A PUBLICATION OF LAFAYETTE GENERAL health
Lessons of the Heart
winter 2014
handed Down
Free Heart Fairs Big News for Expectant Moms
winter 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 Director of Community Relations and Development
Daryl cetnar Contributing Editors
Brian Bille Patrice doucet GUS FONTENOT CAROLYN HUVAL KIM MORSE LESLIE PRIMEAUX RAYMOND RUPERT
Contents 2
UHC Takes Respiratory Award
8
Cover Story: Lessons of the Heart
3
EKG Reading Tells the Tale
10
Tops in Obstetrics
4
New Audiology Test
11
Six Pillar Approach
5 Free Colon Test
12
Partner Spotlight
6
Was Rudolph Allergic?
13
Get Kidney Smart
7
Residency Program
15
Construction Update
(thepulse)
News & Announcements
UHC Takes Respiratory Award
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he Respiratory Therapy Department at University Hospital & Clinics (UHC) was a recipient of the annual Respiratory Therapist of the Year Award, given by the Louisiana Society for Respiratory Care for the Chapter 5 region. Typically awarded to a single therapist, UHC was nominated and won on the merits of its display of quality patient care throughout the acquired management of the former University Medical Center. The Chapter 5 region considers employees at hospitals in Evangeline, St. Landry, St. Martin, Acadia, Vermilion, Lafayette and Iberia parishes. For years, the Louisiana Society for Respiratory Care, a chartered affiliate of the American Association for Respiratory Care, has helped advance the science, technology, ethics and art of respiratory care at a regional level. “To be honored by that Society with the Respiratory Therapist of the Year Award for 2013 speaks volumes for the UHC Respiratory Therapy Department and their dedication to the highest standards of quality patient care,” says UHC CEO Jared Stark, FACHE. Heather Smith, AS, RRT and Manager of UHC’s Respiratory Therapy Department, adds, “To maintain this level of service quality during a transition of management is what teamwork is truly about.”
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Health in General
LGMC a “Guardian of Excellence” When you think of a guardian, you think of someone who watches over and cares for you. Of the growing list of awards received by Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC) in the last three years, few recap their significance in a name as does the Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for patient satisfaction, received in 2013. Given annually, this award is a healthcare industry symbol of achievement. Only topperforming health care facilities are recognized for a consistent ranking in the 95th percentile or above in patient satisfaction, employee engagement, physician engagement surveys or clinical quality performance measures. Press Ganey partners with more than 10,000 health care facilities worldwide, including more than half of all U.S. hospitals, to measure, redefine and improve the patient
experience. Fewer than 5% reach this level of patient care excellence and consistently maintain it for the one-year reporting period. The 2013 award is based on data taken from May 2012 – April 2013. LGMC CEO Patrick W. Gandy, Jr. says the award represents an important recognition from Press Ganey, an industry leader in measuring, understanding and improving the patient experience. “This award represents consistent excellence in patient care from our staff and physicians,” he adds. “We are proud to partner with Lafayette General Medical Center,” says Patrick T. Ryan, CEO of Press Ganey. “Achieving this level of excellence reflects the organization’s commitment to delivering outstanding service and quality. LGMC’s efforts benefit patients in Acadiana and lead to improved patient experiences.”
EKG Reading Tells the Tale
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our heartbeat tells a story. That story can be read by way of an electrocardiogram, or EKG – a painless test that uses the electrical activity in your heart to monitor the rhythm of your heartbeat. An EKG can detect current and past heart attacks, blockages, a thick heart wall, rapid or irregular heartbeat, certain electrolyte imbalances and even changes caused by some medications. To conduct an EKG, a technician places several electrodes on the patient’s chest. The patient lies still for a few moments while the test is recorded on graph paper. “Patients should get an EKG when new symptoms arise, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, discomfort or irregular or rapid heartbeat,” explains Christopher Daniels, M.D., cardiologist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) at Lafayette General. It is also beneficial if you are over age 35 to get an EKG to establish a baseline. EKG’s are also performed before surgery if the patient has risk factors such as hypertension, increased cholesterol levels or diabetes. Dr. Daniels also stresses the importance of carrying a Pocket EKG, a personalized wallet-sized card that provides emergency contact information and medical history on one side, and a personalized baseline EKG reading on the other. “By carrying your Pocket EKG, your health care provider will have a baseline EKG to compare with a new EKG,” he says. The comparison can help your provider determine any abnormal activity in your heart. Some people think they are covered because their doctor’s office has their EKG on file. In case of an emergency, a Pocket EKG card can provide medical
FREE Heart Fairs 2014 Schedule
Everyone gets a FREE EKG Exam (read by a cardiologist), plus a Pocket EKG card. Christopher Daniels., M.D. personnel with much-needed information to determine proper diagnosis or treatment. Time is of the essence, and retrieving an EKG from an office could prove difficult, especially after hours. Free Pocket EKG cards are available by attending any of the Heart Fairs held monthly at CIS at Lafayette General, or quarterly at the Burdin Riehl Center (See schedule for dates).
To register for a free EKG, or for more information, call (337) 289-8600. In 2013, 657 people received free EKG screenings and Pocket EKG cards at the Heart Fairs. In some instances, the Heart Fair discovered critical cases, resulting in life-saving measures to be taken. Since 2012, 1,336 people have been screened, and the EKG has proven to be a lifesaver for several patients. Of those screened, 272 abnormal readings were found, which is about 1 out of every 5 people. The routine EKG found serious heart trouble in some patients who had no symptoms. The cardiologist at the Heart Fair determines if heart activity is normal or abnormal. If the reading is abnormal, the physician will talk with the patient about their condition and course of action.
Monthly Fairs at CIS at Lafayette General 443 Heymann Blvd.
Thursdays • 3:30 - 6 p.m. February 13 March 13 April 10 May 8 June 12 July 10
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 February 22 April 26
August 23 October 25
In partnership with
Health in General winter 2014
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Unique Audiology Test Now at UHC
n important hearing test just got easier. University Hospital & Clinics (UHC) has acquired an advanced Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing system. The test is used for newborn hearing screening, gauging adult hearing loss or detecting other nerve and brainstem damage. The top feature of the ABR system is that no sedation is required. ABR attaches electrodes, similar to those used in an electrocardiogram, to analyze the inner ear and brain pathways for hearing. Previously, such testing required sleep deprivation, then sedation, plus time in the operating room or a one-day stay, particularly for special needs children who were difficult to test. But, with Vivosonic’s Integrity™ V500 System, the patient can be tested while awake or during natural sleep, usually without sedation, and with greater freedom
of movement. With wireless connections, infants can play, be carried, strolled, pacified or even nursed while testing. Adults can rest comfortably in a seated or reclined position. This makes the testing much easier and less risky for patients, and has advantages on the clinical side, too. Results are obtained more quickly and cost effectively, with less rescheduling necessary thanks to better readings. The portability of the system lessens the need to move high-risk patients and can be used bedside almost anywhere. UHC, the only hospital in Acadiana that has two full-time diagnostic audiologists on staff, hopes local physicians will utilize this valuable service for patients.
Cancer Patient is Teacher of the Year
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“
severe case of pneumonia. It eople associate was during X-ray screening cancer with death,” for pneumonia that more says Samantha cancer cells were discovered. Thibodeaux. “But, I see it as Dr. Johnson suggested that another phase of life that, Samantha take a medical leave unfortunately, you sometimes to regain her strength for more have to go through.” That resilient attitude is what — Samantha Thibodeaux, “Teacher of the Year” chemotherapy. News of the teaching award propelled Samantha to major came at a good time. When accomplishments, including with her to make that possible. she was told that she’d been being named “Teacher of the “Dr. Debra Johnson and the staff at selected “Teacher of the Year” at her Year” at Sugarland Elementary School Cancer Center are all so supportive school, Samantha modestly responded in New Iberia. It has also given her and compassionate,” Samantha says. that she was just doing what she the strength to take on her biggest “Every nurse that I met was so good at enjoys—teaching. “I like seeing the challenge yet. what they do.” ‘light bulb’ go off,” she says with a Samantha, a patient at Cancer While undergoing chemotherapy smile. “Their [LEAP] test scores show Center of Acadiana (CCA) at Lafayette and radiation therapy, she was able to me that I’m getting through to them. General, discovered her breast cancer instruct her 5th–graders until August When I can’t reach them anymore, in 2010. Continuing to teach was 2013, when she was stricken with a that’s when I’ll quit.” important to her, and CCA worked
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“I like seeing the ‘light bulb’ go off. Their [LEAP] test scores show me that I’m getting through to them.”
Health in General
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month
Test Colon Cancer at Home
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ear of a colonoscopy has stopped many from being tested for the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the U.S. But, Lafayette General Endoscopy Center (LGEC) has an easy solution. Over the past five years, LGEC has contributed to a rise in colorectal testing in Acadiana by providing free home colorectal screening kits that test for colon cancer. Once again in March, Colon Cancer Awareness Month, the kits will be provided and LGEC encourages consumers to take the “Test for Life.” Pick one up at any one of the
18 Acadiana Walgreens stores. It’s an easy, hands-free test that checks for unseen blood in the stool, which can be an indication of other problems. Simply mail the results back to LGEC and the readings are reported back to you. Now in its sixth year, the program has grown from its first distribution of 100 kits to last year’s impressive count of 2,700. Marsha Williamson, RN, nurse administrator at LGEC, spearheads the program, which began in 2008. “Although the test kit cannot replace a colonoscopy, it’s a good check for people under 50 with no family history of colon cancer, for those who have not had a
colonoscopy and for those who have had one and are not due for another for 10 years,” she says. Williamson credits Walgreens and District Manager Lee Jones for helping bring the campaign to new levels by organizing distribution and providing ongoing publicity during the month. Other key sponsors are KLFY TV 10, which helps raise awareness of the “Test for Life,” and Lowry’s Printing. As part of the campaign, each physician at LGEC is giving away a free colonoscopy in a drawing. Winners get the colonoscopy, which includes physician and facility fees, anesthesia and any pathology services.
Test for Life during Colon Cancer Awareness Month
March 1-31 Pick up your
FREE KIT at any of the 18 Acadiana
An easy, hands-free home test that helps detect colorectal cancer. Call 1-800-854-3002
LGEC.net Health in General winter 2014
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Was Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Allergic?
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hen my son got his first ear infection at eight weeks old, I might have known. Soon after, he had continual congestion. He spent much of his childhood with itchy eyes and nose. Many pictures show him smiling away with a red nose like Rudolph. He lived on Zyrtec and Flovent in the winter months to keep the itching and coughing down and to help him sleep. Teenage years came and, thank God, he outgrew that stuff. Now his biggest medical complaint is a sore pitching arm. Head allergies are common in children, though they are sometimes hard to diagnose. Cold viruses and sinus infections give kids a lot of the same symptoms – runny noses, coughs, itching eyes and noses. Allergies tend to give kids symptoms a lot longer, but young ones in daycares or schools can have long-lasting symptoms, too, because they catch cold viruses one right after the other. It looks like one continuous illness. Chronic asthma sometimes acts like allergies, with continual coughing and chest congestion that doesn’t always wheeze. So, how do you tell the difference? Besides the itchy face, does your child get symptoms with changes in seasons? Is there a history of allergies in mom or dad or other relatives? Do obvious allergic triggers, like animals or dust, seem to make the child sneeze and itch? If it seems like the child has allergies, try an antiallergy medicine. Drugs like Claritin (Loratidine) or Zyrtec (Cetirizine) are pretty effective and safe enough to be bought over-the-counter. If the child gets better in a day or two and stays better on the drug, allergies may be the cause. Some are hard to diagnose, or hard to treat effectively, in which case the
child might need to see an allergist. Your pediatrician or family practitioner can usually diagnose allergies. If the child has lots of eye and nose itching and is always congested, and if there is a family history of allergies, that may be enough. The doctor will often ask for the parent’s help with figuring out the cause – dust, dogs, seasonal pollens in the air, mold? Sometimes parents are asked to keep a journal of when their child has symptoms and where they are at the time. Your doctor can also order blood tests which can confirm an allergy and its cause. If your doctor has trouble figuring out if it’s allergies or if standard treatments aren’t working, that is when the child is referred to an allergist. They can perform more accurate tests to see if the child is allergic, and to what. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the allergist will often go back to the basics for treatment – avoiding the thing the child is allergic to. Avoidance is the mainstay of allergy treatment. If dust is the cause, the allergist can talk to the family about dust control in their home. If it’s cockroaches, they can address that. If medicines are needed, the allergist can help the family figure out what medicine or combination of medicines would be best. Finally, if a child has an allergy that is really hard to avoid and treat, the allergist can design an “allergy shots” program to help the child’s body be less sensitive to the allergen. Shots are safe and effective for the right patient, and can make a big difference in the quality of the child’s life. So, if you think your child has allergies, talk to your doctor. Pay attention to what seems to make your child cough, sneeze and rub his nose and eyes. Itchy faces can be miserable. Take it from my son.
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
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Residency Program Helping Area Thrive
atient care in Acadiana is on the rise thanks to the residency program with Lafayette General Health (LGH). Now boasting two major teaching hospitals, Lafayette is a more attractive destination for future physicians. Residents (medical school graduates receiving extra training) could bring invaluable benefits to the region. Last year, Lafayette General Health expanded the LSU School of Medicine residency program at University Hospital & Clinics (UHC) to include Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC). Studies show that teaching hospitals can offer better care than nonteaching hospitals, and those positive ramifications are being realized. Full-time Orthopedic services at UHC, the primary hospital for the area’s underinsured, were restored after LGH took over management from the State of Louisiana last year. Patients no longer have to leave Lafayette for charitable orthopedic services, explains Kristi Anderson, Director of Medical Education for the LSU School of Medicine program at LGH. “We have two ortho residents as well as a full-time orthopedist who is a Lafayette General employee,” says Anderson. “They provide clinics and surgeries at UHC and do some inpatient rounding at LGMC.” Anderson says LGH is asking LSU to rotate in another resident to help out. Additional service lines are being considered, too. There are around 50 permanent residents at UHC, with an additional 20 or so rotating through temporarily from New Orleans and Baton Rouge. LGMC typically has 18 to 20 residents on staff. The residents span a wide range of service lines, including Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Ear Nose & Throat, Ophthalmology, General Surgery and Obstetrics.
Russell Russo, M.D., (left) and Ryan Bliss, M.D., (right) work as residents at University Hospital & Clinics Anderson says residents raise the esteem of everyone. “It keeps doctors ignited and inspires them to keep up with the inquisitiveness of the residents,” she says. “Many teaching physicians will spend extra time doing additional research.” She says the nursing staff benefits, too. Being an accredited teaching hospital requires staff to observe residents, which reinforces discipline and thoroughness for everyone. The end result is that patients get more attention and consideration by medical staff. As these residents grow and develop, they build relationships in the community. They can help drive the character of an area by fueling demand for cultural arts and entertainment, as well as family-oriented amenities. “The minimum amount of residency is three years,” says Anderson. “So, if you are three years into a community, and you have a family, you get settled in,” she says.
Because residents foster ties with physicians and patients, statistics show that they tend to stay where they train. As more physicians become established in Lafayette, the number of sub-specialties and consumer options will grow with them. Local physicians also get the advantage of recruiting the best students to stay. “Doctors see the better residents and want to keep them,” says Russell Russo, M.D., Chief Orthopedics Resident at UHC. “When you get to work with a doctor for three months, it’s much better than a one-day interview with someone you’ve never met.” Dr. Russo, from Kenner, is in his fifth year as a resident. He says working with local orthopedic surgeons Scott Yerger, M.D., and John Schutte, M.D., has been a great experience for his young career. “The people at Lafayette General make you want to come here,” he says.
Health in General winter 2014
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COVER STORY
LAFAYETTE GENERAL health
HEALTH IN GENERAL
Lessons of the Heart handed Down R
ebecca Boutte’s daughter, Nicole, still remembers her mother’s matter-of-fact words on the telephone last January, “They tell me that I’m having a heart attack.”
Nicole thought, “How could she possibly be having a heart attack and sound so calm?” As unusual as it sounds, Rebecca was actually among the thousands of women who go about their day ignoring the symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
Rebecca Boutte
On the cover Rebecca Boutte (seated center), with granddaughter Paige Boudreaux and daughter Nicole Boudreaux (standing).
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That memorable morning Rebecca was getting ready for work was the third consecutive day she had thrown up. In the weeks prior, the 59-year-old experienced what she thought was heartburn and had taken an over-thecounter medication to relieve the pain — to no avail. In hindsight, Rebecca says she was still looking for more obvious signs of something serious. She only went to the doctor at the urging of her coworkers that morning. Fortunately, a primary care physician examined her that same day and, suspecting heart problems, sent her immediately to Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) at Lafayette General. There, an EKG confirmed 100 percent blockage on the right coronary artery
and 80 percent on the left. In fact, she was having a heart attack in the office! John Patterson, M.D., the cardiologist at CIS at Lafayette General who placed a stent in her right artery, says that Rebecca was very fortunate because women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. Sadly, that’s approximately one woman every minute. Dr. Patterson says that the ratio of male to female heart patients in his office is 50/50. “What happens is that when women hit menopause, their rates of heart attack catch up to men,” he says. “We’re not sure what the
“Now, if a patient comes in with family history of heart disease, a smoking habit, diabetes, high blood pressure or a combination of these, they are put on statins, regardless of their cholesterol number.” — John Patterson, M.D., cardiologist at CIS at Lafayette General exact correlation is, but we definitely see an increase in heart disease after menopause. Researchers thought it was tied to a drop in estrogen levels, but that has not been proven.” What physicians do know is that the symptoms for men and women are different. It’s reported that men go to the doctor or to the ER when they experience pressure on the chest. Women don’t normally feel that classic symptom. They have additional warning signs: stomachache, nausea, vomiting, back pain and unexplained sweating and/or fatigue that they don’t necessarily associate with heart problems, until they have a heart attack. By then, Dr. Patterson says, the damage is done. Consequently, he says a woman’s heart attack tends to be more debilitating or, in many cases, lethal. “Many women fall victim to being the caregivers for their families,” suggests Dr. Patterson. “They run their households and worry about their children and their husbands before themselves. They have a tendency to minimize their symptoms. In the past, women would go to their doctor and mention feelings of heartburn, minimizing the sensation. The doctor would prescribe medication based on their mild description, when, in actuality, it may have been symptoms of heart disease.” Nowadays, women are becoming more educated on the subject of heart disease and, in turn, more attuned to their symptoms. And, primary care physicians are more knowledgeable of vague symptoms that may actually be signs of heart disease. Dr. Patterson and fellow cardiologists credit the American Heart Association
for effectively educating women on being more proactive regarding their heart health. “Healthcare organizations are also doing more screenings and risk assessments than before,” says Dr. Patterson. CIS at Lafayette General holds free monthly EKG screenings, and since 2012, when the heart fairs began, 1,336 people have been screened.
Want a FREE EKG? See more info on pg. 3 Call (337) 289-8600 to schedule.
While an EKG is certainly an indicator of trouble, there is a shifted focus, particularly in physician offices, on cardiovascular risks. New guidelines released by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology change the standards for who should be taking statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs. It is recommended that doctors focus on overall risks to the heart and less on cholesterol numbers. “Now, if a patient comes in with family history of heart disease, a smoking habit, diabetes, high blood pressure or a combination of these, they are put on statins, regardless of their cholesterol number,” says Dr. Patterson. Rebecca’s own risk factors are a prime example of their role in her attack. Her father died of a massive heart attack at 45 and her mother
underwent triple bypass surgery in her 60’s. Three of her four brothers had heart problems and, before her own heart event, Rebecca smoked roughly half a pack of cigarettes a day. The best advice Dr. Patterson offers women on how to avoid heart disease is to stop bad habits, like smoking, and start healthy ones at an early age. He advises his patients to engage in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day, be it a brisk walk, swimming, jogging, tennis or other similar types of activities. Making the time to live healthier far outweighs the consequences. Back to working full time as an account manager for an insurance company, Rebecca enjoys her change in lifestyle. That includes going to Healthe Habits for Living twice a week for exercise and nutrition counseling. She’s most proud to be cigarette free for more than a year. Concerned for her own daughter’s health, given the family history, Rebecca encouraged Nicole to take a Cardiometabolic Risk Assessment. Fortunately, there is no danger of the disease at present. Like her mother, Nicole added exercise to her regimen to help combat risk factors. A mother herself of an 18-year-old daughter, she stresses the importance of good, healthy habits to fend off the heart disease that’s left its mark on Rebecca. With permanent damage to her heart, Rebecca will take five to eight medications daily for the rest of her life – a life that she is grateful each day to have. Her advice for other women: “If you experience unusual symptoms, don’t just chalk it up to stress or heartburn or to getting older. See your doctor as soon as possible.”
Health in General winter 2014
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LGMC Tops in Obstetrics
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omen in Acadiana highly recommend Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC) for Obstetrics services. The news comes after LGMC was recently named among America’s Best Hospitals in Obstetrics in 2014 by WomenCertified®. The award is based on robust criteria that consider female patient satisfaction and what women say they want from a hospital. Among those measures important to women are: quality physician communications, responsiveness of nurses and support staff, cleanliness and trusted referrals from other women. WomenCertified represents the collective voice of female consumers and is a trusted referral source for top businesses and brands identified as meeting the needs and preferences of women. “The America’s Best Hospitals in Obstetrics award recognizes the top 5% of hospitals delivering an outstanding patient experience to moms,” says Delia Passi, CEO & Founder, WomenCertified, Inc. “These elite hospitals set a new level of patient care that
With two lives to focus on, there is no room for anything less than superb patient care.
Lafayette General has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals in Obstetrics in 2014 by WomenCertified®.
LafayetteGeneral.com/Pavilion
10 winter winter 2014 2014Health Health in General in General
other hospitals should aspire to achieve.” Hospitals qualify for this highly selective annual list based on an in-depth proprietary scoring process. This groundbreaking gender-based customer satisfaction study is partnered with The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. “Lafayette General is honored to be named as one of America’s Top 100 Hospitals in Obstetrics,“ says LGMC CEO Patrick W. Gandy, Jr. “Women are the primary decision makers for health care in households, and to earn their approval truly validates the quality of our services and medical staff.” Also this year, LGMC was named one of America’s Best 100 Hospitals for Patient Experience by WomenCertified. In 2012, the hospital was designated a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists and the Surgical Review Corporation. Achieving this status ensures that the safest, highest quality of care is delivered to minimally invasive gynecologic surgery patients.
Six Pillar Approach Brings LGMC to Forefront of Neurosurgery
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ary Ardoin’s first seizure occurred in 1995. They continued relentlessly for years, increasing in severity and repetition despite medications that included their own debilitations. The seizures peaked for the 47-year-old with an episode in June 2013. “My hands and feet were posturing, and I was having seizures in different places,” explains Ardoin. “She doesn’t remember, but she had a brain bleed and had a hundred-plus seizures in three days,” says Ardoin’s caretaker, Jeannine Guilbeaux. “She was very unsteady on her feet, confused, falling down and had very poor short and long-term memory,” she explains. Ardoin’s neurologist referred her to CyberKnife Center Louisiana for consideration of stereotactic radiosurgery (highly targeted radiation therapy) to eradicate the cavernous angioma that had caused bleeding in the brain. In consulting with neurosurgeon Alan Appley, M.D., surgery to resect the angioma was recommended as a more Alan Appley, M.D. effective way to treat her seizures. He asked Ardoin if she would like to be the first patient in Acadiana to try a new neurosurgical technique. Ardoin accepted eagerly. For decades, advances in medical technology have fostered the development of minimally invasive surgeries. Smaller incisions result in less pain and swelling, quicker recovery time and fewer side effects, not to mention improved post-surgery cosmetics. Thanks to new technology available at Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC), some of the most advanced small-opening capabilities in the neurosurgical field are accessible to Louisiana. NICO Corporation™ helped pioneer what is called the “6 Pillar Approach” to neurosurgery, which consolidates new and advanced technologies into a comprehensive system approach to neurosurgery. Utilizing NICO’s instrumentation along with the latest technologies in brain mapping, navigation and optics, a trained neurosurgeon can access deep regions of the brain. Through an opening smaller than a dime, the surgeon can address abnormalities such as tumors, cysts and hemorrhages.
A computerized image of the brain fibers shows the sheath, deployed in conjunction with the BrainPath®, inserted into the brain, part of the 3rd pillar of the 6 Pillar Approach. The sheath allows a neurosurgeon easy access to the surgical site inside the brain.
The six pillars are:
1 2 3
4 5 6
I mage Mapping – Imaging distinguishes healthy and abnormal tissues with improved clarity for trajectory and pathway planning. avigation – With combined technologies (such as scans N and GPS), real-time guidance of probing instruments is facilitated deep inside the brain. Access – A specially designed tip on the NICO BrainPath® component helps guide instrumentation safely between natural folds and delicate fibers of the brain to avoid incisions, and deploys a sheath for open access to the surgical site. tics – A fixed optical device provides a live, high Op definition, fully illuminated view of the opening, free of obstructions. Resection – The NICO Myriad® component is a multifunctional tool the size of a pencil that can remove tissue with high precision and without injuring adjacent critical structures inside the brain. ollection – The Myriad can also collect tissue for postC procedural evaluation, which can personalize treatment options. Collecting viable tissues may also advance regenerative replacement opportunities if the tissue can be cultured, especially as this technology advances in the future.
For Ardoin, the results are remarkable. “Oh my God, awesome,” says Guilbeaux. “It truly has been a life saver for Mary. She had a 15-second seizure the day after the surgery because of swelling, but in the past seven weeks, she’s had one, one-minute seizure, which is incredible!” Guilbeaux says Ardoin is more bright and alert, is sleeping better, has improved gait (balance), with clearer speech. “A complete turnaround,” says Guilbeaux. Ardoin’s neurologist is on the way to reducing her medication, which could help her improve even further. Dr. Appley and LGMC are among the first in the world to use the 6 Pillar Approach. NICO Corp. says about 500 such procedures have been completed worldwide. By the end of 2013, Dr. Appley had already performed three of those procedures. “I can’t thank Dr. Appley enough,” adds Ardoin. Health in General winter 2014
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Pa rtner Spotlig h t
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Long-time Administrator Retires
brom Kaplan Memorial Hospital (AKMH) bid well wishes to its longtime administrator Lyman Trahan, when his retirement became official at the end of January. “Mr. T,” as he was affectionately called, served the hospital and the community for more than 48 years. His career is an inspiring one for those just starting in health care. Trahan began at AKMH in 1965 as a medical technologist in the Laboratory Department, quickly moving up to Laboratory Supervisor. He “wore many hats” at the time, also serving as Director of Ancillary Services and Assistant Administrator. Nineteen years later, Trahan took on the challenge of leading the hospital in providing health care to
Lyman Trahan
Bryce Quebodeaux
rural areas, despite the ongoing challenges in the industry. He recounts his most memorable accomplishment as helping to facilitate the affiliation between Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital and Lafayette General Medical Center in 2002. The hospital welcomes Bryce Quebodeaux as new CEO, effective February 1. Quebodeaux brings much familiarity with the hospital’s goals and objectives to his administrative
responsibilities. After working alongside Trahan during his years in the lab, Quebodeaux followed his mentor into administration, where he’s been the Assistant Administrator for 17 of his 37 years at AKMH. In that time, he has played an integral role in many key initiatives. “I’m proud to lead Abrom Kaplan Memorial in providing the best health care that we can to the people of Kaplan and the surrounding area,” says Quebodeaux. The 35-bed facility has undergone many upgrades and changes, including implementation of the same Standards of Behavior that put Lafayette General on the national map for customer service.
343 The number of parking spaces in the new parking garage, slated to open in late March, for patients and visitors at Lafayette General Medical Center.
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well n ess co rner
Start 2014 Strong, Finish Stronger
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emember that ambition you had at the start of the New Year of getting into shape? Lafayette General’s Wellness Center at the Townhouse offers a program that will help you hold on to that enthusiasm beyond the end of March. In its second year, The Wellness Challenge has benefitted those committed to getting in better shape, inside and out. The six-month fitness program includes: • Minimum of three one-hour fitness sessions per week (three days), which includes a one-hour Group Personal Training Session • Nutritional counseling and education with the Wellness dietitian • Monthly fitness assessments charting height, weight, blood pressure, measurements of the chest, waist and hip areas, body fat percentage and BMI (Body Mass Index). • Blood tests at intervals during the six months Benefits of The Wellness Challenge include improved energy and productivity in the workplace and a decrease in absenteeism. Results speak for themselves — participants have lost a cumulative 1,096 pounds, nearly 400 inches and 269% of body fat! Community Health & Wellness Coordinator Jenny Monceaux says that the program can easily be tailored to meet the needs of any interested group or employer. Classes and education can be brought to those businesses that have the space needed for working out.
For more information, contact Lafayette General’s Wellness at the Townhouse at (337) 289-8480.
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Get Kidney Smart
t’s being called the “Silent Explosion” — referring to the growing number of patients with kidney disease in the U.S. who have no symptoms until they are in crisis. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is generally defined as decreased kidney function for three months or longer. It is associated with patients who have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or an immediate family member with kidney disease. Among people with CKD, fewer than half realize they have it, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Now, through education and lifestyle counseling, Lafayette General Medical
For more information on the Kidney Smart program at Lafayette General Medical Center, call (337) 289-7893. Center (LGMC) hopes to help Acadiana residents in all phases of kidney disease through Kidney Smart, a national program offered free of charge. The program offers classes on causes, prevention and treatments of kidney disease. Patients will learn from expert educators how kidneys function and ways to manage their medication, diet and health. Free classes are scheduled on the
first Thursday of every month from 3-4:30 p.m. in the LGMC Radiation Oncology Department conference room located at 155 Hospital Dr., directly behind the hospital. The Kidney Smart CKD Education Program was developed, written, edited and produced by a multidisciplinary team representing Medical Directors, Registered Nurses, Registered Dietitians, Licensed Social Workers and many others who are passionate about CKD education. In many cases, the content development teams personally experienced CKD, End Stage Renal Disease or kidney donation and/or transplant. Health in General winter 2014
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LAFAYETTE GENERAL health
HEALTH IN GENERAL GALA
The third annual Lafayette General Foundation Gala and Art Auction was held October 3 at the Frem F. Boustany (Heymann) Convention Center. The art auction raised a total of $54,285 for the Foundation. A special performance by MacKenzie Bourg, a Top 20 finalist on NBC’s The Voice, was a highlight of the evening.
Lafayette General’s Community Relations Department received multiple Pelican Awards last November at the 32nd Annual Louisiana Hospital Association Pelican Awards, including the “Best of Show” award for the “I Choose Lafayette General” advertising campaign. Patients who participated in the campaign held their ads (above) at a reception hosted by Russo, the ad agency that coordinated production of the TV and newspaper ads.
On November 16, Lafayette General Health hosted a F.A.S.T. 4K Stroke Run and Screenings, to raise awareness of the risks and warning signs of stroke. The event was well attended, with nearly 300 people coming for the screenings alone.
The 5th Annual Corporate Cup Challenge was held October 26 at Parc Putnam in downtown Lafayette (across from the federal courthouse). Lafayette General Health was the title sponsor of this year’s event, which raised funds for Healing House in support of grieving children.
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Lafayette General Health raised a total of $106,661 at the 2013 Gumbo Cook-off benefitting United Way. LGMC Surgery, dressed as “Dark Dynasty,” won 1st Place in the cook-off held in October.
e t a Upd
Glass windows are now installed on a large portion of the hospital’s new facade.
Blueprints Coming to Life
T
he last quarter of 2013 was a period of major headway for the $52.5 million ER/OR expansion project at Lafayette General Medical Center. Progress was highly visible with the parking garage established, and the exterior of the new wing taking shape. Placement of the pre-cast parking garage was complete in November, with final concrete pours done by the first of the year. Soon after, the installation of the elevator servicing the sterile processing area on the fourth floor was complete. The exterior of the hospital took prominence with construction of the outside masonry walls and fireproofing. January was a particularly transformative month, as metal panels and glass windows were added to the exterior. Primer painting started on the interior of Levels 1 and 2. Testing of booms in the operating rooms was completed. Generators and their synchronizing switches
were set in place and wired into the electrical system. Acoustical ceiling grid and ceramic tile installation were underway on Level 1. By the end of January, the heavy structural work was practically complete, with the exception of the cast-in-place concrete canopy. Much of the owner-furnished equipment (i.e. scrub sinks, cabinets, headwalls, etc.) was delivered. Low voltage cabling was working its way up the building. Upcoming activities include paving, millwork installation, flooring, wall protection and doors and hardware installation. The trauma elevator and the elevator between surgery and sterile processing should be fully installed. Cooling towers and chillers will also be in place. Barrier cables in the parking garage were installed prior to plasterwork getting started there, which should continue toward the garage’s expected completion in March.
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Suddenly, she couldn’t smile.
Fortunately, a loved one suspected she was having a stroke and acted F.A.S.T. Quick action leads to better outcomes and lessens brain cell loss.
Lafayette General’s
Acadiana Stroke Support Group holds FREE meetings for survivors and families the second Tuesday of each month (except December)
3 - 4 p.m.
Lafayette General Medical Center’s Owen Auditorium (1st floor, across from cafeteria)
(337) 289-7740
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LafayetteGeneral.com/stroke