Health in General Winter 2015 by Lafayette General Health

A PUBLICATION OF LAFAYETTE GENERAL HEALTH

WINTER 2015

A Unique Place for Fitness

New Option for Same-day Surgery Easy In-Home Cancer Screenings

A Trucker's

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

WINT ER 2015 LAFAYETTE GENERAL HEALTH

HEALTH IN GENERAL

IS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 551 Jefferson Street Lafayette, LA 70501 phone 337.988.4607 fax 337.983.0150 MEDIA

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

CONTENTS 2

News & Announcements

Relief for Tendon Injuries

Partner Spotlight

Acadia General Partners with Schumacher Group Acadia General Hospital (AGH) has partnered with Schumacher Group to staff its Emergency Room providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) – effective since October. Schumacher Group is one of the nation’s largest health care resource providers. AGH hopes Schumacher, a Lafayette-based Emergency and Hospital Medicine group, will help improve patient flow, efficiency and overall satisfaction. AGH has incorporated some of the systematic approaches developed at the thousands of contracted providers Schumacher serves nationwide. Schumacher also staffs ER providers at Lafayette General Medical Center, University Hospital & Clinics and St. Martin Hospital. Heather Harper, CEO at AGH, is glad to have Schumacher on board and says the hospital will continue to explore industry best practices to provide faster, safer care to its emergency patients.

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10 New Option for Same-day Surgery

5 A Unique Place for Fitness 11 Teamwork Gets Baby Home 12 Weight Loss Program Pays Off 6 Nutrition — For Life! 13 Easy In-Home Cancer Screenings 7 LGMC, LGSH Earn 14 Blue Cross Covers ER Visits Excellence Awards

(THEpulse)

COVER STORY: 8 A Trucker's Lifesaving Detour

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Bouquet joins ASHRM board Sheena Bouquet, Assistant Vice President of Lafayette General Health’s Human Resources Department, has been appointed to the board of the Acadiana Society for Human Resource Management (ASHRM). With over 300 members from over 250 Acadiana businesses, ASHRM is a non-profit professional association of human resource (HR) professionals focused on advancing the profession and supporting business growth in Acadiana. Managing the chapter’s community outreach efforts, Bouquet will coordinate education opportunities for HR professionals and businesses in the area.

New treatment available for tendon-related injuries

iagnostic Radiologist Daniel Harlin, M.D., is offering a new minimally invasive treatment at Lafayette General Medical Center that quickly and safely removes the source of tendon pain. Tenex Health TX™ is a treatment option for tendon and soft tissue injuries such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, jumper’s knee, Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. Until now, painful cortisone shots given repeatedly or open surgery were the most common remedies available. The Tenex TX procedure is performed in about 20 minutes in a non-surgical setting using a local anesthetic. “I am extremely pleased with the results I see in my patients treated with Tenex Health TX,” says Dr. Harlin. “They report experiencing a nearly painless treatment, a quick recovery and lasting pain relief.” Only a small incision is required to allow a small instrument, about the size of a toothpick, to deliver ultrasonic energy designed to remove damaged tissue. The incision is closed using only a Band-Aid®, and no stitches are required. Tenex Health TX is performed using a local anesthetic to numb the area – patients are awake and alert the entire time. During the treatment,

sophisticated ultrasound imaging is used to identify the location of the damaged soft tissue. Once located, a small MicroTip™ is inserted into the damaged tendon. The instrument delivers ultrasonic energy specifically designed to cut, break down and remove damaged tissue safely and quickly, without disturbing the surrounding healthy tendon tissue. Currently, over 10 million people in the United States suffer from severe pain due to damaged tendon tissue, which limits their range of motion and keeps them from living an active life. Common treatment options such as rest, pain medication, cortisone injections or physical therapy address the pain, but not the damaged soft tissue – the source of tendon pain. An open surgical procedure removes the damaged tissue but carries the risk of invasive procedures, including damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and a lengthy recovery time with restricted activity. Unlike conventional treatment methods, Tenex Health TX replicates the goal of an open surgical procedure by removing the damaged tissue, but in a minimally invasive

Daniel Harlin, M.D.

manner. The procedure usually takes 20 minutes or less, requires only a small adhesive bandage to close the micro-incision, and offers quick recovery time for patients, usually within six weeks or less. For more information, call Dr. Harlin’s office at (337) 284-0166 or visit LafayetteGeneral.com/tenex.

HEALTH IN GENERAL WINTER 2015

PAR T N ER SPOTL IGH T

Opelousas General Health System

ollaboration between health care providers can have dramatic positive effects on an independent hospital trying to maintain high quality health care services. In 2011, Opelousas General Health System (OGHS) recognized that sharing clinical and operational best practices with Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC) was a way of creating more efficient care, and even better outcomes. Among the patients in St. Landry Parish who have reaped the benefits from that alliance are those with cardiac disease. LGMC and OGHS’s shared relationship with Cardiovascular Institute of the South has expanded resources, training and evidence-based clinical practices, maximizing the delivery of quality, cost-effective care. Sharing best practices with a certified stroke center like LGMC means access to the best treatments for stroke patients arriving at the ER. This offers stroke patients a better chance for good outcomes. Advances in health information technology have also blazed new trails for OGHS. LGMC and Opelousas General were the first hospitals in the state to utilize Louisiana Health Information Exchange, providing timely patient information to providers across parish lines. For the past two years, LGMC and OGHS have been recognized among the nation’s “Most Wired”

hospitals, using health information to improve performance. This February, OGHS will begin to take advantage of significant discounts by participating with LGMC, and other affiliate hospitals of Lafayette General Health (LGH), with large group purchases of medical supplies and services, further reducing costs in the delivery of care. “With our combined efforts and resources, we look to greatly improve health outcomes, access to care in the St. Landry Parish area, and patient, physician and employee satisfaction,” says LGH President David L. Callecod, FACHE.

$120,000

Record amount raised by Lafayette General Health for United Way Campaign — a 12.5 percent increase over last year. 4 WINTER 2015

HEALTH IN GENERAL

WELLNESS AT THE TOWNHOUSE CAN GET YOU FEELING FIT

here’s no shortage of fitness centers across Acadiana. But, one place offers unique advantages that appeal to a variety of people looking to get in shape. Lafayette General Wellness at the Townhouse is a fully equipped and fully staffed gym offering several classes and programs that fill a variety of needs, from intense workout and body building to very light and low-impact exercise. Wellness at the Townhouse is professionally staffed during all hours of operation to provide specific services for its members. That staff includes: •E xercise physiologists, who prescribe exercise regimens targeting different needs, from heart rate to exertion levels •P ersonal trainers, male and female, offering one-on-one instruction as well as classes •E xercise techs, available to all members to answer questions about equipment and techniques •A registered nurse to check blood pressure and answer questions pertaining to medications or medical problems •D ietary advisor, who assists with advice on food and nutrition Several other classes are available to accommodate all types of fitness patrons, spanning a full spectrum of styles and goals, from mild aerobics, toning and cardio focus, high-intensity strength and endurance training, to power fitness and agility workouts. Promoting good health through education, attention to lifestyle and specialized physical activity is important to Lafayette General Health, which is why Wellness at the Townhouse is capable of working with patients dealing with a range of debilitations and

Lafayette General Wellness at the Townhouse, located at 111 Pasa Place (next to the Heymann Center), offers convenient hours and special passes for guests and visitors. To obtain a schedule of group classes, get membership rates or for any other information, call (337) 289-8585 or visit LafayetteGeneral.com/wellness.

ailments, such as cancer, diabetes and cardiac rehab. For corporations and businesses that want a healthy workforce, Wellness at the Townhouse can

customize programs to address employee health. Members of the Wellness team will travel to offices for consultations and work directly with employees.

Popular Classes at LGMC's Gym CROSS TRAIN – a milder version of the high intensity workout CrossFit FOREVER FIT – targeted to people ages 60 and over, this class offers exercises that are modified and suitable for people with medical issues WEIGHTLIFTING BASICS – teaches basic weightlifting techniques to beginners and instructs members how to use equipment and the best use of equipment YOGA – a multitude of yoga styles are available in group classes, ranging from slow, flowing postures and breathing (some tailored to cardiac patients) to energetic, tension-releasing methods

HEALTH IN GENERAL WINTER 2015

Nutrition – For Life! This week’s guest columnist is Dr. Allan Olson, a Family Medicine resident at University Hospital & Clinics. Dr. Olson is 61 years old, yet is on the long, stressful road of residency that makes a doctor. How does he do it? He takes care of himself with a healthy diet. And there is no better time to learn to eat right than as a kid.

ow can parents have the biggest effect on their children’s health? Providing a safe environment and promoting physical activity top the list. However, the greatest potential involves something we do every day – eating. Nutrition is a huge opportunity to help your kids feel good and be well prepared for their day. Your guidance will create habits to ensure good health for their whole lives. What foods are best? Whole food, plant-based nutrition provides the maximum benefits. This means a diet consisting of vegetables and fruits and less animal products (meat and dairy). Avoiding fast food and processed food (any food from a factory) is also important. These contain too much fat, sugar and salt. For many, this is a major change, so it is important that it happens gradually. The key is to begin selecting foods that consist of plant products that have not been fried or processed, frozen or boxed. Start using these foods in your family’s diet, and they’ll eventually meet the majority of your needs. Food choices can influence whether kids develop certain chronic diseases. Childhood obesity has become much more common, as have diabetes, asthma and constipation. Studies show most obese children become obese adults, and can expect to develop adult diseases early in life, like high blood pressure and heart disease. While many factors lead to these diseases, food is among the most important cause – and the most effective cure! Two examples of how diet influences health and illness: Constipated children are cured when milk is

removed from their diet, and fruits and vegetables are added. Milk and cheese are not a necessity for a healthful diet in children and adults. Asthma, another example, is very common in children. Asthmatic airways are inflamed and breathing becomes difficult, causing kids to wheeze. Kids with asthma often have runny noses and itchy skin. These can be treated with medications, but we are finding that, in many children, they can be prevented with a plant-based diet. Specifically, antioxidants in plant foods seem to both prevent and treat inflammation in allergy and asthma. Food companies have seized this idea and now manufacture foods with added antioxidants, touting them as healthier. However, antioxidants in processed foods are much less effective than in whole foods. Whole foods must be eaten to get the health benefits, and natural foods contain other beneficial components besides antioxidants. Here are some more hints. Breakfast really is the most important meal. Be sure your kids eat it every day, if only some fresh fruit. Have your kids eat at home, at the table, with the whole family. This is an important social time for families, and you can be certain your kids are eating right. Avoid sugary drinks – even those that are sugarfree or artificially sweetened. Sugar-free drinks do not keep off the pounds! The best drink is water, though some sports drinks are okay for electrolyte replacement while exercising, or if your child is sick with vomiting and diarrhea. Finally, eating should be fun! Invite your kids to help plan meals based on plants. Include their ideas in selection and preparation. Make trying new foods an exciting challenge. Your children may need to try a particular food a dozen or more times before they like it. Your diet changes will help shape their choices for life!

Scott Hamilton, M.D., is a board-certified pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatricians and medical advisor in Lafayette General Medical Center's dedicated pediatric treatment area within the Emergency Department. Dr. Hamilton 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

LGMC, LGSH RECEIVE EXCELLENCE AWARDS

afayette General Medical Center (LGMC) and Lafayette General Surgical Hospital (LGSH) were announced as 2014 winners of two prestigious awards from Press Ganey Associates, Inc. The two hospitals each won the 2014 Guardian of Excellence Award and 2014 Beacon of Excellence Award for Patient Experience. The awards recognize the nation’s top-performing health care facilities that consistently achieve the 95th percentile in patient experience, and consistently maintain a high level of excellence for three consecutive years. The Beacon of Excellence recognition is awarded to three topperforming organizations by category. LGMC and LGSH were chosen in their respective categories determined by

their demographic profiles. The top three performers in each category are based on their overall composite mean scores for a three-year award period, using data from May 2011 to April 2014. Only 45 organizations won the award nationwide, and Lafayette is now home to two of them. The Guardian of Excellence Award is a nationally recognized symbol of achievement in the healthcare industry. It honors those who

consistently sustain performance in the top 5% of all Press Ganey clients during the performance year. According to Lafayette General Health President David L. Callecod, FACHE, the awards represent important recognition from the industry leader in measuring, understanding and improving the patient experience. “We continue to work hard at making the patient experience at our facilities the best they can be,” says Callecod. “What this shows is that we have consistently achieved a high level, even amongst the very best in the nation,” he says. LGMC CEO Patrick W. Gandy, Jr., and LGSH Administrator Carrie Templeton accepted the awards for their respective facilities.

UHC OFFERS PEDIATRIC SPEECH THERAPY AND AUDIOLOGY SERVICES

niversity Hospital & Clinics (UHC) is touting its Pediatric Speech Therapy and Audiology services, and for good reasons. UHC offers experienced full-time speech therapists and audiologists who specialize in pediatric therapy and testing. Audiologist Sherry Mouton and speech therapist Tammy Marks both have 16 years’ experience treating patients. Our Audiology team has experienced clinicians that specialize in pediatric hearing exams and hearingaid fittings. UHC’s Speech Therapist specializes in treating patients with Autism and developmental delays and has great success with patients carrying over the learned skills to everyday life. UHC is also one of the

only facilities in Acadiana with the specialized equipment and training to offer non-sedated ABR testing for special needs children or those who are difficult to test. UHC’s pediatric speech therapy and audiology services are provided in a comfortable, kid-friendly environment and can be scheduled as early as 7:30 a.m., five days a week. Parents or guardians are allowed to be present with the child during audiology testing, and same-day results are provided. Immediate appointments are available with a referral from a doctor. UHC works with most major insurance carriers including Medicaid.

Speech Therapy services offered

Audiology services offered

• Articulation & Phonology • Auditory Processing • Augmentative & Alternative Communication • Rehabilitation for Hearing Impaired • Autism Spectrum Disorders Therapy • Cognitive Aspects of Communication • Fluency Therapy • Language & Literacy • Developmental Disabilities • Social Aspects of Communication • Swallowing, Voice & Resonance

• Basic Comprehensive Audiometric Testing • Auditory Brain Stem Response (ABR) Testing (sedated and non-sedated) • Medicaid Hearing Aid Services – exams, fittings, repairs, modification and battery changes • VNG Dizziness and Balance Testing • Custom Swimming Ear Molds • Newborn Hearing Screenings • Visual Reinforcement Audiometry • Middle Ear Impedance Testing • Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (Inner Ear) Testing • Basic Comprehensive Audiometric Testing • Conditioned Play Audiometry

For more information about UHC’s pediatric services, call (337) 261-6424 or email UHClistens@lgh.org. HEALTH IN GENERAL WINTER 2015

COVER STORY

LAFAYETTE GENERAL HEALTH

HEALTH IN GENERAL

A Trucker's

Lifesaving Detour

ed Mann was 13 years old when he first felt the thrill of being behind the wheel of a truck – a thrill that would make a lasting impression and lead to a career on the

open road. A professional trucker for 27 years now, the Ellisville, MS, native hauls mostly oilfield equipment, routinely following a ribbon of highway from Mississippi to New Orleans down to Baton Rouge, making his way through Cajun Country and traveling as far north as Natchitoches.

Passing through Lafayette on a weekly basis, Ted considers himself an honorary resident and, you could say, feels a kinship with the area after a near death experience. Early one evening last June, Ted was traveling west on Interstate 10 from Mississippi and was approaching Lafayette. Scheduled to deliver oilfield tools to a company in Scott the next morning, he planned to rest for the night at a truck stop just off Exit 101 at University Ave. Only a couple of miles from his exit, Ted was startled by “an enormous sharp pain.” He describes the sensation as feeling like lightning, first striking his left arm and quickly shooting across his chest, then pulsating to the right arm. Still capable of driving, but uncertain for

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how long, Ted was thankful to see the exit just ahead. He pulled his rig into the truck stop lot and quickly dialed 911. “The dispatcher kept telling me to stay on the phone,” he remembers. His first thought was to lay in the truck’s sleeper, but it occurred to him that rescuers might not find him as easily. He was seated for just a few minutes when he was surprised by a man opening the door to his rig. The man was an Acadian Ambulance driver who was already parked in the lot when he received the dispatcher’s call. Going by the description of the truck, he quickly located Ted. Shortly after arriving at Lafayette General Medical Center’s (LGMC) ER, the situation escalated when Ted experienced repeated ventricular

fibrillation, a deadly heart rhythm caused by blockage of his coronary arteries. Ted says his heart stopped, flatlining four times while in the ER — he’s kept the EKG printout as proof of his story. The attending physician performed defibrillation (electrical shock) to reset the heart’s rhythm. “The first time they shocked me, I saw a light, then I sat up on the table and hollered ‘What was that!?!’” he says excitedly. “I went from nearly dying to sitting straight up.” Doctors soon discovered that a blood clot in a stent placed some time ago was blocking blood flow to a main artery. The longer blood flow to the heart is blocked, the greater the chance for more permanent damage. So, quick treatment is imperative. For that reason, Rhett Remel, Director of LGMC’s Cath Lab, says the ER and Cath lab teams adhere strictly to a “door to balloon” time of under 90 minutes. That refers to the window of time from the moment a heart patient enters the ER to the time the blockage is repaired with balloon angioplasty. With the help of the emergency Cath Lab team, Cardiovascular Institute of the South at Lafayette General Cardiologist Gus Ingraldi, M.D., removed some of the clot and inserted a new stent to restore blood flow. A second blockage, serious but not life threatening at the time, was repaired with another stent two days later.

“My doctor looked at a copy of my echocardiogram and couldn’t believe what he saw. He said that he’d heard about cases like mine, but had never actually seen one." — Ted Mann

News of his blockage didn’t come as a total surprise to Ted, as he’d had issues with his heart before, and a family history of heart disease. His mother died of heart disease and his father, still alive at 89, had open heart surgery, balloon angioplasty and stents inserted into his arteries. Adding to that, details of a colonoscopy that Ted had the day before his heart attack revealed possible contributing factors to the episode. He told doctors at LGMC that his gastroenterologist in Mississippi had advised him not to take his cholesterol medicine, aspirin or Plavix (used to prevent blood clots) for seven days prior to the procedure. Looking back, Ted remembers thinking that was unusual, but didn’t question it. When he was released, Ted took the advice of his LGMC nurses and saw a cardiologist soon after his return home to Mississippi. “My doctor looked at a copy of my echocardiogram and couldn’t believe what he saw. He said that he’d heard about cases like mine, but had never actually seen one. There was no evidence of a heart attack and no damage whatsoever. In fact, he said that my heart is in very good condition.” Ted says there are two reasons he’s

alive and well today. “I owe a lot of gratitude to the two cardiologists and nurses in the ER and Cath Lab who worked so quickly to save me; they are all top notch. LGMC is a wonderful hospital, the best experience I’ve ever had in a hospital.” Ted’s tone is a more reflective one as he adds, “I don’t want to exclude the Lord out of this story. He set all this up to put me in the right place — from being close to the exit when I first felt chest pains to having the ambulance practically waiting for me in the parking lot. I’m still here for a reason.” Whatever that reason, Ted has made some adjustments to honor his good fortune. He walks for exercise whenever he has the opportunity. He’s substituted more unhealthy roadside foods with salads, and he’s also reduced his sodium intake. “I’ve cut back on the meat and potatoes and the overall volume of food I eat,” Ted says with a knowing smile. So far, his efforts have helped him shed 30 pounds. In July, a month after his eyeopening experience, Ted was driving again and, as he’s gotten more stamina, he’s gradually put more miles on the road. “I’m gonna keep on truckin’ thanks to Lafayette General and the good Lord.”

PROMINENT CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS JOIN LAFAYETTE GENERAL’S LGMD PHYSICIAN GROUP 5000 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy. Province Office Park, 14A (337) 234-7779

Victor Tedesco IV, M.D.

Mohamad Allam, M.D.

HEALTH IN GENERAL WINTER 2015

Patient room at new Oil Center Surgical Plaza

OIL CENTER SURGICAL PLAZA OPENS

booming growth of same-day surgical services at both Lafayette General Medical Center and Lafayette General Surgical Hospital prompted the opening of a new cutting-edge surgery center. In November, Lafayette General Health opened Oil Center Surgical Plaza (OCSP). Located on the second floor of the Medical Office Building at 1000 W. Pinhook Rd., OCSP encompasses seven pre-op beds, four state-ofthe-art operating rooms and 12 post-op/recovery beds. The 12,656 sq. ft. facility accommodates less complicated surgical procedures related to ophthalmology, ENT, plastic surgery and pain management. Having OCSP perform these procedures frees operating rooms at LGSH for more time-consuming surgeries. “Over the past three years we’ve experienced double-digit growth in surgical volume, thanks to the success of our existing surgeons and our continued efforts to recruit needed specialties to this region,” says Lafayette General Health President David L. Callecod, FACHE.

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“Oil Center Surgical Plaza will increase operating room capacity for our talented team of surgeons in an efficient, high-quality environment while adhering to Lafayette General’s exceptional level of patient care,” adds OCSP’s administrator Kenny LeBaron. The surgery center is part of Lafayette General Health and is co-owned by Lafayette General Medical Center and local physicians. For more information, call (337) 289-8238.

Oil Center Surgical Plaza pre-op area

Teamwork gets a newborn home from Florida

efore Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC) employees Renee and Brandon would become first-time parents in the coming months, a relaxing vacation to Florida seemed like a good idea. But, that changed

when circumstances forced Renee to undergo an emergency C-section. Baby Gabriella was born in a Florida hospital at 29 weeks. Their newborn was sent to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Pensacola, while Renee was put in an adult ICU in Destin. Unlike LGMC, those hospitals did not have an ICU and NICU at the same location. Renee did not want to remain in Florida for the duration of her baby’s NICU stay, which could have been 2-3 months. She wasted no time contacting her Lafayette OB/GYN, Dr. Danny Bourque, to see if he could assist them in getting Gabriella back to Lafayette General Medical Center. Dr. Bourque immediately called Dr. Dave DeIulio, Medical Director of LGMC’s NICU, who in turn telephoned the neonatologist assigned to Gabriella at the Pensacola hospital. A plan was put into motion arranging for LGMC’s NICU Transport Team to head to Florida to bring the tiny newborn back to LGMC. To accomplish this, LGMC’s NICU nurses asked Acadian Ambulance if they would be willing to transport the team and baby.

Danny Bourque, M.D.

Dave Delulio, M.D.

Going such a great distance is not routine for Acadian Ambulance. However, Acadian agreed and said they would not charge one-way for the trip to Florida. Even more, the family was afforded Acadian’s “hospital rate” for the return trip. When the scheduled day of transport arrived, and a volunteer Transport Team had been assembled for the 13-hour journey, the baby was not stable enough to make the trip back. Acadian Ambulance rearranged their schedule, as did the LGMC Transport Team, to accommodate another attempt. On the second try, LGMC NICU nurses Carmen Cetnar and Angela Miller and respiratory therapist Noel Bourgeois made the trip on August 15, and all went smoothly. Baby Gabriella was finally sent home safely from LGMC on September 19 and the family says she is doing well.

HEALTH IN GENERAL WINTER 2015

Weight Loss Program Pays Off

fter the holidays, many people fret about their waistlines. For people struggling with obesity, weight-loss surgery is an option to consider. Leading physicians describe weight loss surgery as a tool, rather than a solution, for losing weight. “Surgery only works for up to a year if you don’t change your lifestyle behaviors or patterns,” explains Dennis Eschete, M.D., a weight-loss surgeon at Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC). Dr. Eschete stresses the importance of utilizing a comprehensive approach. That requires getting educated before the surgery, and following guidelines during and after the process. This is best accomplished at bariatric centers accredited as a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, such as at LGMC. A comprehensive approach guides patients towards the right type of surgery; helps them follow through with realistic exercise and lifestyle changes; and offers them support and tools to reach and sustain their longterm goal. Deciding to go with a nonaccredited program can have tragic consequences. Patients opting for a cheaper cash option do not get the full package available at accredited centers. LGMC’s staff includes, along with two surgeons carrying 16 years combined experience, a certified bariatric registered nurse, a registered dietitian, patient advocate, behavior modification educator, licensed practical counselor and an exercise physiologist. This team helps a patient identify their best approach to weight loss, even if it’s non-surgical, or can tell if something is amiss after surgery. One patient who ended up at LGMC after having surgery through a nonaccredited program regrets trying the cheaper route. This patient, who wishes to remain anonymous and will

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Seated (l-r), Nichole Barras, Behavior Modification Educator; Kate Rountree, Licensed Dietitian; and Amanda Comeaux, Clinical Surgical Reviewer. Standing (l-r), Amber Faul, Licensed Dietitian; Jessica Pruitt, Office Coordinator; Tiffany McZeal, Patient Advocate; and Brooke Doucet, Certified Bariatric Nurse/Program Manager. Not pictured is Dana Manly, Licensed Professional Counselor.

be referred to as “Jane,” suffered for years after her surgery. “I was one of those patients who said, ‘I don’t want to go through all those classes,’” she says. After surgery, she endured extreme acid reflux and struggled to keep down pain medication. Over time, Jane developed contstant stomach pain and bladder infections, limiting her diet. She developed dangerously low blood pressure. Her doctor attributed her ailments to chronic dehydration, and began to suspect her bariatric surgery was the culprit. He recommended that she seek out a urologist, who discovered polyps and that her digestive tract appeared abnormal, possibly from her surgery. From there, she came to LGMC to attempt corrective measures. Jane says she regrets not going to

Lafayette General the first time. “I now realize how important it is to go through all the stages their program offers,” she says. “Three main things cause outcomes to be more successful,” advises Dr. Eschete. “Eating habits, activity patterns and behavioral modification. If you tackle those three things, patients are more successful,” he says. “We have all of those things in-house.” For a listing of upcoming seminars, go to LafayetteGeneral.com/bariatrics.

Philip Gachassin, M.D.

Dennis Eschete, M.D.

Test Colon Cancer at Home

ast March, while at a Walgreens store, 53-year-old Susan Dominello registered for a drawing giving away a free colonoscopy. The offer was in conjunction with a promotion that also provided free home colorectal screening kits from Lafayette General Endoscopy Center (LGEC). Susan won the drawing and followed through with having her first colonoscopy. To her surprise, test results came back showing that she had early stage colon cancer. Fortunately, surgery was able to remove the polyps and no chemotherapy was needed. To help others like Susan, Lafayette General Endoscopy Center will again offer free home colorectal screening kits, throughout March, to test for colon cancer. The test can be picked up at any one of the 18 Acadiana Walgreens stores; check with the store’s pharmacist. 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 test readings back to LGEC and the findings are reported back to you. As part of the campaign, all to bring awareness to Colon Cancer Awareness Month, each of the three physicians at LGEC are offering a drawing to give away a free colonoscopy. Winners get the colonoscopy, including physician and facility fees, anesthesia and any pathology services. According to Marsha Williamson, RN, nurse administrator at LGEC, the test kit shouldn’t 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. 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 KFLY TV-10 and Lowry’s Printing.

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 2015

BLUE CROSS

ER VISITS COVERED

afayette General Health (LGH) has been an “in-network” provider of Blue Cross patients for several years. However, Lafayette General Medical Center’s ER provider group (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants), with Coolidge Emergency Group, is not under contract with Blue Cross. What does this mean for Blue Cross patients? Nothing. You’ll get the same quality care, with the same financial responsibilities. Lafayette General Medical Center patients will not be financially penalized because of the provider’s “out-ofnetwork” status. Those patients insured with Blue Cross should know that Schumacher accepts Blue Cross’ out-of-network reimbursement as

payment in full – after meeting the normal patient deductible/co-pay responsibilities. An “Explanation of Benefits” sent to Blue Cross patients stating that they may be responsible for the balance owed should be disregarded. The account will automatically be adjusted and written off. The same allowance applies to ER provider bills from the following LGH affiliate hospitals: University Hospital & Clinics (Congress Emergency Group), St. Martin Hospital (St. Martin Emergency Group) and Acadia General Hospital (Crowley Emergency Group). If you are Blue Cross insured with concerns or questions, contact the Schumacher billing office at (888) 703-3301.

Why do nearly a million people a day visit Healthgrades.com? Because the right doctor matters.

Before you visit a doctor, visit us.

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HEALTH IN GENERAL

LAFAYETTE GENERAL HEALTH

HEALTH IN GENERAL At a special ceremony held at the Hilton Garden Inn - Lafayette/ Cajundome, March of Dimes (MOD) and Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA) recognized LGMC and other Acadiana hospitals for achieving optimal success in the elimination of non-medically indicated elective deliveries before 39 weeks gestational age. On hand to accept the honor were Patrick W. Gandy, Jr., LGMC CEO (center), along with Judy Robichaux (to his right), Director of LGMC’s Women’s and Children’s Services, as well as other staff members of LGMC, MOD and LHA.

The Ragin' Cajuns Athletics football team visited patients and staff at LGMC on December 15, a week before their Championship victory! Remembering Pearl Harbor Day, a World War II veteran, Wallace Duhon, undergoing physical rehabilitation at LGMC, raised the American Flag in front of the hospital. Duhon was in the Army Air Corps and served in the Pacific during the war. The LGMC rehab team thought the motions of hoisting the flag up the pole would not only be good exercise, but would also be a powerful observance of that infamous date.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony held September 30 officially marked the completion of Lafayette General Medical Center’s expanded Emergency and Operating Room platforms. Hospital board members, administrators and staff, along with city dignitaries and representatives, were on hand for the ceremony held outside the ER entrance.

During October, LGMC's main entrance prominently displayed pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thanks to Rodney Dugas, a painter in LGMC's Facilities Services Department, who painted into the late hours of the night to make this happen. HEALTH IN GENERAL WINTER 2015

Think of every snapped strand as a stroke symptom ignored.

Lafayette General’s

Know the Symptoms

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

LafayetteGeneral.com/Stroke

HEALTH IN GENERAL WINTER 2015