memorial
Medical Milestones 2019 • Issue 3
Second to None in Heart Care Page 10
Innovations Page 4
Devastation to Determination Page 8
New Doctors Page 12
To our community Larry Graham, President & CEO Lake Charles Memorial Health System Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center • The Joint Commission measured Memorial against national standards for the care of stroke patients including: door to CT scan time, how quickly patients received tissue plasminogen activator – a clot-busting medication, how quickly patients are transferred who need clot retrieval procedures, and the quality of care administered within those time frames and through discharge.
As we reflect on 2019, there is a lot to be proud of at Memorial. We continue to expand services, facilities and upgrade what we already have. We strive to hold ourselves to a higher standard and that comes with affirmation from outside organizations. Below are the current certification and accreditations Memorial has achieved. Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval • What does this mean? Our facility voluntarily underwent a thorough evaluation by The Joint Commission. The goal of the evaluation? To see if our facility meets The Joint Commission’s rigorous performance standards in delivering quality, safe care. By meeting these standards, our facility received The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® – an internationally recognized symbol of quality.
American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Certification • Memorial’s Heart & Vascular program is the first in the nation to be recognized by the American College of Cardiology for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients receiving transcatheter aortic valve repair and replacement procedures. The award is based on evaluation of the staff’s ability to meet standards for multidisciplinary teams, formalized training, shared decision-making and registry performance.
Commission on Cancer Commendation from the American College of Surgeon • The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) grants three-year accreditation to cancer programs. To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet or exceed 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.
American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery • Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women is designated a Center of Excellence for minimally invasive surgeries by the American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery (AIMIS). Memorial for Women has held this designation since 2013. A hospital or surgical center can be recognized as a Center of Excellence once it has combined efforts with an accredited AIMIS surgeon and meets AIMIS standards. Memorial for Women exceeds the national average for open versus minimally invasive hysterectomies
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy • The ASGE recognition means that Memorial’s expert gastroenterology clinical team has demonstrated the highest standards of commitment to safety and quality by meeting the program’s rigorous evidence-based tracking of physician clinical performance, patient outcomes, training, credentialing and infection control rates. Quality measures include key components critical to high quality gastrointestinal endoscopic patient care including adenoma detection rates, cecal intubation rate, adequacy of bowel preparation, patient satisfaction surveys, and adverse event tracking. Data is extracted and analyzed for continued performance improvement and better outcomes.
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While we are proud of these accomplishments, we continue to strive for excellence with other accreditations and certifications that will soon come. These high standards do not come without hard work and dedication from our staff, but the results are well worth it as we strive to provide the best care for our patients.
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memorial
Medical Milestones Center of Excellence
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Memorial for Women Receives Recognition
Memorial Medical Group Adds Specialists
State-of-the-Art 6 Radiology Adds the Latest in Diagnostics
Devastation to Determination
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Local Athlete Returns for Senior Season
Cover Story
New Doctors 12
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Heart Care that is Second to None
Lake Charles Memorial Health System and its related entities comply with applicableZone 14 Federal civil rights laws and does not Construction discriminate on theUndergoing basis of race, color, national origin, age, Patient Rooms Renovations disability, or sex.
Chaplain’s Desk 16 Lake Charles Memorial Health System respecte les lois fédérales of Life aux droits civiques et ne pratique aucune enTreasures vigueur relatives discrimination basée sur la race, la couleur de peau, l'origine nationale, l'âge, le ou un handicap. Calendar ofsexe Events 18 Education Classes & Support Groups
Lake Charles Memorial Health System cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. Lake Charles Memorial Health System tuân th lu t dân quy n hi n hành c a Liên bang và không phân bi t i x d a trên tu i, khuy t t t, ho c ch ng t c, màu da, ngu n g c qu c gia, gi i tính.
Patient Non-Discrimination:
Language Assistance:
Lake Charles Memorial Health System and its related entities comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
Lake Charles Memorial Health System offers language translation service free of charge to our patients and families, as well as assistance for those with visual or hearing impairments. Our House Supervisor can assist in connecting patients and families with assistance. Call 1-337-480-8430.
Lake Charles Memorial Health System respecte les lois fédérales en vigueur relatives aux droits civiques et ne pratique aucune discrimination basée sur la race, la couleur de peau, l'origine nationale, l'âge, le sexe ou un handicap. Lake Charles Memorial Health System cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. Lake Charles Memorial Health System tuân th lu t dân quy n hi n hành c a Liên bang và không phân bi t i x d a trên tu i, khuy t t t, ho c ch ng t c, màu da, ngu n g c qu c gia, gi i tính.
Lake Charles Memorial Health System offers language translation service free of charge to our patients and families, as well as 3 assistance for those with visual or hearing impairments. Our
ATTENTION : Si vous parlez français, des services d'aide Page 10 linguistique vous sont proposés gratuitement. Appelez le 1-337480-8430. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-337-480-8430. CHÚ : N u b n nói Ti ng Vi t, có các d ch v h tr ngôn ng mi n phí dành cho b n. G i s 1-337-480-8430.
Memorial Hospital for Women
MEMORIAL FOR WOMEN AIMIS TEAM Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women has been once again been designated a Center of Excellence for minimally invasive surgeries by the American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery (AIMIS). Memorial for Women has held this designation since 2013. A hospital or surgical center can be recognized as a Center of Excellence once it has combined efforts with an accredited AIMIS surgeon and meets AIMIS standards. Memorial for Women exceeds the national average for open versus minimally invasive hysterectomies.
Innovations
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~ named Center of Excellence AIMIS is the nation’s pre-eminent educator of minimally invasive surgical techniques. The organization teaches minimally invasive methods, and also supports graduates and members with opportunities to find marketing support, consulting services and strategies to help them grow and strengthen their practices. AIMIS also provides resources for patients, corporate partners and physician members and affiliates to help foster progress throughout the medical profession.
Family Birth Center West Opens Memorial for Women recently opened its new Family Birth Center West wing. The new addition consists of 14 state-of-the-art birthing suites and two high-tech operating rooms.
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RADIOLOGY UPGRADES Memorial Radiology is investing in the latest equipment. Memorial Radiology continues to stay at the forefront of diagnostic and procedure technology by investing in the latest equipment. This year Memorial upgraded its radiographic and fluoroscopic room, CT scan capabilities and nuclear medicine. The new radiographic and fluoroscopic room has an elevating table and flat plate detector technology which makes it easier for patients to get on the table and provides better image quality. The addition of a 128 slice CT allows faster scans with less motion and better image quality. The dual head nuclear camera allows hospital staff to image patients on their bed without having to move them to another table.
128 SLICE CT SCANNER
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DUAL HEAD NUCLEAR ROOM
RADIOGRAPHIC and FLUOROSCOPIC ROOM 7
devastation to determination
Barbe’s Davis Meche hands off to Chase Ardoin during their game at Barbe High School. Friday, October 18, 2019. (Courtesy of Rick Hickman/Lake Charles American Press) 8
Any time there’s an injury that needs surgery, about a third of it is the surgeon and the surgery that’s done, about a third of it is the rehab, and another third is the mental condition of the player.
Brett Cascio, MD Orthopedic Surgeon Chase Ardoin was preparing for a promising junior season as a running back on the Barbe High School football team. During a scrimmage before the 2018 season, he took the handoff and was met by two defenders who brought him down in a tackle that would alter life as he knew it.
“It was an arthroscopic surgery, we basically went through two poked holes, we found the ligament ends that were torn, and we reattached them with some anchors and then used regenerative medicine to help the ligaments heal back to where they belong,” Cascio said.
“It was a run play, I got the ball and I had two people come and tackle me. All the weight of them put so much pressure on my knee, it just dislocated,” Ardoin said. “I don’t really know how to explain it, but I thought I broke my leg in half.”
Even with the odds stacked against him, Ardoin wasn’t going to let his injury slow him down. Once the surgery was done, he spent the next year rehabbing his knee in hopes of getting back in the game. “For a minute I thought I really wasn’t going to be able to. Once I got it in my head that I really wanted to play again, nothing could stop me,” Ardoin said. “I definitely think God had a plan for me and I’m glad his plan is working out.”
Ardoin came to the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital emergency room where he found out that in addition to the dislocation, he also had multiple torn ligaments. Memorial Medical Group Orthopedic Surgeon Brett Cascio, MD took a look at the injury and knew how serious it was, and that there was a very small chance of Ardoin ever playing football ever again.
“Any time there’s an injury that needs surgery, about a third of it is the surgeon and the surgery that’s done, about a third of it is the rehab and another third is the mental condition of the player,” Cascio said.
“This is a freak accident that occurs usually when there’s a lot of force,” Dr. Cascio said. “If you take all the ACL tears we see and or all the PCL tears we see, this is probably 1 percent of all those injuries we see. Yet, it’s very dangerous because he could’ve torn the arteries and veins in the back of his knee and you could lose your leg with this type of devastating injury.”
Ardoin’s confidence helped him pull through. With that determination, Ardoin fully recovered just in time for this 2019 football season and was back in the Barbe backfield spending his senior season on the gridiron. For more information on sports medicine or orthopedics call 337.494.4900 or go to www.lcmh.com/sportsmedicine.
Trained with a fellowship in sports medicine, Dr. Cascio has seen all types of injuries from school age kids to professional athletes. Dealing with athletes is his specialty. Lake Charles Memorial Sports Medicine is the medical provider for all Calcasieu Parish High Schools and part of the medical team for McNeese State Athletics.
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Cover Story Lake charles memorial receives nation’s first TAVR certification Lake Charles Memorial’s Heart & Vascular team is leading the nation once again by becoming the first, out of 645 programs nationwide, to receive the prestigious certification by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). The TAVR procedure is a less invasive option to replace diseased aortic valves without open heart surgery. Memorial’s TAVR team – led by Cardiovascular/ Thoracic Surgeon J. Gregory Lugo, MD, and Interventional Cardiologists Edward Bergen, DO, and Christopher Thompson, MD – received the certification by implementing best practices and achieving quality outcomes. Aortic stenosis occurs when calcium builds up within the aortic valve, limiting the valve’s ability to open and close. As the condition progresses, the valve opening narrows, obstructing blood flow and forcing the heart to pump harder. The progression of aortic stenosis cannot be reversed or stopped but requires surgical intervention to treat. Studies show that the survival rate of aortic stenosis without intervention is as low as 50 percent at two years after the onset of symptoms. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure, in which the bioprosthetic valve is crimped onto a catheter over a balloon. The catheter (a long, thin, flexible tube), is then inserted through the femoral artery in the groin and advanced to the heart for implantation. When the valve is positioned inside the existing aortic valve, the balloon is inflated, and the new valve is immediately operable. This procedure doesn’t require removal of the existing valve, as the valve leaflets act as an anchor for the new valve.
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TAVR is a minimally invasive valve replacement procedure.
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Gregory Lugo, MD Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeon
Edward Bergen, DO Interventional Cardiologist
Christopher Thompson, MD Interventional Cardiologist
“Patients who are not surgical candidates due to advanced age, frailty, or co-morbidities now have an opportunity to be evaluated and treated. TAVR greatly benefits those who are suffering from heart failure due to their valve and offers them hope for a better quality of life.” says Misty Theriot, Registered Nurse and Valve Clinic Coordinator. “Our heart team takes a truly patient-centered approach when developing treatment plans for these patients, ensuring that they are involved in each step of the process.” The ACC validated that Memorial meets set standards for multidisciplinary teams, formalized training, shared decision-making and registry performance. Hospitals that achieve Transcatheter Valve Certification have access to best practices to support decision-making in the care of individual patients and to track data to identify opportunities for improvement. “We are proud to recognize Lake Charles Memorial Hospital as the first recipient of ACC Transcatheter Valve Certification,” said Phillip Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “Lake Charles achieved this distinction by developing processes to standardize patient care and increase quality measurement, thereby demonstrating their commitment to providing evidence-based, patientcentered care to patients undergoing transcatheter valve therapies in southwest Louisiana.” While being the first certified program in the nation was not the goal, achieving the best patient outcomes is, and will continue to be, the Heart & Vascular team’s priority. For more information about the TAVR procedure, please call the Memorial Medical Group Valve Clinic at 337.494.4759 or go to www.lcmh.com/heart.
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new doctors at memorial Jeffrey Balazsy, MD • Orthopaedic Surgeon • Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon Jeffrey Balazsy, MD, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained adult and pediatric orthopedic surgeon and orthopedic trauma surgeon. Dr. Balazsy comes to Memorial from McLaren Medical Center-Macomb in Mt. Clements, Michigan. Dr. Balazsy received his bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Cleveland State University. He has a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Ohio College of Pediatric Medicine and he received his medical degree from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. His post-graduate training includes a pediatric surgical residency at St. John Macomb Center, an orthopedic surgical residency at William Beaumont Hospital and an orthopedic trauma fellowship at MetroHealth Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Balazsy is board-qualified in reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. He is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatric Surgery, American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is also a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Faculty Member of AO North America, Florida State Medical Society, Ohio State Medical Society, Michigan State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. Lake Charles Memorial Hospital 1717 Oak Park Boulevard, 3rd Floor 337.494.4900 www.lcmmg.com
Farjaad Siddiq, MD • Urologist Farjaad Siddiq, MD, FACS, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained urologist. He grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. After graduating summa cum laude from Providence College, he obtained his medical degree from Brown University, graduating among the top of his class. His post-graduate training includes a general surgery internship and then a urology residency at Brown University and Affiliated Hospitals. He completed a fellowship in endourology, laparoscopy, and robotic surgery at the University of Miami. Dr. Siddiq specializes in minimally invasive urologic surgery using the da Vinci surgical system. He was one of the first physicians in Louisiana to offer robotic prostatectomy for prostate cancer, performing the first da Vinci prostatectomy in Lake Charles in 2006. This revolutionary technique to urological surgery allows for quick recovery and less scarring. Dr. Siddiq has extensive experience in laparoscopic and robot surgery involving: kidney, prostate and bladder cancers, as well as urologic reconstructive procedures. Dr. Siddiq treats all urological conditions such as BPH, low testosterone, infertility, ED, urinary incontinence and kidney stones. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Urological Association, the Endourology Society, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons and the Society of Robotic Surgery. Advanced Urology 1715 Wolf Circle in Lake Charles and 3924 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur 337.480.7499 www.lcmmg.com 12
Orthopaedics
•
Neurosurgery
•
Urology
Kim Poludnianyk, DO • Orthopaedic Surgeon • Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon Kim Poludnianyk, DO, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon and orthopedic trauma surgeon. She comes to Memorial from Bay Medical in Panama City, Florida. Dr. Poludnianyk received her medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her post-graduate training includes an internship at Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center in Mount Clemens, Michigan, an orthopedic surgery residency also at Mount Clemens and an orthopedic trauma fellowship at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Poludnianyk is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Osteopathic Association, Florida Medical Association, Michigan Osteopathic Association and Orthopedic Trauma Association. Lake Charles Memorial Hospital 1717 Oak Park Boulevard, 3rd Floor 337.494.4900 www.lcmmg.com.
Matthew McCarley, MD • Orthopedic Hand Surgeon Matthew McCarley, MD, is a fellowship-trained orthopedic hand surgeon. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Texas at Austin. He received his medical degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in Lubbock. His post-graduate training includes an orthopedic residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and a fellowship in hand surgery at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Dr. McCarley is a candidate member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. His office is located inside Lake Charles Memorial Hospital 1717 Oak Park Boulevard, 3rd Floor 337.494.4900 www.lcmmg.com
Matthew Burton, MD • Neurosurgeon Neurosurgeon Matthew Burton, MD, is a native of Lake Charles and has a degree in biological science from McNeese State University. He received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. His post-graduate training includes a neurosurgery residency at the University of Missouri. Dr. Burton is also a published researcher. Lake Charles Memorial Hospital 2770 3rd Avenue, Suite 110 337.494.4747 www.lcmmg.com 13
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A FRESH LOOK
NEW ROOMS & BATHROOMS Memorial is investing in patient comfort with a floor-by-floor complete renovation on the patient tower. Currently, the 4th floor of the tower is undergoing a transformation with all new rooms, bathrooms and nurse stations. The remodel was designed by Memorial nurse leadership to be the most beneficial for patient care. The 7th floor is next on the renovation list with the other floors to follow. Please bear with us as we undergo this transformation for you!
The 4th floor of the patient tower is transforming, with the 7th floor coming next!
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BUTTERFLY GARDEN OPENS
A new space for patients and visitors has undergone a transformation. The Butterfly Garden at Memorial Hospital has officially opened, providing an area where visitors can come to relax and enjoy a nice space outdoors. It is made possible by donations from Memorial staff through The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial’s Give A Day program. The mural was done by local artist Candice Alexander and the sidewalks and benches were done by local artist Susan Hebert. 15
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Chaplain’s Desk: Dig Deep and Find the Treasures of Life Mary Anning is one of my favorite heroines. Hers is a story of courage in the face of adversity and a woman with a pioneer spirit. Set in the Victorian Era, her story is akin to the plight of women in Pride and Prejudice, which required women to be strong willed, tenacious, and have a determination to persevere. Mary was born in 1799 into a poor family in Dorset on the coast of southwest England. Her parents had ten children, all of them save Mary and her older brother Joseph, died in infancy. When Mary was just 11 years old, her father, a cabinet maker, died. This left Mary and Joseph responsible to care for their mother and pay off their father’s debt. Mary had very little education. Like many children of that time, she learned to read and write in Sunday School of a Congregationalist Church. Later, she taught herself mathematics and geography. Mary gazed at the ocean and all the shells which had washed up onto the beach. She and her brother began collecting them and selling them to tourists; much the same as you and I might buy if we were to go shopping at the tourist shops along the beach at Galveston Island. Mary’s work wasn’t very profitable, but at age 11, she and her brother who was 16 at the time, managed to pay the rent and the inherited debts. Then, Joseph received a job as an apprentice to become an upholsterer. This left Mary alone to care for her mother and pay down the remainder of her father’s debts. One day Mary noticed something along the coast that other people had overlooked. She saw the fossilized remains of strange creatures. She had read about them in books she borrowed. Bones of this sort had been found in Germany and France, but not in England. She was only 12 years old when she uncovered the fossil of an Ichthyosaur, an ancient extinct marine reptile, fully intact. Later she found the fossilized skeleton of a Plesiosauris diolichoderius. At first she thought it was a flying creature, but later discovered it was a different type of marine reptile she had never found before. Mary then employed a more scientific way of excavating ancient fossils. She developed a grid system and used a trowel and a brush
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Rev. Dr. David DeWitt Director of Pastoral Care I believe, buried deep inside each of us, there is a treasure just waiting to be found. for excavation. These methods are still used today. She began to hypothesize that the earth might be older than the roughly 6,000 years of age as determined by dating the age of the earth utilizing the King James Version of the Bible. The Royal Society and the clergy brushed her aside. This was 20 years before Darwin wrote the Origin of Species in 1859. In those days people didn’t know species went extinct. They thought they just moved to different areas. Mary tried in vain to present her findings to the Royal Society in London, but was turned away because she was a woman. The society told her that women were not capable of being scientists. Although rejected, there were some men in the society who realized she was on to something. They moved in like vultures. Nefarious men would buy fossils from Mary at dirt cheap prices. They would then take the fossils to London and sell them at auction at extravagantly high prices. Some men bought fossils and Mary’s sketches and claimed they had unearthed them and claimed credit for the drawings and presented them at the society where they won medals and honorary prizes. None the less, Mary kept working. She had to; this had become her livelihood, even though she knew she was being taken advantage of. It was finally Swiss Paleontologist Louis Agassiz who came to her rescue.
is stroke team s l’ a ri o m e ay M ago, I have to s ke a month o tr s y m d hen I ha ok there, it to amazing. W t o g e c n la bu me the am nd from the ti to access a s te u in m total of 12 of this the team a d, because n a e m to w A drug get the TP ll have a fe ti s I . d re e v e fully reco heal. team, I hav that will all y ll fu e p o h with time cient issues, but ring and effi a c , k ic u q was very I am This team this team, d n a d o G f se o and becau . l & blessed fu te ra g r e forev
Letters
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Dig Deep and Find the Treasures of Life, cont’d. He began to buy her fossils at full fair market value and drove up the price of her work. Finally, things began to pay off. The Royal Society then awarded her £25 as an annual pension and to provide financial security for the work she had done. Those who had stolen her work and her name had to retract their claims, awards and medals and give credit to Mary. But for as much as Mary was known for her fossils, she was known for her kindness and her generous spirit. Even in her most difficult days, she gave to others. She went through the town and made sure people had money to buy food and pay their rent. Times were hard. Unknown to everyone, the volcanic eruptions of Pago, Mount Tambora and, yes, even Mount St. Helens in the early and mid 1800’s created a cloud of ash and dust which caused very cold temperatures for England and other countries. The result was a short growing season and in some cases no crop season and numerous crop failures. What little grain which was grown was diverted to the troops fighting in the Napoleonic wars. There are times when life can seem unfair and be unfair. All of us must work hard to afford groceries, pay rent or a mortgage, pay for our vehicles, and the other bills seem to just pile up. Times were hard for Mary in so many ways. But in those hard times, Mary “Dug In” so to say and quite literally, she dug into the cliffs. I believe, buried deep inside each of us, there is treasure just waiting to be found. When life is tough, that becomes a time for us to dig deeper in our faith and dig deeper in prayer. As we weather the storms of life, we can make it and prevail with kindness, gentleness, love, hospitality, and humility. So dig in, there is a wealth of treasure within you that can help you and can be shared with others to help them. 17
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 tips
undergoing treatment, or who have completed treatment.
and support. For more information, call Sabrina Sonnier at
For more information call Ashley Rene, LMSW, (337) 494-
(337) 842-5939.
4644. Held 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
LA LECHE LEAGUE A breastfeeding group, La Leche League offers a series
support when living with diabetes. Located at Memorial’s
of meetings consisting of four classes that are helpful for
Diabetes Education Office, 2804 2nd Avenue. For more information, call Memorial’s Diabetes Education at (337) 4946425.
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 Diabetes Education Office • 10am – 11am
Memorial for Women Education Room 2 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) 433-5817. Held every quarter. Advance registration required. Shearman Conference Room • Noon - 2:00pm SMOKING CESSATION CLASSES Call JoAnn Brooks at (337) 480-8308 for more information. Moss Memorial
January 13
May 18
September 14
Health Clinic Building J, Room 102 8:30am - 10:30am
February 10 March 16 April 20
June 15 July 13 August 17
October 19 November 16 December 14
STROKE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP Come take part in Lake Charles Memorial’s newest support group for stroke survivors. Get together each month to learn about local services offered, provide support strategies, tips for enhancing their recovery, and hear stories from fellow stroke survivors. Come and enjoy activities and get to know other stroke survivors like you! First Thursday of every month • 3-4 pm MOB II conference room on the first floor 18
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. ONE DAY PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASS
BABY CARE CLASS
Learn comfort, relaxation, positioning, breathing, and massage techniques for increasing the comfort level and enhancing the
The Baby Care Class reviews newborn characteristics, general baby care, early parenting issues and community resources.
birth experience during this condensed version of the Prepared
Recommended during the last 3 months of pregnancy.
Childbirth Series. Recommended for the last 3 months of pregnancy.
January 20 • March 9 • May 18 • July 13 September 21 • November 9
January 25 • February 15 • March 14 • April 18 • May 16 • June 13 July 11 • August 29 • September 19 • October 17 • November 14
6pm – 8pm • $10/Couple
9am – 4pm • $40/Couple INFANT AND CHILD CPR CLASS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS Learn and practice rescue for choking and CPR for infants. This BREASTFEEDING CLASS
is NOT a certifying or credentialing course, but is recommended
Learn positioning, latch-on, early feedings and the importance of assessing baby’s intake during the Breastfeeding Class. Recommended during the last 3 months of pregnancy.
for expectant parents, new parents and support persons. February 5 • April 8 • June 17 • August 26 October 21 • November 18
January 23 • February 13 • March 12 • April 16 • May 14 • June 18 July 9 • August 20 • September 17 • October 15
6pm – 8:30pm • $10/Person
November 5 • December 3 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
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. June 10 • July 1 8:30am - 3:30pm | $40/Sitter
will receive informative guidelines and everyone will tour the mother/baby unit. January 27 • March 16 • May 11 • July 6 September 14 • November 16 6pm – 7pm • $10/Family
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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 Health System. The information in this newsletter is intended to inform patients and potential patients about subjects pertinent to their care not as medical education. © 2019 Printed in U.S.A.
Nursing Careers Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a vocation. At Lake Charles Memorial, our nursing careers require caring, compassionate individuals to wear the nursing badge of honor. We are cultivating an environment that nurtures the very people that nurture others, building a service excellence team that is setting the nursing bar high. And Memorial Hospital is committed to taking care of our caregivers, so that our patients receive the care that they need. Here’s how. • Flexible schedules
• Sick child day care
• Shared governance
• Relocation assistance
• Part-time 3p-7p shifts
• Child care assistance
• Buddy schedules
• Nurse Residency Program
• Enhanced benefits
• Service Excellence program
• Team nursing units
Visit www.lcmh.com/nursing
