Memorial Medical Milestones Fall 2017

memorial

Medical Milestones Fall 2017

Coordinating Care Innovations Page 4

Back in the Swing Page 8

Page 10

Letters Page 19

To our community The Memorial Medical Group had an exciting year in 2017, adding 12 new specialists to the team. Among those who came on board were physicians who joined our new hospitalist program we launched this year at Memorial Hospital.

Now you are probably asking, “what is a hospitalist?”

Larry Graham President & CEO Lake Charles Memorial Health System

The Society of Hospital Medicine defines a hospitalist as “Physicians whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Their activities include patient care, teaching, research, and leadership related to hospital medicine.”

The collaboration between

These highly trained doctors are able to provide care for patients in an inpatient setting with a seamless high level of care while they are treated for any number of ailments in the hospital.

The hospitalists are available at all times to focus solely on the needs of patients during their stay. This also allows primary care physicians to continue to treat patients in the outpatient setting without having to use valuable time to travel back and forth from their office to make rounds at the hospital.

primary care physicians and hospitalists has led to better patient satisfaction and the delivery of high quality care.

In its short existence, the program has already proven to be a promising success. The collaboration between primary care physicians and the hospitalists has led to better patient satisfaction and the delivery of a high quality of care. Our hospitalist program has a number of doctors and medical providers and the program will continue to grow as demand grows. This is all to better serve you, our patients and community.

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memorial

Medical Milestones Page 4

3-D World 4 Virtual Reality Learning

Back in the Swing

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Avid Golfer Gets Improved Heart Health

Cover Story

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Coordinating Care

Physician Spotlight 12 Brett Cascio, MD Orthopedic Surgeon & MLB Doctor

Memorial Medical Group

Page 6

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New Specialists Come on Board

Coming Events 16 Education Classes and Support Groups

Letters 19 Words from Patient Experiences

Page 10

On the Cover: Brielle Miller and her mother, Heather.

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Supporting

Z-Space Virtual Reality Technology

“I was hooked. Barbe High School needed Z-Space!”

Lyndsey LeBlanc, Barbe High School Science Teacher Teachers are constantly searching for the newest and most cutting edge ways to teach students. Last year, while searching for some of the newest technology at a conference called LACUE, Barbe High School science teacher Lyndsey LeBlanc came across Z-Space Virtual Reality Technology, an all-in-one virtual reality computer.

“Biology is a fundamental building block for students who pursue careers in the field of medicine,” LeBlanc says.

“Future doctors, nurses, radiology techs, lab techs, physical therapists, and occupational therapists are currently learning through 2D technology: lecture, reading, diagrams, and plastic models. But now, we live in a 3D world. In this fast paced world, people utilize multiple senses.”

Innovations

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State-of-the-Art Education The device consists of a tilted virtual reality screen and includes an interactive stylus. A driver and a passenger have access to the screen while wearing 3D glasses. The 3D image is projected out of the screen and the student is allowed to manipulate the image. Awe struck by this technology, LeBlanc invited the Z-Space tour bus to Barbe High School last year. During this visit, teachers and students both had the opportunity to experience the capabilities of this technology. The students were beyond impressed, and the teachers loved how engaging the technology was.

“The applications of this software are incredible. Z-Space allows students to visually see the 3D image, such as a cell or a human heart,” LeBlanc says. “Biology software allows the students to move throughout the human body. There are even pop-up definitions and quizzes.”

The driver can choose to look at the human heart. With the stylus, the student can move the organ around to see all angles. With a touch of the screen, the student can view definitions and dissect layers of the heart. As a testing tool, the Z-Space program can create a heart problem, such as a clogged artery, and can interface with a 3D printer.

For example, a student could measure a clogged artery, design a stint to eliminate the blockage and print it using a 3D printer!

“I was hooked,” LeBlanc recalls. “Barbe High School needed Z-Space!”

The next step was to find funding for four Z-Space consoles for her classroom. LeBlanc set out to find businesses and partners who would invest such technology. The proposal ended up in front of the board of The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Health System.

“The whole purpose of the foundation is to support the medical mission of Lake Charles Memorial,” says Memorial Senior Vice President of Philanthropy Leif Pedersen. “What better way to do that than to support the education of our future nurses, techs and doctors. Our board was very excited to support this endeavor.”

The foundation made an $18,000 donation providing enough funding for not just one, but four consoles. Students started using the Z-Space system this fall. Barbe is one of seven schools in Louisiana, and the only school in Calcasieu Parish this year, that provides such technology.

For more information on how you can support The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Health System, call 337.494.3226 or go to www.lcmh.com/foundation.

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Back in the Swing of Things

Marlee Freeman and Anthony Branham at The Country Club at The Golden Nugget

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“Although golf is an individual sport, cardiac rehab here at Memorial is a team effort. We love seeing our patient’s progress in our program and get back to doing what they enjoy most in life.”

Marlee Freeman, Memorial Clinical Exercise Physiologist

DeRidder resident Anthony Branham is an avid golfer who has played courses all over the US. He was used to walking three to four miles a day, playing his 18 holes. One day while out training for his next tournament, his body began to tell him something wasn’t right. He went to see a doctor in Lafayette and was given some medicine and told to come back in three weeks. When he came back it was suggested that he go and see Memorial Medical Group Interventional Cardiologist J. King White, MD. “I came to Memorial on Tuesday to do some testing. That Friday I was set to receive a stent in my heart, but Dr. White found 80 percent blockage in three arteries.”

Branham then became a candidate for triple bypass surgery and thanks to Memorial’s continuum of care, he didn’t have to go far. Dr. White referred him down the hall to Memorial Medical Group Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon Gregory Lugo, MD. Branham underwent open heart surgery that next Monday, March 1 and began his quest to get back on the golf course.

Little did Branham know at the time was that his cardiac rehab team would consist of Marlee Freeman, a clinical exercise physiologist, who played college golf at Texas State before getting her masters at Texas A&M. The two met when Branham was in the hospital recovering from surgery and would walk the halls talking about golf the whole time. After he was discharged, he began his three days a week cardiac rehabilitation. Branham chose to do his rehab at Lake Charles Memorial.

“Dr. Lugo was very very thorough. He told me what I needed to know and a lot more,” Branham recalls. “Everyone was so friendly and after meeting Marlee, I thought to myself, why in the world would I want to go anywhere else?”

“We immediately bonded over our love of golf. During our morning walks, we would talk about our favorite professional golfers and all the courses we have played around the US. He was very determined to begin his cardiac rehab program so he could get back to doing what he loves, golfing with his buddies.

Having the same love for the game, I was just as determined as him to get him back in the swing of things, literally,” Freeman says.

“In the beginning of his rehab program we focused mainly on getting his cardiovascular endurance back. Once he progressed cardiovascularly, we focused on regaining some of his strength back. Staying within the sternal precaution guidelines, we worked on light weight training and resistance band exercises specific for golf.”

Branham quickly began exceeding expectations. Even driving an hour three days a week , he was determined to complete all 36 rehab sessions to ensure the best recovery possible.

“I’ve had friends that wouldn’t come to rehab because they didn’t think it was worth it,” Branham says. “They don’t know how much benefit they can get if they just come.”

His golfing buddies even began sending him with questions to ask Freeman for tips on how to improve their golf game. The rehab did pay off. This fall, Branham was able to return to what he loves best: playing golf as much as he can.

“Although golf is an individual sport, cardiac rehab here at Memorial is a team effort,” Freeman says. “We love seeing our patient’s progress in our program and get back to doing what they enjoy most in life.”

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Nasal relief!

Septoplasty brings help for deviated septum.

Cartilage removed

septum reshaped

Suffering from trouble breathing or even repeated sinus infections could be a sign of an all too common problem, yet one that goes relatively unnoticed: a deviated septum. Estimates are that 80 percent of all nasal septums are off-center.

“A deviated septum can happen from trauma or injury to the nose, but it is usually due to how the nose grew,” says Memorial Medical Group ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeon Hope Bueller, MD. “Some people have a deviated septum from birth and it could be congenital. Other patients don’t get it until they hit a growth spurt like in puberty. The cartilage and bone inside the nose grows a little bit more than it should. It starts to bend to fit inside the nasal cavity.”

A deviated septum occurs when the septum is severely shifted away from the midline. The most common symptom from a deviated or crooked septum is difficulty breathing through the nose. The symptoms are usually worse on one side, and sometimes actually occur on the side opposite the bend. In some cases the crooked septum can interfere with the drainage of the sinuses, resulting in repeated sinus infections.

“If they come in with those symptoms we do a nasal exam,” Dr. Bueller says. “If it shows the septum is crooked or is blocking one side of their nasal airway they are a good candidate for a septoplasty.”

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“A deviated septum can happen from trauma or injury to the nose, but it is usually due to how the nose grew.”

Hope Bueller, MD ENT & Facial Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Hope Bueller

A septoplasty is a procedure were incisions are made on the inside of the nose so there is nothing visible externally. The part of the cartilage and/or bone that is crooked is isolated and removed. What is left is straightened and the patient ends up with equal airflow on both sides of the nose.

The procedure takes about an hour depending on how crooked the nose may be. It is a day surgery procedure so patients go home the same day. Patients keep their activity level fairly low for about one week. They usually only require pain medication for a day or two and are not restricted from getting up and about. Heavy lifting and vigorous exercise is avoided for an additional two weeks.

“One of the most popular misconceptions that gives patients anxiety and keeps them from having the procedure done is the impression that their nose will be packed full of gauze and the painful process it takes to remove it,” Dr. Bueller says. “However, she stresses that this is an outdated practice and most patients don’t require any packing at all.”

The results of a septoplasty are very much proportionate to how bad the nose was before the procedure. People who have a really severe blockage see a dramatic improvement. They sleep better, breath better and have an overall more comfortable quality of life.

“It is very common procedure,” Dr. Bueller says. “Most people are not textbook straight. A lot of people have some deviation and are unaware that is the cause of the blockage. A septoplasty is among the most common procedures an ENT will perform.”

However, children under the age of 18 are not good candidates for the procedure as their bodies are still growing. Dr. Bueller says you want to make sure nose is done growing and achieve a good final outcome instead of a repeat procedure.

For more information, call Dr. Bueller’s office at 337.480.5595.

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Cover Story

Coordinating Care Memorial for Women and Children’s Hospital bring peace of mind to a young family. in New Orleans. The initial plan was for Brielle to have a consultation with a team of specialists at Children’s to plan her surgery to fix her jaw position and cleft palate once discharged from the NICU. That palate surgery will most likely take place just shy of her first birthday.

When Heather and Everett Miller welcomed the birth of their daughter, Brielle, back in September there was never any indication something was amiss. The ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy appeared normal and development moved along as scheduled. However, Brielle made her arrival a bit early and as soon as she entered the world, they knew something wasn’t right.

She was officially diagnosed with Cri du Chat Syndrome which is a developmental disorder that can affect many parts of the body, so she was transferred to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Brielle gained enough weight to safely undergo the surgery for her jaw. Once she is able to return home, she can continue her therapies locally.

“When she came out she was actually purple,” Heather Miller says. “She made a couple of noises and the staff was doing everything to try and get her to respond. They put her to the side and we got to see her for a little bit. Then they wrapped her up and started a ventilator tube and took her to the Special Care Nursery at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women, a level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).”

“We are not the ones that need to be caring for the child.

We are already trained to do these things,” Karpovs says. “So, we want the primary care givers to have all the confidence in the world that when they go home, they have the knowledge and skills to care for this child just like the nurses and I have trained them to do.”

Brielle was born with a cleft palate, small chin, and her jaw and tongue are set back a little further than normal. This condition can make feeding and breathing more difficult with the concern of aspiration and the mechanics of feeding.

That’s when Stephanie Kestel Karpovs, a speech-language pathologist and NICU therapy team leader, stepped in.

For Karpovs, is has been a dream to work with such attentive and dedicated parents as the Millers. And for the Millers, the services Memorial for Women is able to offer and the relationship it has with Children’s Hospital gives them the piece of mind Brielle will continue to receive the care she needs in her young life.

“We immediately formed a plan to help Brielle safely take bottles and not have to rely on a feeding tube if possible,” Karpovs says. “We work on positioning and feeding techniques, and have found the best bottle and nipple that is the right fit for her needs. We don’t want to let anything fall through the cracks. We also demonstrate ways to stimulate oral motor skills if a tube feeding is necessary.”

“The strength she has shown us is incredible. We finally saw her in the middle of the night after she was born and seeing her laying there on the ventilator and all the monitors and wires coming out of her tubes,” Heather Miller recalls. “Two weeks later, she had her head up and drinking out of a bottle. We know she is going to do great things.”

As soon as Brielle’s condition was assessed Memorial for Women staff were on the phone with Children’s Hospital

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Speech and Language Pathologist Stephanie Karpovs works with Heather Miller on how to help her newborn daughter, Brielle, take a bottle.

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Physician Spotlight Brett Cascio, MD Orthopedist & Major League Doc

Dr. Brett Cascio with Oriole pitcher Kevin Gausmann.

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Each spring, Dr. Cascio heads east to Sarasota, Florida, home of the Baltimore Orioles spring training, where he serves as a team doctor.

During the six-week training camp there is always at least one orthopedic doctor with the team. Dr. Cascio usually makes three trips to spring training for the days where most of the team shows up needing physicals. Last year he stayed for a whole week. His wife and boys accompany him, and it doesn’t hurt that the beach is five minutes from the baseball stadium.

Brett Cascio, MD spends most of his days in the operating room or going in and out of exams rooms during office hours seeing patients and athletes of all ages. His specialty is orthopedics and he is board-certified and fellowship-trained in sports medicine. As medical director of sports medicine at Lake Charles Memorial, he looks out for the student athletes throughout Southwest Louisiana. But each spring, he heads east to Sarasota, Florida home of the Baltimore Orioles spring training, where he serves as a team doctor.

Sports medicine has progressed greatly as research and practice have lead to new procedures and ways of doing things. Every few years, a new breakthrough comes around that catapults the science forward.

“Pitchers and catchers report to camp in February. Every player from Manny Machado to the newest high school signee has to have a physical before they pick up a baseball.

There are about 200 ball players between all levels of the major and minor leagues for the Orioles organization.”

Doctors are always looking for a better way to do things.

Dr. Cascio knows that the reality is doctors never get 100 percent of your patients back, but they are always looking to increase your percentage of success, whether that be with better equipment, technique or regenerative medicine, or adding something to the procedure to improve healing.

A native of New Orleans, Dr. Cascio went to Duke University before returning home to get his medical degree with Honors from Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He went on to complete his orthopedic residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and his shoulder and hip arthroscopy and sports medicine fellowship at the prestigious SteadmanHawkings Clinic in Vail, Colorado.

Working with professional athletes has its appeal, but it’s his work with the student athletes that he finds the most rewarding. And it even starts here at home, where Dr. Cascio, with a lot of help from his wife Cherie, coaches up to 3 youth baseball teams at a time. On many nights and weekends, you will find him on a small diamond or in a batting cage, where little leaguers working on the basics of the game that has given Dr. Cascio so much.

In addition to being a big league doctor, Dr. Cascio is also finishing up a 16-year career as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve. It’s a career that has taken him overseas to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

It is very satisfying to work on professional athletes and be at the big events. But nothing really sticks with you like when you have a young student athlete who has worked hard and is set for a scholarship, but suffers a devastating injury,” Cascio says. “Their life could take two different paths. They could not get that scholarship and not go to college because of the injury, or help them overcome their injury, everything lines up and they keep their scholarship make a better life for themselves. Those are the patients that appreciate me and I appreciate being a part of their life.”

It was during his time at Johns Hopkins that Dr. Cascio worked with the Head Team Orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs. He has continued to work for the major league club, providing them with his unique training and experience evaluating hip injuries. Dr. Cascio has performed over 1000 hip arthroscopies on patients from all over Louisiana and east Texas, many of these on young athletes who then go on to compete again.

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Physicians Join Memorial Medical Group Amanda Ellington, MD General Surgeon Amanda Ellington, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon. She joins fellow surgeon Richard Shimer, MD and Thomas Rossowski, MD at Memorial Medical Group Surgery & Trauma.

Prior to joining Memorial, Dr. Ellington was at Southwest Surgical Associates in Jennings. She is also a former associate professor of surgery at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.

Dr. Ellington graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in biological sciences from Louisiana State University. She went on to achieve her medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport. Her post-graduate training includes an internship and residency in general surgery at Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport.

Memorial Medical Group offers continuity of care from primary to specialty. Our electronic medical records system coordinates paperwork, diagnostics, and treatment. If a patient has treatment within the Memorial Health System, all MMG doctors have direct access to a patient’s medical history, reducing redundancy

Dr. Ellington is board-certified in general surgery with a focus in surgical breast disease. She is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons, a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society, a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the Isidore Cohn, Jr. – James D. Rivers Surgical Society and the John C. McDonald Surgical Society.

and improving coordination of care between doctors. Whether or not you choose a MMG doctor, our physicians will be happy to work with your doctor or refer you to local and out-of-town specialists if desired or needed. With MMG, the patient’s needs come first.

2770 3rd Avenue, Suite 120, Lake Charles, LA 70601 337.494.4868 • www.lcmmg.com

Benjamin Azevedo, MD Hospitalist

Donald Higgins, MD Family Medicine Specialist Donald Higgins, MD, is a board-certified family medicine specialist who sees patients ages 18 and older.

Benjamin Azevedo, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician that serves as a hospitalist, treating and caring for patients admitted to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Higgins is a native of Lake Charles and a graduate of Barbe High School. He received a degree in biological sciences from Louisiana State University. He went on to achieve his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. His post-graduate training includes a residency at the Lake Charles Memorial/LSUHSC Family Medicine Residency Program.

Dr. Azevedo received his degree in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley.

He holds a masters of public health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Dr. Azevedo achieved his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. His post-graduate training includes an internship and residency in internal medicine from Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, California.

Dr. Higgins is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He is also a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Medical Student Association.

Dr. Azevedo is a member of the American College of Physicians and American Medical Association.

2750 Aster Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601 337.480.8900 • www.lcmmg.com 14

Family Medicine • General Surgery • Hospitalist • OB /GYN • Orthopedics Gerald Mouton, MD Family Medicine & Wound Care

William Hubbard, MD • Orthopedic Hand & Upper Extremity Surgeon

Gerald Mouton, MD, is a board-certified family medicine specialist. He joins fellow family medicine specialists, Donald Higgins, MD, Carolyn Hutchinson, MD, Percival Kane, MD and Michael Seep, MD at 2750 Aster Street in Lake Charles.

Dr. Mouton also sees wound care patients as comedical director of Lake Charles Memorial Wound Care with Ameer Khan, MD.

William Hubbard, MD, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic hand surgeon.

He joins fellow orthopedic surgeons Thomas Axelrad, MD, Brett Cascio, MD, Nathan Cohen, MD, Robert Duarte, MD, and Paul Fenn, MD. Prior to joining Memorial, Dr. Hubbard worked at BRG Orthopedic Associates in Baton Rouge and was on staff at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. He received a degree in chemistry from Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi and his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson.

Dr. Mouton is a Southwest Louisiana native, having grown up in South Cameron. He graduated with a bachelors of science degree from McNeese State University. He received his medical degree from LSU Medical Center and his post-graduate training includes an internship and residency at what is now Moss Memorial Health Clinic.

His post-graduate training includes an internship and residency at Gorgas Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone, and another residency at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona as part of the Phoenix Combined Orthopedic Residency Program.

He also completed a fellowship in hand surgery from The Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dr. Mouton is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice. He is also a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association, Calcasieu Parish Medical Society, Southern Medical Association and Louisiana Medical Society.

Dr. Hubbard is a Diplomate of American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and holds a certificate of added qualifications in hand surgery from the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. He is also a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

1717 Oak Park Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Lake Charles, LA 70601 337.494.4900 • www.lcmmg.com

2750 Aster Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601 337.480.8900 • www.lcmmg.com

Tristan Washington, MD Hospitalist

David McAlpine, MD Obstetrician & Gynecologist David McAlpine, MD, is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist. He sees patients at his office located on the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women campus.

Tristan Washington, MD, is a family medicine physician who serves as a hospitalist, treating and caring for patients admitted to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Prior to joining Memorial, Dr. McAlpine worked at Lake Area Medical Center. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport. His post-graduate training includes an internship and residency at the former Charity Hospital of New Orleans.

Dr. Washington received his degree in respiratory care from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He went on to achieve his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine, Portsmouth, Dominica, West Indies. His post-graduate training includes a family medicine residency at the University of Arkansas Medical School in Fayetteville.

Dr. McAlpine is a Fellow of American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is also a member of the American Medical Society and Louisiana State Medical Society.

Dr. Washington is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

1890 W. Gauthier Road, Suite 150, Lake Charles, LA 70605 337.562.9995 • www.lcmmg.com

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Support Groups LIFE, HOPE, COURAGE

SARCOIDOSIS SUPPORT GROUP

Cancer Support Group For those cancer patients who are newly diagnosed,

A group for people in our area dealing with this incurable disease, to come together to share their stories, health

undergoing treatment, or who have completed treatment.

tips and support. For more information, call Sabrina

For more information call Ashley Rene, LMSW, (337) 494-

Sonnier at (337) 842-5939.

4644.

Second Wednesday of each month

Third Tuesday of each month Shearman Conference Room

Radiation Oncology Conference Room

6pm - 7pm

11:45 am - 1pm

DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP Don’t underestimate the importance of education and peer support when living with diabetes. Located at

LA LECHE LEAGUE A breastfeeding group, La Leche League offers a series of meetings consisting of four classes that are helpful

Memorial’s Diabetes Education Office, 2804 2nd Avenue.

For more information, call Memorial’s Diabetes Education at (337) 494-6425.

for pregnant moms and moms who are already nursing.

Meetings are free and open to mothers and babies.

First Thursday of each month

First Tuesday of each month

Memorial for Women Education Room 2

Diabetes Education Office • 10am – 11am

10am – 11:30am

LOOK GOOD, FEEL BETTER Looking good can often be an important step toward feeling good - especially for women who are fighting the cancer battle.

With that in mind, Memorial and the American Cancer Society are offering women struggling with cancer - the diagnosis, treatment and concerns about their appearance - a chance to Look Good...Feel Better. For more information, call (337) 4335817.

Held every quarter. Advance registration required.

Shearman Conference Room • Noon - 2:00pm December 11

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Prenatal and Family Education Classes Registration is required for all classes. For more information or to register, call 480-7243. All classes are held in the education rooms at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women, 1900 W. Gauthier Road. Tours are available after all prenatal classes and at 1:30pm on the first Thursday of each month.

PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASS 4-WEEK SERIES This class is highly recommended for its hands-on, and often fun, approach to dealing with labor, delivery and recovery. Birth preparation is discussed regarding natural delivery, birth with an epidural and cesarean birth. Bring your pillows, your questions and don’t forget to breathe. Recommended during the last three months of pregnancy. 6pm - 8pm • $40/Couple 2018: Thursdays - May 3, 10, 17, 24 Wednesdays - September 5, 12, 19, 26 ONE DAY PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASS

BABY CARE CLASS

Learn comfort, relaxation, positioning, breathing, and massage techniques for increasing the comfort level and enhancing the birth experience during this condensed version of the Prepared

The Baby Care Class reviews newborn characteristics, general baby care, early parenting issues and community resources.

Recommended during the last 3 months of pregnancy.

Childbirth Series. Recommended for the last 3 months of pregnancy.

2018: Saturdays - January 27, February 24, March 24, April 28,

2018: Mondays - January 22, March 26, May 14, July 16, September 17, November 5

June 9, July 28, August 25, October 13, November 10 9am – 4pm • $40/Couple

6pm – 8pm • $10/Couple INFANT AND CHILD CPR CLASS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

BREASTFEEDING CLASS Learn positioning, latch-on, early feedings and the importance

Learn and practice rescue for choking and CPR for infants. This is NOT a certifying or credentialing course, but is recommended for

of assessing baby’s intake during the Breastfeeding Class.

expectant parents, new parents and support persons.

2017: Thursday, December 14

Recommended during the last 3 months of pregnancy.

2017: Thursday, December 7 2018: Thursdays - January 25, February 22, March 22, April 26,

2018: Thursdays - February 15, April 12, June 14, August 30, October 4, November 15 6pm – 8:30pm • $10/Person

May 31, June 21, July 19, August 23, September 20, October 11, November 8, December 6 6pm – 8:30pm • $10/Couple SIBLING CLASS This class is recommended during the last three months of pregnancy. Preparing siblings for the arrival of a new baby can be as confusing as it is joyous. This class focuses on the unity of the family. Older siblings ages 2-10 are asked to attend with one or both parents. The children will have hands-on practice with dolls to learn how to interact with a new baby. Parents will receive informative guidelines and everyone will tour the mother/baby unit.

2017: Monday, December 4

SAFE SITTER The best sitter is a safe sitter! The Safe Sitter® Class is designed for boys and girls ages 11 to 13. Sitters learn safety tips for when they are home alone or working with children, how to recognize a medical emergency, how to perform choking rescue or CPR for children and babies, and how to have fun entertaining children.

2018: Wednesdays - June 13 and July 11 8:30am - 3:15pm • $40/Sitter

2018: Mondays - February 19, April 9, June 11, August 20, October 8, December 3 6pm – 7pm • $10/Family 17

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Memorial Doctors Named Top Performers Dr. Bryan Barootes

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, along with the World Hypertension League, recognized 264 Louisiana primary care physicians who have 70 percent or more of their patients at goal for health quality measures to treat high blood pressure.

These physicians are part of Quality Blue Primary Care, Blue Cross’ program for patient-

Dr. Louise Becnel

focused care that leads to better health results for customers. In this program, Blue Cross securely shares information based on its claims data with enrolled providers, so they can better understand their patients’ health histories and address their needs.

Dr. Brian Clements

The Quality Blue program ties providers’ payment to performance, with financial incentives based on how well they help their Blue Cross patients obtain coordinated care, health coaching and more preventive treatment while working with them toward better outcomes.

Dr. Edward Hebert

Blue Cross measures patient improvement on the four chronic conditions targeted in Quality Blue – diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney disease – with quality measures that show how well the physicians are getting their patients to meet health goals.

Dr. William Hebert

In addition to the Top Performers for high blood pressure, Blue Cross recognized the highest- scoring physicians for meeting the program’s health goals tied to diabetes, vascular disease and chronic kidney disease.

Lake Charles Memorial had eight primary care physicians recognized through

Dr. Mark Lafuria

the program. Below are their names and the areas of medicine for which they were recognized.

Bryan Barootes, MD – Hypertension, Diabetes Louise Becnel, MD – Hypertension, Diabetes Brian Clements, MD – Hypertension, Vascular Disease

Dr. Jason Langhofer

Edward Hebert, MD – Hypertension, Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease William Hebert, MD – Hypertension, Diabetes, Vascular Disease Mark Lafuria, MD – Hypertension Jason Langhofer, DO – Hypertension

Dr. Micah Leleux

Micah Leleux, MD – Hypertension

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Letters Dear Mr. G

raham,

On August

19, I was ta ken to the LCMH eme evening, I re rgency roo ceived fou m because r stents at of a heart a th e hands of placed in ttack. That ICU. On A D r.

K in g W ugust 20 (e hite. After the operati vening) I w floor and w on, I was as transferr as discharg ed to a pri ed on Aug v a te room on ust 22 . My and my ca primary ca the 8th rdiologist is re physicia Dr. Edward n is Dr. Brian Bergen.

Clements I am writin g this lette r to expres s my gratitu every sing de for the le person in excellent c volved in m are that I re y room, to th stay. From ceived from e time in th the time th at I arrived e cath lab , to the tim to the eme outstandin e I was dis rgency g. Every pe charged, th rson I enco e care I rece untered du than that, ived was ring my sta every pers y was high on associa ly professio ted with m with dignit nal. More y care wa y. Every pe s c o rson that in mpassiona te and tre teracted w anything o ated me ith me alw r if they co ays asked uld do som if e th thing for m ey could g This hospit e. That is e et me al stay wa x c e ll e nce beyon s the first in d measure my life. Be experience . cause of y . Two peo our staff, m ple involve y stay was d in my c really help a pleasant are stand ed me to re o u t . lax and be My night nurse in IC at peace. M I remembe U, Josh, r him the m y day nurs e in ICU, Z ost becaus a e c , was exce he was in care that Z the ER the ptional. ac provide night I arriv d to me wa ed. The dig s beyond p Please exte nity and rofessiona lism. It was nd my gra titude to a e xceptional. ll those wh potentially o cared fo stressful sit r me during uation as u my stay. T neventful a hey made s possible. a With much gratitude, Keith Faul Lake Charl es

tell us your story Have you or a loved one recently received excellent service and compassionate care within the Memorial Health System? If so, tell us about it. Log on to www.lcmh.com and click on the “Tell Us Your Story� feature located on the home page. Your story could be featured in the next issue of Memorial Medical Milestones.

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1701 Oak Park Blvd.

Lake Charles, LA 70601

Memorial Medical Milestones Kathy DeRouen Senior Vice President of Marketing Matt Felder Communications Manager This is a publication from Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

The information in this newsletter is intended to inform patients and potential patients about subjects pertinent to their care not as medical education. © 2017 Printed in U.S.A.

ing r i /ai H m o c w .

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opening january 2018

Archer Institute is named in honor of Psychiatrist Dr. Dale Archer, Jr, a mental health leader in Southwest Louisiana.

what is health without mental health?

That’s why Lake Charles Memorial Health System is once again leading the way in our community with the most modern, advanced behavioral health hospital in Southwest Louisiana ~ Archer Institute. The first phase will open amid the growing demand for more comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment in our community.

The 31,567 sq. ft, $9 million Phase I includes: • 14 Bed Child & Adolescent Unit • 28 Bed Adult Unit Phase 2 and Phase 3 will include the addition of two 28-bed units, along with the construction of a medical office building adjacent to the main facility that will house several psychiatric outpatient programs. Mental health evaluations will be available, free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When all phases are completed, a total of 65,000 sq. ft and 102 beds will be available to treat the behavioral health needs of Southwest Louisiana.

the future of behavioral health care is here.

6713 Nelson Rd. • Lake Charles, La.