out before you can get your child’s on. Leave your luggage behind – trying to take it with you slows down everyone else’s exit.

However, don’t be put off from air travel. My family and I love

to fly and it is as safe as sitting in your bedroom. Disasters like Flight 90 are very rare. In fact, the most dangerous part of flying is the car ride to the airport. Most of us drive more when traveling with our families, and cars are much more dangerous than airliners.

So, wear those seat belts and buckle your kids into car seats properly. Check your tires before long trips. Here are a few tips to keep your kids happier so they don’t distract from your driving.

Let them drink only water. If kids drink soda or juice, they will need more bathroom stops. With water, they only drink if they are truly thirsty. Have snacks and entertainment – DVD’s, games, books. On long drives, my family loves books on tape. We so enjoyed Harry Potter that even after an eight-hour car ride, we would sit in our driveway just to hear the end of a chapter.

Hotels are also a safety and comfort consideration. Early one morning in a hotel, the fire alarm went off. Being well trained by their “Emergency” dad, my family popped immediately out of bed and headed for the exit. In fact, Mr. Prepared was the last of the family out, having a little trouble getting my shoes on. We were down

the stairs before “all clear” was called. We were surprised how few other guests had even peeked out to see what was going on. In a real fire, I sure like my family’s chances better.

In her book The Unthinkable, Amanda Ripley shows how people survive disasters. In airplanes, it means following your safety card.

In hotels, it means practicing finding your exit, crawling on your hands and knees under smoke.

Count the doors to the stairwell.

Don’t stay above the fourth floor – that’s as high as Fire Department ladders reach, in case fire traps you in your room.

Again, keeping your kids comfortable in hotels makes traveling more fun. Use that hotel pool! After sitting in a car all day, exercise will help them sleep.

Keep your usual routines – eat together, read bedtime stories, be calm and un-frustrated. Bring comfort medicines – ibuprofen or Tylenol for aches and cough drops for dry throats in dry hotel air. Searching for a pharmacy at night in an unfamiliar town is a real drag!

So when traveling, be prepared.

Review and follow all safety tips.

Buckle up. And don’t forget your bathing suits!

Scott Hamilton, M.D., is a board-certified pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatricians and medical advisor in the dedicated pediatric treatment area within the Emergency Department at Lafayette General Medical Center. Dr. Hamilton currently serves on the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Advisory Council as the Governor’s appointee to the committee to enhance EMSC statewide and is a Pediatric Advanced Life Support course instructor.

His blog is available at ParentsDontFret.net and through a link at LafayetteGeneral.com, where it is accessible to parents anytime, anywhere there is an internet connection.

Scott Hamilton, M.D.

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ParentsDontFret.net

Loren Laing

AN ORCHESTRATED EFFORT TO LET THE MUSIC PLAY

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curious quiet fell over the crowd. A tuxedo-clad violinist crept up to the microphone on stage overlooking the candlelit dinner hall. Uneasy anticipation gripped the softly lit room to see if the once-renowned musician could still play. He could not. His trembling bow shrieked wretchedly across the discorded strings. The effects of his Essential Tremor condition were obvious.

Thankfully, the violinist’s neurosurgeon was standing beside him to reactivate the implant that controls his quivering. Magically, instantly, his tremors ceased.

This time, the violinist gently rests his bow across the varnished vessel, as his fingers calmly shape a chord down the narrow stem. Then smoothly, a crisp, delicate vibrato embraces the apprehensive silence, only to be drowned out by thunderous applause.

Loren Laing was again able to display his passion as a performing violinist with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra.

He was demonstrating his before-and-after condition to the audience at Lafayette General Foundation’s annual Gala & Art Auction last October. Laing, suffering from Essential Tremor his entire life, is walking proof of an advanced neurological procedure.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) involves a brain implant wired to a pacemaker installed underneath the collarbone.

It can be recalibrated as needed, or turned on and off, as Laing had just shown.

Laing says Essential Tremor, a neurological disorder resulting in unwanted shaking, is hereditary in his family.

He coped for years through medications. But, they had grown ineffective.

“In my profession, shaking is not something that works very well,” says Laing. “I’ve been playing the violin since I

was seven. I was losing something I had done my whole life, wondering if my career was over for good.”

Tremors were making simple tasks, such as eating and drinking, difficult. So, Laing started looking for alternatives.

He visited a neurologist, who recommended he seek DBS treatment at a hospital in Birmingham, AL. But, Laing dreaded being away from his family for such a complex procedure.

Thankfully, he learned through his primary care physician, Juan Perez, M.D. (Chief of Staff at Lafayette General Medical Center), that there was a local neurosurgeon, Alan Appley, M.D., who could perform the DBS procedure at Lafayette General Medical Center.

After three standard procedures for DBS and a short waiting period, Dr. Appley activated Laing’s DBS device, which surprised even Laing.

“I have a videotape of the first time I was able to play with just a complete, smooth, controlled bow,” he explains. “It was the first time in my life I’d been able to do that. All these years, I compensated for my tremor.”

Laing has rejoined the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, saying his violin playing is now “better than ever.”

He fights emotion contemplating all he’s been through, and what it took to get here.

“For me, the best aspect of this has been that I was able to have this surgery right here at Lafayette General, in my hometown, where I have my family, my friends, my support group around me,” he says. “I’m just thankful to God for not only bringing me through this whole process, but you can just see the hand of God bringing it all together – How Dr. Appley and Dr. Perez met on that Saturday – things like that don’t just happen for no reason. That was obviously God orchestrating early on what would come to pass.”

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COVER STORY

LAFAYETTE GENERAL HEALTH

HEALTH IN GENERAL

How Timing Saved Her Life

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hen Sharla Terrell first greets you at the door of her home, your eyes tend to make a quick sweep of her body, searching for a pulling of the face, a limply

held arm…any evidence of the massive stroke she had last fall.

Amazingly, the vivacious 57-year old, mother of two, shows no signs of a life interrupted.

Sharla and her husband, Terry, were in the midst of building a new home in Jennings. It was late one August afternoon when they went to survey the construction’s progress.

Afterwards, they left in separate vehicles; Terry returned to their apartment and Sharla went to a local burger joint to grab dinner for the two. “As I was walking out of the restaurant back to my car, I felt this sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate,” she exclaims. “The urge was so intense that I knew I wouldn’t be able to make it back to the restaurant and, the next thing I knew, my body slowly buckled to a sitting position on the concrete of the parking lot!” A restaurant employee noticed her and came to her aid. Seeing that there was something wrong, he called for an ambulance and, at Sharla’s prompting, called her husband.

Acadian Ambulance paramedics arrived at the scene. Among them

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was well-known Cajun musician Jamie Bergeron. Bergeron almost immediately recognized the signs of stroke, which was quickly taking charge of Sharla’s body. He ran into the restaurant asking for a copy of her receipt to note the time it was paid to establish the approximate onset of her episode.

Over 80% of all strokes are commonly caused by blood clots that interrupt blood flow in an area of the brain. A clot-dissolving drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) works by dissolving the strokecausing blood clot and improving blood flow to the part of the brain being deprived. If tPA is given three to four-and-a-half hours from the onset of stroke symptoms, then there is a greater chance of recovery.

Immediate treatment with the drug can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and prevent death.

Unfortunately, the three-hour

window is often missed due to patients delaying their treatment.

The most common cause of delay in getting tPA is the general public’s lack of awareness about stroke signs and symptoms. According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), most people wait up to a day after their symptoms start before seeking medical attention because they simply don’t realize their symptoms, or they’re in denial. Remember, you must act F.A.S.T. Look for a drooping Face (or a crooked smile), weakness or numbness in the Arm or difficulty Speaking and, as Sharla learned, be aware of the Time at the onset of symptoms. Some victims also experience trouble seeing, loss of balance or dizziness and/or a headache with no known cause.

Terry says that by the time Sharla was placed in the ambulance, the entire left side of her body was paralyzed and her speech was almost inaudible.

To this day, Sharla has no memory of that. Not knowing which hospital to choose, the couple relied on Bergeron’s recommendation of Lafayette General Medical Center, an Advanced Certified Primary Stroke Center and Center of Excellence in Neuroscience.

En route to the hospital, Bergeron would frequently make note of how much time remained in that window of opportunity for Sharla to be a candidate for tPA. “He was optimistic

Sharla enjoys time with Bennett, one of three grandchildren. and talked to my wife the entire time,” Terry recalls.

Once at Lafayette General, the ambulance was immediately met by two nurses, who began assessing Sharla’s condition. “She couldn’t recognize objects in pictures shown to her,” Terry remembers. Soon afterwards, a CT scan confirmed the massive blood clot in Sharla’s brain and, with Bergeron’s meticulous reporting of time, she was given tPA. Assessing her family’s medical history, the Emergency Room staff learned that Sharla was a cigarette smoker for most of her adult life. For years, she’s had atrial fibrillation, a quivering or irregular heartbeat that

can lead to heart-related problems.

Her older brother died of stroke and one set of great grandparents also suffered from the disease. The risk factors were there all along, though Sharla never thought that she would be a victim as well.

She was in Lafayette General’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 10 days.

“Being this ill someplace other than home adds to your uncertainty,” says Sharla. “But, the nursing staff was second to none. I remember several nurses by name and their efforts to put me at ease.”

A few days after leaving the ICU, Sharla would begin her road to rehabilitation. Again, she remembers a physical therapy tech who left an impression. “Charles was so patient with me and made me feel comfortable – instead of awkward.”

It’s been nine months since her stroke. Sharla is practically back to normal, thanks to a miracle drug, a conscientious paramedic and a premier stroke center. She remains diligent in doing her rehab exercises twice a week to keep her muscles in condition. “I do leg curls, lunges, leg extensions… I can do it all now,” she says with a big smile. In fact, the only ill affect of the stroke is some loss of peripheral vision in both eyes, which is not unusual in stroke patients.

The ASA says that up to two thirds of people experience some changes to their vision after stroke.

Sharla and Terry attended a ball this past Mardi Gras, and said they had the time of their lives, dancing the night away. “Sharla didn’t miss a step,” Terry says, as he proudly looked at his wife.

Fondly nicknamed “Sassafras” by friends and family members for her spryness, Sharla says jokingly, “I may have lost a little of my fras, but not my sass!”

SPOT A STROKE

FAST FACE

ARMS

SPEECH

TIME

Does the face look uneven?

Can they smile?

Can they lift both arms?

Is one weak?

Is their speech slurred?

Can they repeat a simple sentence?

To Call 911 Now!

HEALTH IN GENERAL SPRING 2014

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FREE Heart Fairs 2014 Schedule

Everyone gets a FREE EKG Exam (read by a cardiologist), plus a Pocket EKG card.

Monthly Fairs at CIS at Lafayette General 443 Heymann Blvd.

Thursdays • 3:30 - 6 p.m.

MayF U8L L LL June F U12 JulyF U10L L August 14

September 11 October 9 November 13 December 11

Saturday Fairs at

Lafayette General’s Burdin Riehl Center 1211 Coolidge Street

2nd Floor (across from the hospital)

Saturdays • 9 a.m. - noon August 23 • October 25

Call (337) 289-8600 to make an appointment.

In partnership with

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A WINNING LINEUP OF ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS

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ncompassing 206 bones and nearly 700 named muscles, the human body is still vulnerable to wear and tear from trauma and the repetitive tension we inflict on it. Just ask any athlete – or waiters who are on their feet all day. While the design of the human body does not change, innovations in orthopedic medicine are necessary to compensate for our rigorous lifestyles.

Some recent shifts in the orthopedic arena have put the spotlight on the newly formed Acadiana Orthopedic Center at Lafayette General. Several of Acadiana’s widely known and premier orthopedic surgeons have joined together, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic disorders in adults and children.

From joint replacements and reconstructions to fracture care, Acadiana Orthopedic Center offers surgical and non-surgical options to repair achy, injured or worn-out joints.

Like all surgeries, knee and hip replacements are generally only recommended after all conservative (non-invasive) treatment options fail to provide relief from symptoms.

With a conservative treatment approach, some patients can avoid the need for surgery for several years; early diagnosis is the key, though. Exercise and physical therapy are often the first-line approach. Weight loss, in many cases, helps to relieve the stress on the hip. Braces are another tool that provide stability and relieve pressure and pain.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs to reduce both the pain and swelling caused by arthritis.

For those times, however, when surgery is the only available option,

The Physicians of Acadiana Orthopedic Center at Lafayette General: John Schutte, M.D. Scott Yerger, M.D. J. Lee Leonard, M.D. Stanley Foster, M.D. Call (337) 233-5300 Angela Mayeux-Hebert, M.D. Adam Kennedy, M.D. Call (337) 235-1600 Coming in August Blaine Walton, M.D. Jeff Witty, M.D. Call (337) 233-5300

Acadiana Orthopedic Center offers incredible advancements.

Consider the option for a knee replacement contoured to specifically address anatomical distinctions between a man and woman’s knee. For younger or more active patients, much progress has been made to extend the wear of artificial implants.

In the area of sports health, athletes can expect to see the program grow to a level of national prominence with the addition of fellowship-trained sports health orthopedic surgeons at Acadiana Orthopedic Center at Lafayette General.

Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC) is also expecting to gain a Level II trauma designation, while further enhancing its services with the addition of two more orthopedic surgeons in the fall.

By combining the skills of the best orthopedists and utilizing best practices, patient stays at Lafayette General are shortened, lowering the risk of complications. The average length of stay at LGMC for a total knee replacement is 2.21 days and just 2.34 days for a total hip replacement surgery. The national average is 3.5 days for either knee or hip replacement.

Check the Survey of Patient Experiences at medicare.gov/ hospitalcompare.

LUNG CANCER SCREENING CLINIC IS FIRST IN LOUISIANA

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here’s a spot on your lungs we’d like to have looked at.” Chilling words uttered too often by physicians across Louisiana. Lung cancer will be the second-most diagnosed cancer in the state this year (it is sometimes first), and is one of the most lethal types of all cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. When a doctor wants a spot on the lungs tested, there is now only one number to call.

The new Lung Mass Clinic at Cancer Center of Acadiana (CCA) at Lafayette General Medical Center has assembled a group of top physicians dedicated to handling potential lung cancer cases. Such a dedicated practice is the first and only one of its kind in Louisiana.

When any Louisiana primary care physician recommends a lung examination, they only need to call the Lung Mass Clinic, and CCA takes it from there.

“This is the next level of evolution for our cancer center,” says Craig Ortego, Vice President of Cancer Services for Lafayette General Health. “The whole intent is to get the patient seen quickly, get them diagnosed quickly and get treatment started as soon as possible. Early detection is the key,” says Ortego.

Once at the Lung Mass Clinic, the patient has access to the largest range of diagnostic testing available under one roof in Louisiana, says Pulmonologist Gary Guidry, M.D. “Every modality available is done at our clinic,” says Dr. Guidry.

Ortego says CCA’s amenities help make it the ideal set-up.

“Patients referred to the Lung Mass Clinic get access to all of the resources of CCA, such as a patient navigator, a dietitian, social worker, psychologist and our entire support staff,” he says.

Even if a patient’s biopsy comes back as benign, the patient can remain with a pulmonologist from the clinic into the next phase of treatment. “We get people in quickly, we see them, get them diagnosed and either get a procedure done or get them to the proper place,” says Dr. Guidry. “There’s no reason to travel to different locations across town or out of the area. Any advanced testing or procedure can be done right here at Lafayette General Medical Center,” he says.

The Lung Mass Clinic came about through a two-year orchestrated effort between CCA and Dr. Guidry. He recruited additional pulmonologists to assemble the manpower required to launch such a specialized clinic. The clinic is currently comprised of Dr. Guidry and Dwayne Brown, M.D., Jody Rosson, M.D., Brad Broussard, M.D., and Javier Dieguez, M.D. As Lafayette General Health strives to improve population health, it needed a facility capable of handling the caseload for the entire region. “Modern imaging allows for a lot more spots to be identified early, which increases the number of referrals, even when they turn out not to be cancer,” says Ortego.

There are currently two days of clinics and two days of procedures scheduled each week. But, as the new clinic grows, additional clinical days are expected.

From left to right, G. Gary Guidry, M.D., W. Dwayne Brown, M.D., Brad A. Broussard, M.D., B. Jody Rosson, M.D., and Javier F. Dieguez, M.D. (See back cover ad for details on the Lung Mass Clinic.)

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N U T RITIO N

EATING RIGHT IS A BALANCING ACT

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he “food pyramid” was once an iconic visualization of a proper diet. But, the United States Department of Agriculture replaced the pyramid with new guidelines – a diet based on a balance of food types, calories, portions and exercise (ChooseMyPlate.gov). The U.S. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion recommends that every meal include fruits, grains, vegetables and proteins, with low-fat dairy or water to drink.

Finding the right diet is really up to the individual, depending on personal goals, daily activities and body types.

“MyPlate is to help people get the most benefit for the nutrition they consume,” explains Sarah Romero, a Registered Dietitian at Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC).

“This way, people can look at their plate and portion out the proper amount of carbs, from fruits and grains, and other things like proteins and low carbohydrate vegetables.”

Carbohydrates are compound

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sugars that primarily store energy, among other roles, and are commonly found in grains, fruits and vegetables. Highly processed and refined foods (sweets, breads, pastas, cookies, soft drinks) tend to be high in carbohydrates, while unrefined foods (beans, rice and natural fruit) are usually lower in carbs.

Proteins help catalyze chemical reactions and also nourish muscle and tissue throughout the body.

Proteins come from a variety of meats, dairy and plant sources such as beans, nuts and seeds.

Finding the right portion of proteins and carbohydrates is the ultimate harmony that individuals must find for themselves.

For a person into fitness and bodybuilding, Romero suggests a diet high in protein and low in fat.

People who just want to eat healthy or lose a little weight need to watch their portion sizes. “You don’t want to cut out any food group.

It’s all about moderation,” says Romero.

To lose weight, a person must burn more calories than they ingest, either by burning them off through exercise, or by consuming fewer of them.

New federally mandated food labels can help track calorie intake.

A typical daily dose of calories for women ranges from 1,400-1,500 per day, and 1,800-2,000 for men.

To lose as much as 20-30 pounds, Lafayette General offers a Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program. Participants get constant professional support at LGMC’s Wellness at the Townhouse fitness center.

Eating right should start young.

“Make sure kids are getting enough carbs and protein, a lot of fruits and vegetables and whole grains – a lot of variety,” says Romero. “You don’t want to put a kid on a diet unless it’s medically necessary.”

Romero also stresses avoiding empty calories found in junk foods and sugary drinks.

A proper diet leads to good health, and it’s never too late to start.

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LGMC TOP EYE DONOR PARTNER

instrumental in organ, tissue n April, Lafayette General and eye donations is so vital to Medical Center (LGMC) was Lafayette General’s mission, To presented with Southern Eye Restore, Maintain and Improve Bank’s (SEB) 2013 “Gift of Sight” Health,” says LGMC CEO Patrick Hospital of the Year award. This W. Gandy, Jr. award is presented to a partner Additionally, LGMC works hospital that has facilitated SEB’s closely with Louisiana Organ mission of saving and restoring Procurement Agency (LOPA) in eyesight. The Hospital of the securing other organ donations.

Year extends exemplary support As a result of the collaboration and care to grieving families as between LGMC and LOPA last they make end of life decisions year, 74 organs were recovered for their loved ones. LGMC William B. Buras, Sr., SEB, Patrick W. Gandy, Jr., LGMC CEO, Joy Fragola, SEB and transplanted, saving 74 lives. demonstrated its commitment to Most of these organs stayed in partnership through a professional the Acadiana region, having a tremendous impact on the and caring staff, while exceeding federal regulations. local community.

Last year, LGMC helped 49 families make the In operation for more than 65 years, Southern Eye Bank compassionate decision to donate ocular tissue. Their processes and distributes donor tissue for ocular surgery gifts helped to restore sight to 70 people in need of corneal transplants and affected countless others through donations and research-based needs. Their service area extends for research. throughout 25 parishes and over 138 hospitals. Last This is the fourth time LGMC has received SEB’s Hospital year, 623 families from that area said “yes” to the gift of the Year award since the award’s inception in 2009. “Being of sight.

FREE Support Groups Acadiana Stroke Support Group.

The Acadiana Stroke Support Group is for survivors and families, to provide hope and understanding on the road to recovery. For more information, call

(337) 289-7740.

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group. Lafayette General Medical Center’s comprehensive weight loss surgery program offers support groups to any patients who have had surgery, or to those who are scheduled to have surgery. For more information, call

(337) 289-8484.

Lullabyes Bereavement Support Group. This support group is for parents

offered at Lafayette General Medical Center

through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or newborn death. For more information, call

(337) 289-7782.

Mark your calendar for Lafayette General’s annual

Parents of Multiples Support Group. This support group is for parents of multiples of all ages, including those pregnant with multiples. For more information, call

(337) 289-7780.

Acadiana Ostomy Association Support Group. This support group offers support to enhance the quality of life for persons living with an intestinal or urinary diversion. For more

information, call (337) 289-7587.

who have experienced the loss of a baby

Visit LafayetteGeneral.com for dates and times.

Save the Date 2014 Gala & Fundraiser October 2

Lafayette Hilton & Towers For ticket information, call (337) 289-8950.

HEALTH IN GENERAL SPRING 2014

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LAFAYETTE GENERAL HEALTH

HEALTH IN GENERAL

Lafayette General Medical Center opened its new parking garage March 28, offering 343 new parking spaces for patients and visitors. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held March 27 to mark the occasion. The hospital’s ER route remains unchanged and should still be accessed from Hospital Drive between Coolidge Street and Girard Park Drive.

Ragin’ Cajuns student-athletes delivered Valentine’s Day cards and gifts to patients in Lafayette General Medical Center’s Pediatric Unit and to new moms at the Pavilion for women and children.

Members of Lafayette’s hockey team, the Louisiana IceGators, visited Lafayette General Medical Center on March 19. The hockey players gave out teddy bears to patients staying in the Pediatric Unit as a goodwill gesture.

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SPRING 2014

HEALTH IN GENERAL

St. Martin Hospital employees participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure held March 15 in Lafayette.

The Lemoine Company worked overtime to keep Lafayette General Medical Center’s construction project on schedule so that the parking garage could open prior to the Zydeco Marathon on March 30. In appreciation of their efforts, a small party was held with cupcakes and refreshments to thank and recognize the workers.

Acadiana Symphony Orchestra held their annual Madhatter’s luncheon fundraiser on March 17 at River Ranch. Lafayette General Health was again a sponsor of the event, which raised money for the children’s concert series. Pictured (l-r): Johanna Villarreal, Sharon Moss, Madhatter Cameron Foreman, Patrice Doucet, Theresa Bodker and Marcy Anderson. In addition to its sponsorship, LGH raised $360 that day for the children’s concerts.

E T A D P U

Landscaping adds accent to the nearly finished exterior of the new ED/OR platform.

Getting Close!

S

Construction Entering Final Stretch

pringtime saw progress blossom on the $52.5 million ED/OR expansion project at Lafayette General Medical Center. On March 27, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to open the new parking garage, providing 343 new spaces for hospital patients and visitors. The exterior of the expansion also showed some flair with the installation of exterior glass windows, a new logo and finished façade on the trauma elevator tower and some landscaping along South College Drive.

Construction remains on schedule with a targeted “go live” date of late April for the new Emergency Department. The targeted “go live” date for the surgical platform is still early June.

By the end of March, flooring was complete and final painting was ongoing on Level 1. Installation of new elevators servicing Sterilization was completed and the Trauma elevator was being installed. Millwork installation

was completed on Level 1 and ongoing on Level 2.

Acoustical ceiling tile installation was nearly complete on Level 1 and underway on Level 2. Wall protection, interior doors and headwall installation were completed on Level 1 and ongoing on Level 2. Concrete site work was wrapping up and the expansion of the concrete canopy was completed.

The existing Emergency Department will be turned over to The Lemoine Company in early May for renovation with anticipated completion in early October. During the renovation, the current traffic route to the hospital’s emergency room (ER) remains unchanged. The ER should still be accessed from Hospital Drive between Coolidge Street and Girard Park Drive. FREE valet parking services will continue at the ER drop-off location.

Traffic entering the new parking garage will not be able to access the Emergency Room driveway, and signage will direct pedestrians from the garage to the ER entrance.

HEALTH IN GENERAL SPRING 2014

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Abnormal Chest X-rays

GET FAST ATTENTION. Suspicious spots that show up on a chest X-ray can be early indicators of cancer.

Quicker diagnosis of lung cancer means earlier treatment, and chance of a better outcome.

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For that reason, Cancer Center of Acadiana at Lafayette General has created the Lung Mass Clinic—the only dedicated lung cancer center in Louisiana.

SPRING 2014

HEALTH IN GENERAL

Quick appointments.

Fast assessments.

If you have an abnormal chest X-ray or other lung concerns, call

(337) 704-2050.

Physician referrals are recommended, but not necessary.

Lung Mass Clinic

LafayetteGeneral.com