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St. Charles Parish Hospital Chef Considered One of Best in Louisiana

St. Charles Parish Hospital’s Director of Food & Nutrition Services has recieved a great honor in the culinary field. Chef Blaine Guillot has been named one of Louisiana’s Best Chefs in 2012. After an in depth review process, the American Culinary Federation of New Orleans picked those that they consider to be the top 30 chefs in Louisiana.

Blaine, along with the other top chefs, will cook at an event in April which the public can buy tickets to and enjoy food cooked by the top chefs in Louisiana. Proceeds from the event will go to help the Children’s Hospital’s Cancer Program as well as the International School of Louisiana and culinary scholarships. Other chefs will include Spencer Minch of Emeril’s Delmonico, David Haydel, Jr of Haydel’s Bakery, and Chef John Folse.

The American Culinary Federation New Orleans was founded in 1978 under the name of Les Chefs des Cuisine d La'Louisian. It changed its name to ACF New Orleans in 1991 to comply with ACF Guide Lines. They are an affiliate chapter of the American Culinary Federation and are a professional organization for Chefs and Cooks in the Greater New Orleans Area.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Recognized for Excellence in Marketing and Public Relations

St. Charles Parish Hospital’s Marketing Department was recently recognized with a Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Hospital Public Relations and Marketing. The honor was awarded by the Louisiana Hospital Association for the Marketing Teams Physician Outreach Campaign which showed excellence in a print advertising campaign. Director of Marketing Quinn Landry and Media Communications Assistant Blaine Faucheux were on hand to except the award on behalf of not only the Marketing Department but also St. Charles Parish Hospital as a whole.

The Pelican Awards are given each year to honor exemplary efforts in hospital public relations and marketing among LHA members. The awards are handed out during the annual fall meeting of the Louisiana Society for Hospital Public Relations & Marketing, for work done the previous year.

Left to right: Fred Martinez, CEO, Blaine Faucheux, Media Communications Assistant,

Quinn Landry, Director of Marketing & John Landry, Hospital Board President.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Celebrates the 32nd Annual Alligator Festival

The Alligator festival in St. Charles Parish is bigger than ever and continues the practice of giving back to the community, not only by giving them a good time and great food, but most importantly helping fund some of the parish's most vital causes. Run by the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish, the Alligator Festival is produced and staffed entirely by club members with the help of local businesses and is the largest festival in the Parish.

St. Charles Parish Hospital, in partnership with Ochsner Health System, is proud to be the largest sponsor of the festival. The Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish believes in giving back to the community which is just as important to St. Charles Parish Hospital. Proceeds from the festival fund 8 college scholarships and 2 vocational/technical scholarships for graduating high school seniors. Money is also used to fund projects such as the United Way of St. Charles Parish, St. Charles Parish Social Concerns, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, as well as local schools.

In addition to sponsoring the event, St. Charles Parish Hospital supplies EMS services as well as fans to all attendees.

Local Students Say “It’s Up to Me to be Drug Free”

St. Charles Parish Hospital is proud to once again be a sponsor of Red Ribbon Week at St. Rose Elementary. Red Ribbon Week teaches students the importance of taking a stand against drugs. This year’s annual Red Ribbon Week took place October 24-28, 2011 and its theme was “It’s Up to Me to be Drug Free.”

Students all over the parish participated in events at their schools designed to help them remember the importance of taking a stand against drug in the constant fight for a drug free America. Special events and activities included wearing crazy socks to sock it to drugs, wearing sunglasses to shade out drugs, and “trunk-or-treating” to go with the tagline “Hocus Pocus, Drugs aren’t my focus.”

Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. Although the start end dates can vary slightly depending on the organization and source, Red Ribbon Week generally takes place the last full week in October. Red Ribbon Week serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of our children through a commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment to live drug free lives with the ultimate goal being the creation of drug free America.

Students at St. Rose Elementary, along with their teacher Casey Cook and Director of Marketing at St. Charles Parish Hospital, Quinn Landry, show off their crazy socks as they “Sock it to Drugs.”

Local Students and Santa Help Ring in the Holidays at St. Charles Parish Hospital

Sounds of the holidays could be heard echoing in the halls of St. Charles Parish Hospital as the man himself, Santa Claus, paid a visit to nearly two hundred excited children who had been looking forward to their meeting with jolly Saint Nick.

Pre-K and kindergarten students from Luling Elementary helped spread the holiday cheer by decorating the hospital’s holiday tree with handmade ornaments. The tree will remain up outside the Oyster’s Pearl throughout the holiday season and is a wonderful showcase of the students’ creativity.

After decorating the tree students were treated to warm baked holiday cookies and juice as well as a small gift. The smiles only got bigger when Santa himself showed up and visited with each child, taking a photo with each one as a keepsake. To wrap up the festivities Santa joined the students in singing carols.

The Auxiliary at St. Charles Parish Hospital has hosted the Children’s Christmas Tree Trimming Party for many years.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Nurses Recognized as Top 100 in Louisiana

Every year since 1986, the Great 100 Nurses Foundation honors who they consider to be Louisiana's 100 greatest nurses. This year, St. Charles Parish Hospital nurses Lisa Bourgeois, Joy Cochran, and Jo Rae Wood were recognized as three of the Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana.

Nurses are nominated by peers, family members, friends, or patients who must answer three questions: What has the nominated nurse done for humanity, what has the candidate done for the profession, and how has this person served as a mentor or role model for other nurses? An anonymous group of reviewers then score the unidentified nominees based on nominators' answers to determine the Great 100.

All three were nominees were greatly touched by the honor. Joy Cochran stated, “It’s an honor to be recognized for the work that I love to do!”

With similar feelings Jo Rae Wood said, “I am proud to receive this award as a validation of my years of dedication to my nursing Profession.”

St. Charles Parish Hospital is proud to have three nurses in Louisiana’s greatest 100. Fred Martinez, CEO states, “We are very proud of the contribution they make to the care of our patients. They continuously exemplify what it takes to be not only a caring and dependable nurse, but also a hardworking medical professional.”

From Left to Right: Lisa Bourgeois, Joy Cochran, and Jo Rae Wood

St. Charles Parish Hospital Holds Annual Pre-Sports Physicals

St. Charles Parish Hospital held its annual pre-sports physicals for middle schools in St. Charles Parish on Saturday, August 20th.

This event is organized annually by the hospital at the request of the middle schools in order to provide parents a convenient way to get physicals for their children in time for the upcoming school athletic year. Coaches from several of the middle schools were present to meet the parents and children as well as answer any questions that they may have had.

The physicals lasted from 8:00 A.M. until 3:30 P.M. with a total of 277 students in attendance. All students received a medical history screening, a thorough orthopedic screening, and a comprehensive screening by physicians and staff.

St. Charles Parish Hospital would like to thank all of its employees who participated in the pre-sports physicals. Everyone worked efficiently to make the event a great success.

The hospital would also like to thank all of the parents and students who attended Saturday’s pre-sports physicals as well as all of the coaches who were there to assist.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Hosts School-to-Career Internships

The 2-day program provides educators with an opportunity to get a better understanding of the healthcare environment. They learn about the careers their students may be interested in pursuing, as well as the schooling required, areas of academic strength need for particular fields of study, salary ranges and the daily demands of various jobs. The first-hand experience they gain enables them to better educate students about particular fields in healthcare, as well as enhance the material being taught in their classes with application to healthcare professions.

Following a brief orientation, the teachers were given a basic tour of the hospital. On the second day of the internship, the teachers were given a more in-depth tour of the hospital and were able to interact closely with the different departments. St. Charles Parish Hospital is happy to be a part of this wonderful program, and proud to help educate the future leaders of the healthcare industry.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Says “Thank You” to Auxiliary

St. Charles Parish Hospital honored its Auxiliary on Tuesday, April 12, during National Volunteer Appreciation Week, with an Appreciation Luncheon at Zydeco’s Cajun Restaurant in Luling. Volunteers and guests were welcomed by Kay Spruill, Director of Volunteer Services. Expressing appreciation of the volunteers’ service and dedication to the hospital’s patients, employees, and visitors were Fred Martinez, Jr., Chief Executive Officer; Karen Guillot, Chief Operating Officer; and John Landry, Hospital Board Chairman. Also participating in the afternoon’s activities were Peter Torsch, Chief Financial Officer; Jean Hill, Chief Nursing Officer; and Quinn Landry, Director of Marketing. Faye Caire, Retired Senior Volunteer Program Director thanked the volunteers for their community involvement through volunteering.

Volunteer Hour Service Pins and Certificates of Appreciation were presented to nineteen volunteers. A total of 3,926.2 volunteer service hours were donated to the hospital by the Auxiliary in 2010. The three volunteers recognized for the most service hours were Shirley Gaubert (375 hrs.), Ilia Ramirez (385.5 hrs.), and Maddie Fabre (683.3 hrs.).

“We love and appreciate our volunteers.” said Mrs. Spruill. If you would like to make new friends, make a difference in your community, and receive great satisfaction from helping others, please consider volunteering at St. Charles Parish Hospital. Contact Kay Spruill at 985-785-4258.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Peanut Butter Drive Sees another Successful Year

St. Charles Parish Hospital organized the annual Peanut Butter Drive for the St. Charles Parish Social Concerns. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the hospital was able to collect 284 jars of peanut butter and $382.00 in cash. This year’s peanut butter drive differed from previous years as the annual Krewe of Lul Parade was cancelled due to weather issues leaving only the Krewe of Des Allemands Parade available for the collecting of donations.

Hospital employees accompanied “Mrs. Peanut” in the parade, collecting donations of peanut butter and money along the way. Making donations more convenient for the community, this year’s peanut butter drive also included a drop off station outside of the Oyster’s Pearl Grill & Café located in St. Charles Parish Hospital.

The Peanut Butter Drive was a great success and St. Charles Parish Hospital would like to thank everyone who donated. You have made this event a wonderful success and have helped many of the less fortunate citizens of St. Charles Parish.

Pictured above: Karen Guillot, COO of St. Charles Parish Hospital and Sue Candies, Director of

St. Charles Parish Social Concerns

St. Charles Parish Hospital Auxiliary Officers Attend 2011 Annual Education Program

St. Charles Parish Hospital Auxiliary Officers, Chairman Shirley Gaubert, Vice-Chairman Betty Tregre, Secretary Mary Clulee, and Treasurer Frances Fabre; Kay Spruill, Volunteer Services Director; and Karen Guillot, Chief Operating Officer recently attended the Louisiana Society of Hospital Auxilians 2011 Annual Education Program, Volunteers a Work of Heart at the Louisiana Hospital Association Conference Center in Baton Rouge.

Attendees were treated to a seminar entitled “Get More Done: How to Enjoy & Supercharge Your Volunteer Life!” which outlined six ways to get more done and reach established goals. Twenty-five great time management tips were discussed, as well as tips to put an end to procrastination. Those in attendance also enjoyed a nice lunch accompanied by a lively raffle closing the day’s agenda.

The Louisiana Society of Hospital Auxilians develops unity among hospital auxiliaries throughout the state for the advancement and development of effective programs and services for the hospitals of Louisiana and their patients. The Society shall serve as a medium for the interchange of ideas and the dissemination of information and materials relative to the work of auxiliaries and auxilians.

Pictured Above: (L to R) Mary Clulee, Secretary; Betty Tregre, Vice-Chairman; Shirley Gaubert, Chairman; Shari Peace, Keynote Speaker, Frances Fabre, Treasurer; Kay Spruill, SCPH Volunteer Services Director; and Karen Guillot, SCPH Chief Operating Officer.

St. Charles Parish Hospital EMS Participates in an Impaired Driving

Mock Crash for Prom Season

St. Charles Parish Hospital EMS units were one of many state and local agencies participating in a mock crash involving impaired driving. Taking place at Harry Hurst Middle School in Destrehan, students from Hahnville and Destrehan High Schools were on hand as fellow students acted out a fatal crash scene scenario in front of their peers.

The mock crash emphasized the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving, the usage of seat belts, and the emotional suffering that families endure when a fatal crash occurs. Following the mock crash, students were able to see the legal ramifications of poor decision making, including fines and jail time, by participating in a mock trial. Personnel from each participating agency were also available afterwards to answer any questions.

The mock crash and trial were part of a continuing effort to reduce the number of underage DWI’s, serious injury crashes, and fatal crashes. Students were shown the importance of wise decisions throughout the course of their lives.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Employee Recognized by IEHA for 25yrs of Service

Sterling Poche, director of environmental services for St. Charles Parish Hospital, has been recognized by the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) for 25 years of service.

Poche was recently presented with a certificate for his accomplishments and his dedication to creating a cleaner, safer, and healthier hospital. While losing his local chapter after hurricane Katrina, Poche has continued his participation in the organization by staying in contact with the North Louisiana Chapter run out of Shreveport, LA. Part of Poche’s recognition will include a mention in an upcoming issue Executive Housekeeping Today.

The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA), is a 3,500-plus professional member organization for persons employed in facility housekeeping at the management level. The organization was founded in 1930 in New York City, and is now located in Westerville, Ohio. IEHA strives to provide its members with an array of channels through which they can achieve personal and professional growth.

Pictured Above: Board Chairman, John J. Landry III; Sterling Poche;

Fred Martinez, Jr., MBA, CEO;

St. Charles Parish Hospital Employee Appointed to the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Certification Commission

Ken Rousseau, MSHCM, NREMT-P director of emergency medical services for St. Charles Parish Hospital, has been appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Certification Commission.

Rousseau will be appointed to serve as an emergency medical services administrator representing the public sector selected from nominations from the EMS task force, as required by statute. Rousseau is one of only twelve (12) appointments made by the governor.

Serving as director of emergency medical services for St. Charles Parish Hospital as well as a member of the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department, Rousseau was nominated by the EMS task force. The EMS task force is comprised of individuals appointed by the assistant secretary of the Office of Public Health.

The Louisiana Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Certification Commission serves to identify, define and implement the appropriate functions and authorize pre-certification and post-certification training programs for emergency medical personnel.

Ken Rousseau, MSHCM, NREMT-P

St. Charles Parish Head Start Program Receives EMS Education

Members of the St. Charles Parish Hospital EMS team recently educated over one hundred 4-5 year olds participating in the St. Charles Parish Head Start program on a variety of EMS related subjects.

EMS staff members Brian Baio and Josh Falgoust brought their lesson to life by treating students to a tour of EMS units, all while showing the importance of ambulances in the modern medical system. Students were given a better understanding of what EMS involves and the daily duties of EMS and their effect on medical preparedness.

Local Executive Earns Top Healthcare Management Credential

Karen D. Guillot, FACHE, COO of St. Charles Parish Hospital, Luling,LA, recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders.

“Because healthcare management ultimately affects the people in our communities, it is critically important to have a standard of excellence promoted by a professional organization,” says Thomas C. Dolan, PHD, FACHE, CAE, president and chief executive officer of ACHE. “By becoming an ACHE fellow and simultaneously earning board certification from ACHE, healthcare leaders can show that they are committed to providing high -quality service to their patients and community.”

Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. In fact, only 8500 healthcare executives hold this distinction. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years. Guillot of St. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling, LA is privileged to use the FACHE credential, which signifies board certification in healthcare management and ACHE Fellow status.

For more information regarding the FACHE credential, please contact the ACHE Customer Service Center at (312) 424-9400 or contact@ache.org, or visit the Credentialing area of ache.org.

Karen Guillot

Corks and Canvas

The St. Charles Parish Hospital Auxiliary recently enjoyed a painting experience at Corks and Canvas in Metairie. After they sketched, set-up, and mixed the paint, their blank canvases were transformed stroke by stroke into beautiful masterpieces!

Creativity was abundant in the studio, along with chatter, laughter, and smiles. This painting class provided an excellent opportunity for the volunteers to come together in a non-work setting, socialize, and experience a new activity.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Nurses Recognized as Top 100 in Louisiana

Each year since 1986, the Great 100 Nurses Foundation honors who they consider to be Louisiana's 100 greatest nurses. This year, St. Charles Parish Hospital nurses Jean Hill, MHA, RN, ONC and Peter Keller, MSN, CCRN were recognized as two of the Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana.

Jean Hill, a nurse of 25 years, said, “I am honored to be recognized as a Great 100 Nurse. Over the years, I feel that I have made a difference in the lives of the patients I have treated and have made life-long friendships with co-workers along the way. Nursing has been a very rewarding, as well as challenging, career.”

According to Peter Keller, who has been a nurse for 5 years, “This was a real surprise to me. It just feels good to know that your peers think you do your job well enough to recognize you.”

Pictured above: Peter Keller, MSN, CCRN and Jean Hill, MHA, RN, ONC.

On Tuesday, September 21, 2010 St. Charles Parish Hospital broke ground on a new 12,000 square foot Emergency Department.

When citizens of St. Charles Parish need emergency care, a state-of-the-art Emergency Department will be only a few minutes away. The new Emergency Department at St. Charles Parish Hospital will utilize new designs developed and recommended by the Health Care Advisory Board from Washington D.C. This new Emergency Department will facilitate shorter wait times, increased patient privacy, larger rooms for ease in accessing and caring for patients and technologically advanced equipment.

The redesign of the Emergency Department will improve efficiency by reducing front-end bottlenecks resulting in faster care, implementing multifunctional treatment rooms to allow for more flexibility in their use, and allowing for movement of patients to appropriate care settings. The new design will relieve the strain on our Emergency Department and result in improved patient experiences.

According to St. Charles Parish Hospital CEO Fred Martinez, “When we commit to a project like this we try to approach it from multiple angles. We researched the latest in Emergency Department design and visited several hospitals around the country in order to determine what would work best for our community.” Martinez added that “with the help of Joe Guarisco, MD, Head of Emergency Medicine at Ochsner Health System, we were able to finalize the plans, and I believe the residents of St. Charles Parish will be pleased with the final product.”

The target for completion of the new Emergency Department is late 2011.

Pictured from Left: Gary Smith, State Representative, Timothy Vial, Chief Administrative Officer St. Charles Parish, Barbara Smith, Board of Commissioner, John J. Landry, III, Chairman Board of Commissioner, Councilman Shelley Tastet, Parish President V.J. St. Pierre, Fred Martinez, Jr., CEO (SCPH), Patrick J. Quinlan, M.D., CEO (OHS), Joseph Guarisco, M.D., Medical Director Emergency Services (OHS), C. Jayakrishnan, MD, Chief of Medical Staff (SCPH), Kathleen Landry, RN, Retired Board of Commissioner, and Martin Belanger, MD, Retired Chief of Medical Staff.

St. Charles Parish Hospital and Ochsner Donate Saints Tickets to St. Rose Elementary School, September 9, 2010.

St. Charles Parish Hospital in affiliation with Ochsner Health System donated 100 tickets to the Saints pre-season game against the San Diego Chargers on Friday, August 27, 2010 to the students at St. Rose Elementary School.

The tickets were distributed through a raffle and a handful of luck students were able to attend. According to Merlyna Adams (Principal of St. Rose Elementary School), “The students and families of St. Rose Elementary School would like to thank St. Charles Parish Hospital and Ochsner for the opportunity to experience the excitement of Saints Football. Students who demonstrated hard work and character were randomly selected. All families in attendance were ecstatic and greatly appreciated the chance to celebrate with their children.”

St. Charles Parish Hospital and Ochsner are proud to be able to bring happiness to the students at St. Rose Elementary School who are partners in education, and provide quality healthcare to community we serve. St. Charles Parish Hospital and Ochsner are a winning team for our community.

Pictured above: Students from St. Rose Elementary and Principal Merlyna Adams

St. Charles Parish Hospital held pre-sports physicals for middle schools in St. Charles Parish on Saturday, August 7, 2010.

This event is organized annually by the hospital at the request of the middle schools in order to provide parents a convenient way to get physicals for their children for the upcoming school athletic year. Coaches from several schools were present to meet the parents and children and answer any questions.

The physicals lasted from 8 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a total of 217 students in attendance. Students received comprehensive screenings by physicians and staff, a thorough orthopedic screening, and a medical history screening.

The hospital would like to thank all of its employees who participated in the pre-sports physicals. They all worked efficiently to make the event a great success. When asked about the physicals, Claudia Smith said, “This is a wonderful service the hospital is providing and it ran so smoothly.”

St. Charles Parish Hospital would like to thank the parents and students who attended Saturday’s pre-sports physicals.

Pictured Above: Tieranay Smith and Joe of the physical therapy department check her mobility.

St. Charles Parish Hospital and Shriners’ Hospital Host Orthopedic Outreach Clininc

June 30, 2010

Shriner’s Hospital, in cooperation with St. Charles Parish Hospital, held an orthopedic outreach clinic for the children of South Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on Saturday, June 26.

The clinic was held at the East Bank Medical Office building. Services provided at the clinic included a comprehensive office exam and x-rays when necessary. An Orthotist was also available to address issues related to orthopedic braces and other equipment.

This event provides services to children in our community and those in surrounding communities who otherwise would have to drive as far as Shreveport to receive these services.

St. Charles Parish Hospital is proud to be a part of this wonderful event. This is the sixth year that the hospital has hosted the outreach clinic.

Hayden Johnson of Mississippi, meets with the Shriner’s doctor.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Hosts School-to-Career Internships

June 14, 2010

Following a brief orientation, the teachers were given a basic tour of the hospital. On the second day of the internship, the teachers were given a more in-depth tour of the hospital and were able to interact closely with the different departments. When asked what he was most impressed with, Anitra Boyd said “I was impressed with the technology, and the overall cleanliness of the facility.” St. Charles Parish Hospital is happy to be a part of this wonderful program, and proud to help educate the future leaders of the healthcare industry.

Pictured from left to right are: Joy Cochran, Director of education at St. Charles Parish Hospital, Shannon Saulsberry, R.K. Smith Middle School, Trina Douglas, R.K. Smith Middle School, and Anitra Boyd, Hahnville High School.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Says “Thank You” to Volunteers

April 15, 2010

St. Charles Parish Hospital honored its Auxiliary on Tuesday, April 13, with an Appreciation Luncheon at Sal’s 90/West Restaurant. Volunteers and guests were welcomed by Kay Spruill, Director of Volunteer Services. Expressing appreciation of the volunteers’ service and dedication to the hospital’s patients, employees, and visitors were Fred Martinez, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Karen Guillot, Chief Operating Officer, Kathleen Landry, Hospital Board Member, and John Landry, Hospital Board Chairman.

Volunteer hour service pins and certificates of appreciation were presented to eighteen volunteers. A total of 3,796.25 volunteer hours were donated to the hospital by the Auxiliary in 2009. The three volunteers donating the most service hours were Ilia Ramirez (352.5 hrs), Eva Noto (634 hrs), and Maddie Fabre (650.25 hrs). All volunteers also received a gift of appreciation from the hospital.

“Volunteers are welcomed with open arms,” said Mrs. Spruill. If you would like to make new friends, learn new skills, and receive great satisfaction from helping others, please consider volunteering at St. Charles Parish Hospital. For more information contact Kay Spruill, Director of Volunteer Services, at (985) 785-4258.

Pictured Above: 1st row sitting, L to R: Joyce Horn, Lillie Fontenot, Ruth Schroeder, Shirley Gaubert (Aux. Pres.), Lorraine Keller, Juanita Woodruff. 2nd row, L to R: Sandra Hawkins (RSVP), Fay Caire (RSVP Director), Eva Noto, Maddie Fabre (Aux. Trea.), Ilia Ramirez, Marlene Savoie, Kathleen Landry (SCPH Board Member), Karen Guillot, (SCPH Chief Operating Officer), John Landry (SCPH Board Chairman).3rd row, L to R: Kay Spruill (SCPH Volunteer Services Director), Jean Hill, (SCPH Chief Nursing Officer), Don Moe, Mary Clulee (Aux. Sec.), Richard Keller, and Fred Martinez, Jr. (SCPH Chief Executive Officer). Not pictured Betty Tregre (Aux. Vice Chairman).

Healthiest Parishes in Louisiana – 2010

March 2, 2010

St. Charles Parish Hospital and St. Charles Community Health Center are encouraged by the recently released report by the University of Wisconsin which ranked the health of all 64 Louisiana parishes and in particular St. Charles Parish as the Tenth Healthiest Parish in Louisiana. This report also stressed the importance of parish-wide engagement and the role of health policy in local and state improvement efforts. This report provides confirmation that the collaborative efforts embarked upon St. Charles Parish Hospital and St. Charles Community Health Center aimed at the improvement in the overall quality of life for St. Charles Parish residents through the enhancement of healthcare services yields positive healthcare outcomes. Specific efforts by our two agencies have included expanded primary care and behavioral services for adults and children, obstetrical and gynecological care for women, preventative dental care and expanded specialty medical services in the areas of nephrology, surgery and neurology. Continued improvement efforts will be targeted through further evaluation of the study data and planning efforts by our agencies.

Peanut Butter Drive a Great Success

February 26, 2010

Many needy people benefited from the generosity of residence in St. Charles Parish. During the recent Luling and Des Allemands parades, St. Charles Parish Hospital organized the annual Peanut Butter Drive for the St. Charles Parish Social Concerns. Hospital employees accompanied “Mrs. Peanut” in both parades, collecting donations of peanut butter and money along the way.

Thanks to the generosity of the community, the hospital was able to collect 426 jars of peanut butter and $744.93 in cash. The Peanut Butter Drive was a great success and St. Charles Parish Hospital would like to thank everyone who donated. You have made this event a wonderful success and have helped many of the less fortunate citizens of St. Charles Parish.

Pictured above: Karen Guillot, COO of St. Charles Parish Hospital, and Jasmine Berfect-Gillis, Director of the St. Charles Social Concerns

EMS East Bank Station Opens

(January 27, 2010)

St. Charles parish hospital is proud to announce the opening of its first, permanent, state of the art, hurricane-ready EMS station on the East Bank of St. Charles Parish. This facility is equipped with the newest technology in communications which allows the EMS staff to communicate to all state and local healthcare providers. The facility is also completely self-sustainable and ready for any type of disaster. With a built in generator, sleeping quarters, full kitchen, and full bath this station is a first for the community of St. Charles Parish.

Pre-Sports Physicals

(August 17, 2009)

St. Charles Parish Hospital held pre-sports physicals for middle schools in St. Charles Parish on Saturday, August 15.

This event is organized annually by the hospital at the request of the middle schools in order to provide parents a convenient way to get physicals for their children for the up coming school athletic year. Coaches from several schools were present to meet the parents and children and answer any questions.

The physicals lasted from 8 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a total of 323 students in attendance. Students received comprehensive screenings by physicians and staff, a thorough orthopedic screening, and a medical history screening.

The hospital would like to thank all of its employees who participated in the pre-sports physicals. They all worked efficiently to make the event a great success. When asked about the physicals, Susie Latoer said, “The staff is very friendly and the whole event seems very well organized. This is a wonderful service the hospital is providing for residents of the parish.”

St. Charles Parish Hospital would like to thank the parents and students who attended Saturday’s pre-sports physicals.

Pictured Above: Gerald Miller checks the blood pressure of Drake Lambert.

Pictured Above: Gerald Miller checks the blood pressure of Drake Lambert.

Surgical Nurses Earn Certification Designation

(July 23, 2009)

St. Charles Parish Hospital nurses Lisa Bourgeois, Roxane Elliott, and Dana St. Pierre recently earned the CNOR credential, a professional designation specifically designed for nurses whose practice emphasis is in providing nursing care in the surgical setting.

Certification recognizes the professional achievement demonstrated when an individual nurse’s knowledge in the perioperative role exceeds that which is necessary for competency in practice. It indicates the attainment of a practice standard—licensure and registration are based on minimum competence while certification denotes proficiency. CNORs are valuable members of the health-care team. In 2005, the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI), the certifying body for operating room nurses, conducted research that showed certified nurses are more confident in their clinical abilities and have a strong commitment to quality patient care and continuing education. Results also supported the belief that patients were also more confident in the care they receive from a certified nurse. In general, nurses highly value certification and often seek it to fulfill intrinsic rewards such as professionalism and accountability.

St. Charles Parish Hospital is proud to have such a dedicated surgical staff and recognizes them for their efforts and achievements in improving the quality of patient care.

Pictured from left to right are: Dana St. Pierre, Roxane Elliott, and Lisa Bourgeois.

St. Charles Parish Hospital and Shriners’ Hospital Host Orthopedic Outreach Clininc

(June 27, 2009)

Shriner’s Hospital, in cooperation with St. Charles Parish Hospital, held an orthopedic outreach clinic for the children of South Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on Saturday, June 27.

This event provides Children in our community and those in surrounding communities who otherwise would have had to drive as far as Shreveport to receive these services.

St. Charles Parish Hospital is proud to be a part of this wonderful event. This is the fifth year that the hospital has hosted the outreach clinic.

St. Charles Parish Hospital’s Denise Lopez prepares Luke Plaisance for an X-ray.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Hosts School-to-Career Internships

(June 12, 2009)

St. Charles Parish Hospital, in collaboration with the St. Charles Parish Public School System, recently hosted three teacher interns from the School-to-Career Program. The participants for this year’s program were Lauren King and Denise Robichaux with the Health Sciences department at the St. Charles Parish Satellite Center, and Eric Scott, a Special Education teacher from Destrehan High School.

Following a brief orientation, the teachers were given a basic tour of the hospital. On the second day of the internship, the teachers were given a more in-depth tour of the hospital and were able to interact closely with the different departments. When asked what he was most impressed with, Eric Scott said “I was impressed with the technology, and how far the hospital has come over the years.” St. Charles Parish Hospital is happy to be a part of this wonderful program, and proud to help educate the future leaders of the healthcare industry.

IMGP2067 copy.jpg

Pictured from left to right are: Eric Scott, Special Education teacher from Destrehan High School, Lauren King, Health Sciences department at the St. Charles Parish Satellite Center, and Denise Robichaux, Health Sciences department at the St. Charles Parish Satellite Center.

Ochsner Expands St. Charles Parish Hospital Partnership

Family Practice and Blood Donation Services Help Grow Hospital Access and Care

(May 11, 2009)

On Monday, May 11, 2009, Ochsner joins the primary care physicians at St. Charles Parish Hospital (SPCH) and celebrates opening a new blood donation site, providing St. Charles Parish residents with additional accessibility to routine medical care and services closer to home.

Effective immediately, Ochsner Family Practitioner Dr. Walter Birdsall and Nurse Practitioner Anne Ledet will begin seeing patients at the newly-opened Ochsner Health Center – Luling, located within St. Charles Parish Hospital, and directly across the hall from the new Ochsner Blood Bank donor center.

“Louisiana is experiencing a critical shortage of primary care physicians who are the first line of defense in remaining healthy and diagnosing common illnesses,” explains Dr. Birdsall. “By offering additional family medicine care at St. Charles Parish Hospital, local residents will have the option to see a physician in their neighborhood. Ochsner’s presence will increase local access to basic medical care.” Dr. Birdsall has been practicing family medicine for over 25 years in south Louisiana.

Also joining Dr. Birdsall is Anne Ledet, NP-C, a registered nurse (RN) with 15 years experience. Anne possesses advanced training in the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions, including chronic illnesses. Nurse practitioners provide some of the same care as physicians, serve as a patient's primary healthcare provider, and offer high-quality, cost-effective individualized care that is covered by most insurance providers.

“In response to a growing demand for blood components, Ochsner will expand its blood services and donor programs benefiting patients at St. Charles Parish Hospital,” says Dr. Bobby Rodwig, Medical Director of The Ochsner Blood Bank. “This growth will also provide blood donors convenient access and, we hope, encourage frequent donations from the community.” The Ochsner Blood Bank’s mission is to provide an adequate and safe blood supply for the hospitals and communities it serves. For more information on locations or hosting a blood drive, call 504-842-3375.

“By growing Ochsner’s partnership with St. Charles Parish Hospital, we are furthering our commitment to increase availability of medical services where there is a need,” says Dr. Patrick Quinlan, Chief Executive Officer for Ochsner Health System. In January, Ochsner supported local cardiologists in expanding beyond general cardiology care by offering diagnostic cardiac services such as angiography and limited peripheral intervention.

“We are pleased to be able to offer additional primary care services to our community with the help of Ochsner’s family practice team, who have a longstanding reputation of excellence. We are also excited about the opening of the Ochsner Blood Bank Donor Center,” says Fred Martinez, CEO of St. Charles Parish Hospital. “Ochsner and St. Charles Parish Hospital are a winning team for our community.”

Ochsner now offers the following services at St. Charles Parish Hospital: Family Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, Neurology, and Hematology/Oncology.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Wins Pelican Award

(May 1, 2009)

St. Charles Parish Hospital recently received the Pelican Award for Public Relation Project for a Rural Hospital from the Louisiana Society for Hospital Public Relations and Marketing. This award recognizes quality, effectiveness and impact of hospital communications, public relations and marketing. The ceremony was held Friday, April 24, 2009 at the Sheraton Baton Rouge Convention Center.

St. Charles Parish Hospital won the coveted Pelican Award for its public relations campaign featuring the David J. Vial, M.D. Patient Care Centre’ which included market research, promotional materials and grand opening events. The David J. Vial, M.D. Patient Care Centre’ is an important step forward for healthcare in St. Charles Parish, and St. Charles Parish Hospital is proud to be recognized for the hard work and dedication that went into this project.

Pictured Above: Karen Guillot, RN, MSN, COO; Fred Martinez, Jr., MBA, CEO;

Pam Norfleet, PT, Director of Marketing; Brandon Kelly, Communications Writer;

Kayla Dantin, Marketing Secretary.

Volunteer Service Banquet

(April 24, 2009)

On Friday, April 17, St. Charles Parish Hospital hosted an awards banquet for members of its volunteer staff to express the hospital’s appreciation. Receiving awards for the top three in hours of service for 2008 were Lilly Fontenot (369.5 hrs), Maddie Fabre (391 hrs) and Eva Noto (393 hrs). Last year, 18 volunteers contribute a total of 3,525 hours of service to St. Charles Parish Hospital.

Volunteers provide many important services including the operation of the hospital’s gift shop, manning the information desk, serving refreshments to patients and visitors, and providing support services for daily operation of the hospital. Funds raised by the volunteers are used for many projects throughout the hospital. St. Charles Parish Hospital's Patient Education and Resource Library is fully equipped with videos, computerized information, educational models and other teaching materials donated by St. Charles Parish Hospital Auxiliary. Every year the volunteers present a scholarship to one student from both Destrehan and Hahnville High Schools who meet the criteria and are interested in pursuing a career in medicine.

Volunteering presents opportunities for making new friends, learning new skills, and receiving great satisfaction from helping others which is why many people find it fulfilling. If you or someone you know is interested in making a difference in the lives of others, please contact Kay Spruill, Director of Volunteer Services at 985-785-4258.

Pictured above: Volunteer Staff at St. Charles Parish Hospital

Dear St. Charles Parish Residents and Voters

(April 6, 2009)

Thank you for your support! Because of your confidence in St. Charles Parish Hospital, we will now be able to better serve our community by designing and constructing a new state-of-the-art Emergency Department, as well as purchasing the East Bank Ambulance Station and five new ambulances.

We are very proud to be part of the growth and progress of St. Charles Parish. We look forward to continuing to provide you with the highest level of healthcare available and enhancing the quality of life for the residents of our community.

Sincerely,

St. Charles Parish Hospital Board of Commissioners

Fred Martinez, Jr., CEO

Peanut Butter Drive a Great Success

(March 5, 2009)

Thanks to the generosity of the community, the hospital was able to collect 475 jars of peanut butter and $916 in cash. The Peanut Butter Drive was a great success and St. Charles Parish Hospital would like to thank everyone who donated. You have made this event a wonderful success and have helped many of the less fortunate citizens of St. Charles Parish.

Pictured above: Karen Guillot, COO of St. Charles Parish Hospital, Sue Candies, Thrift Store Manger, and Jasmine Berfect-Gillis, Director of the St. Charles Social Concerns

Ochsner Joins with St. Charles Parish Hospital to Grow Cardiac Services

Ochsner Adds Specialized Heart Care to Complement Local Physician Practices

(January 26, 2009)

On January 7, 2009, the Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute joined with cardiologists at St. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling, La to offer local residents specialized, diagnostic procedures closer to home. Ochsner interventional cardiologists Drs. Stephen Ramee and Mark Grise will work alongside St. Charles cardiologist Dr. C. Jayakrishnan to offer expanded diagnostic services to local residents.

“Ochsner and St. Charles Parish Hospital chose to partner after recognizing a need within the local community to expand beyond primary cardiology care and offer diagnostic cardiac services closer to home,” says Dr. Patrick Quinlan, Chief Executive Officer for Ochsner Health System. “Ochsner’s commitment to care for our communities means bringing initial or expanded medical services into local neighborhoods when there is a need.”

Ochsner’s medical staff will complement the excellent cardiac, surgical, renal, and imaging services already provided by St. Charles physicians. Ochsner will be able to perform angiography and limited peripheral intervention at St. Charles Parish Hospital and will be available for consultations in the clinic on site. Ochsner’s physicians will be available to see patients with the following medical conditions:

Peripheral Vascular Disease, including angiography

Invasive and Interventional cardiology, including coronary angiography
Renovascular Disease and Renovascular Hypertension
TIA, Stroke
Dialysis Access Failure
Structural Heart Disease, including Aortic, Pulmonic, and Mitral Valve Disease

To schedule an appointment, call 504-842-3724.

According to Dr. Stephen Ramee, Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute Head of Interventional Cardiology and Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Louisiana residents are known for their increased cardiac health risks, “Our diets, lifestyles, and genetics all attribute to an increased risk for cardiac blockages and other vascular problems. By combining general and specialized cardiology we can better diagnose and treat St. Charles residents; our goal is to help save lives and return patients to the care of their community physicians.”

St. Charles Parish Hospital has, for many years, provided the latest in non-invasive diagnostic testing for cardiovascular diseases and the only nationally certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in the river parish region. “We are pleased to be able to offer additional cardiology services to our community with the help of Ochsner’s cardiology team, who have a longstanding reputation of excellence,” says Fred Martinez, CEO of St. Charles Parish Hospital. “Ochsner and St. Charles Parish Hospital are a winning team for our community.”

Dr. Ramee goes on to explain that by bringing specialized cardiac care to St. Charles’ doorstep, residents may be more inclined to “take that additional step that could save their life.” “Patients want to receive healthcare in their neighborhood, and that’s why my colleagues and I travel from New Orleans to Ochsner St. Anne in Raceland, the North Shore, and now to St. Charles Parish,” says Ramee.

SCPH Names Manager of the Year for 2008

(January 1, 2009)

Pamela Norfleet was recently named Manager of the Year for 2008 at St. Charles Parish Hospital.

Mrs. Norfleet joined the hospital’s team in April, 1998 as Director of Rehabilitation Services. In 2004, she assumed the position of Director of Marketing and continues to serve in that role.

Mrs. Norfleet has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy.

Pam is a member of the Louisiana Society for Hospital Public Relations and Marketing. She was recently elected as a board member of the St. Charles Business Association. She is a member of the Head Start/Early Head Start Health Advisory Committee and also serves on the committee for the United Way of St. Charles Bridge Run. Pam also teaches religion at her local Church.

Pam is married to Charles S. Norfleet, Jr. of Luling. She has 3 children, Lauren (23), Slade (18), and Cameron (14). Pam enjoys being with her family, exercising and reading.

St. Charles Parish Hospital proudly recognizes Pamela Norfleet as Manager of the Year 2008. Congratulations, Pam, for a job well done!

Pictured from left to right: Fred Martinez, CEO, Pam Norfleet, Director for Marketing,

Karen Guillot, COO

St. Charles Parish Hospital Expansion Wins Award

(December 12, 2008)

The David J. Vial, M.D. Patient Care Centré at St. Charles Parish Hospital recently won an Award of Merit in healthcare from South Central Construction’s “Best of 2008.”

“Best of 2008” Construction and Design Awards were chosen from 100 nominated projects from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Voting on the Louisiana awards took place in Baton Rouge on September 9, 2008 and award winners were officially recognized at a luncheon on December 4, 2008 in Baton Rouge. The judges selected 34 projects as Louisiana’s “Best of 2008” based on the following criteria: Solutions to challenges; Project management; Construction innovation; Client service; Safety.

The David J. Vial, M.D. Patient Care Centré features exciting new and expanded services in Cardiology and Dialysis Services, as well as Intensive Care, Medical-Surgical and Adult Behavioral Health Inpatient Units. The new three story expansion establishes St. Charles Parish as a Louisiana healthcare leader pioneering in sophisticated and innovative approaches that address patient needs and enhance patient care.

David J. Vial, M.D. Patient Care Centre'

St. Charles Parish Hospital Nurses Recognized as Top 100

(November 3, 2008)

Each year since 1986, the Great 100 Nurses Foundation honors who they consider to be Louisiana's 100 greatest nurses. This year, St. Charles Parish Hospital nurses Marilyn Frazier, RN, MS and Leiloni LeCompte, RN, BSN were recognized as two of the Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana in ceremony at the Pontchartrain Center.

Leiloni LeCompte, a nurse of 7 years, said, “This is a very fulfilling job. To see the difference in patients from when they arrive at the hospital to when they leave is a reward in itself.” Leiloni is currently working on her masters degree and this is her first time being recognized as one of the Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana. For Marilyn Frazier, who has been a nurse for 37 years, this is her second time to be recognized as one of the Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana. According to Marilyn, “This was a real surprise to me. It just feels good to know that your peers think you do your job well enough to recognize you.”

Pictured Above from left to right:

Marilyn Frazier, RN, MS and Leiloni LeCompte, RN, BSN

Proclamation of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

(November 8, 2008)

On Monday, October 6, 2008 at the parish council meeting, the St. Charles Parish Council recognized the dedicated effort of St. Charles Parish Hospital in fighting breast cancer, and proclaimed October 2008 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in St. Charles Parish.

St. Charles Parish Hospital’s Digital Mammography Facility is accredited by the American College of Radiology. St. Charles Parish Hospital has an experienced, well trained staff and offers Full Field Digital Mammography, the latest technology in breast imaging. Computer Aided Detection (CAD) is used in conjunction with digital mammography to highlight specific areas of interest within the breast. The result is shorter exam times, better visibility of the breast tissue at the skin line, and lower doses of radiation for patients with dense breast tissue. In addition to digital mammography and computer aided detection, the hospital also utilizes the Mammo Base Tracking System which tracks a patient from exam to follow-up.

Encourage the women in your life to have a mammography today to ensure that they will live a healthy and happy life.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness

(October 1, 2008)

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Each year, more than 211,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women in the United States. Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast tissue cells. In all parts of the human body cells go through cycles of growth and rest. When a person’s genes are in good health and working correctly cell growth is kept under control. However, when genes develop an abnormality they may lose their ability to control the cycles of cell growth and rest.

Early detection is the most effective way to fight breast cancer and the most common method of detecting breast cancer is Mammography. St. Charles Parish Hospital offers the newest method of breast imaging, Full Field Digital Mammography, in which images are instantaneously downloaded for the radiologist and doctor to view. The result is shorter exam times, better visibility of the breast tissue at the skin line, and lower doses of radiation for patients with dense breast tissue. Computer aided detection (CAD) highlights specific areas of interest within the breast that the radiologist should be alerted to and is used in conjunction with digital mammography.

In addition to digital mammography and computer aided detection, we also utilize the MammoBase Tracking System which tracks a patient from exam to follow-up. The MammoBase system generates lay reports to patients, reminder letters for annual mammograms and notifies physicians when a patient needs to return for a follow-up visit. With this state-of-the-art technology, St. Charles Parish Hospital offers the most advanced breast imaging services available.

In 1992 the United States Congress passed the Mammography Quality Standards Act to ensure that mammography facilities throughout the country are reliable and of the highest standard. St. Charles Parish Hospital’s Mammography facility is accredited by the American College of Radiology.

The American Cancer Society and The American College of OB & GYN recommend that women get a mammogram at age 35, and another one at age 40. Women should get a mammogram every 2-3 years between the ages of 40 and 50, and every year after age 50. According to Shailaja Raj, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., R.E.I., “Women tend to postpone or avoid having an examination because of the discomfort associated with a regular mammogram. With the hospital’s state-of-the-art equipment which makes the exam easier on the patient, this should no longer be a concern.” It is also important that women get a clinical breast exam from a physician and frequently perform breast self-examinations to monitor any changes.

The causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, however, research has identified a number of risk factors which increase a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer which include but are not limited to: having a mother, sister or daughter who has had breast cancer, never having children, having a first child after the age of 30, and being overweight or gaining weight as an adult. If you feel you have these risk factors, you should consult a physician. Some common symptoms of breast cancer include nipple discharge, retraction or indentation of the nipple, breast lump and skin changes. If you notice any of these symptoms you should contact a physician immediately.

St. Charles Parish Hospital and Ochsner Announce Partnership

Collaboration Expands Specialty Care in St. Charles Parish

(September 9, 2008)

NEW ORLEANS, LA – St. Charles Parish Hospital and Ochsner Health System announced today they have signed a letter of intent to create a clinical affiliation and have forged a long-term partnership. The agreement will include Ochsner assisting St. Charles Parish Hospital in filling clinical gaps in service, expanding clinical services, and will further Ochsner’s investment in the West Bank region to better meet patient needs.

“The decision to sign this letter of intent is beneficial to the long-term health of St. Charles Parish Hospital,” explains Federico Martinez, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of St. Charles Parish Hospital. “Residents of St. Charles Parish will benefit from this partnership because we will be able to utilize Ochsner resources to enhance our clinical services, provide administrative, human resources, and group purchasing support as well as assistance in physician recruitment, one of the goals identified in SCOPE (St. Charles Overall Planning Effort).” According to Martinez, “St. Charles Parish Hospital will remain committed to providing quality, compassionate healthcare to the residents of this community and will maintain an open medical staff.”

“We are pleased to announce our affiliation with St. Charles Parish Hospital, which will over time enable St. Charles Parish residents who have to travel for specialty care to spend less time traveling and more time accessing healthcare in their own neighborhood,” said Patrick Quinlan, Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner Health System. “We wanted to establish this collaboration to further enhance our presence on the West Bank which will allow us to offer improved access to sub-specialty care for patients closer to home.”

“Communities along the West Bank are some of the faster-growing areas of the city, and as residents return to the area, demand for healthcare has increased,” explains Quinlan. Patients of the facility will also benefit from the added enhancements of Ochsner’s electronic medical records technology that will complement what the hospital already has, enabling patients to receive even faster medical care at any Ochsner location.

Ochsner continues to invest in the West Bank and Bayou areas. In February 2006, Ochsner and St. Anne General Hospital in Raceland, LA, announced a partnership to expand healthcare in the Bayou and has brought additional specialized medical services to Lafourche Parish. And in October 2006, Ochsner purchased the former Meadowcrest, now known as Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank in Gretna.

About Ochsner Health System

Ochsner Health System (www.ochsner.org) is a non-profit, academic, multi-specialty, healthcare delivery system dedicated to patient care, research and education. The system includes seven hospitals and over 35 health centers located throughout Southeast Louisiana. Ochsner employs over 600 physicians in 80 medical specialties and subspecialties and over 300 clinical research trials annually. Ochsner was ranked one of the “Best Places to Work” by New Orleans CityBusiness in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and received the Consumer Choice for Healthcare in New Orleans for 12 consecutive years. Ochsner was ranked as “Best” Hospital by U.S. News and World Report in 2007. Ochsner has over 10,000 employees system-wide.

About St. Charles Parish Hospital

St. Charles Parish Hospital, a not-for-profit, 59-bed acute care facility, has recently completed an expansion of inpatient services including medical-surgical, intensive care and adult behavioral health units, as well as a chronic dialysis center and outpatient cardiology department. Emergency, EMS, surgical and outpatient services complete the provision of care. State-of-the-art technology throughout the expansion and newly upgraded imaging departments, along with some of the best medical professionals in the area provide for enhanced patient care. St. Charles Parish Hospital is located at 1057 Paul Maillard Road in Luling, LA, just 20 minutes from New Orleans. For more information, visit www.stch.net or call (985) 785-6242.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Welcomes Medically Needy of St. Charles Parish

(September 5, 2008)

As the medically needy residents of St. Charles Parish were bused back home, St. Charles Parish Hospital was there to provide the health care they needed.

Patients were bused directly to St. Charles Parish Hospital where they were greeted by staff. They were individually transported to the Initial Assessment and Vital Sign stations where nurses and physicians reviewed patients’ medical history. After meeting with the patient, a physician determined whether the patient needed emergency services, urgent care, dialysis or if they could be released to return to their homes.

Once patients received medical treatment they were taken to the Social Services Coordinator who conducted a post treatment interview to determine what they would need once discharged. Patients were provided with information on available resources in and around the parish that could help meet their needs. Patients’ family or home health care givers were contacted to let them know they have returned home and they could come and pick them up. If no ride was available the Social Services Coordinator organized transportation, utilizing the St. Charles Parish Hospital Patient Transportation Bus, to patients’ homes or shelters if their homes were not safe to return to. Once patience were discharged they were treated to a hot meal in St. Charles Parish Hospital’s cafeteria, while the patient transportation driver obtained MRE’s to disperse to patients once they reached their destination.

One dialysis patient commented that he was very impressed with the way the situation was handled. He was amazed that the hospital was able to provide the care he needed and help him secure the medicine he needed for the coming weeks.

St. Charles Parish Hospital Hosts Pre-Sports Physicals

(August 18, 2008)

St. Charles Parish Hospital provided pre-sports physicals for 349 students of the middle schools in St. Charles Parish on Saturday, August 16, 2008.

The pre-sports physicals are an annually organized event by St. Charles Parish Hospital, at the request of the middle schools, in order to provide parents with a convenient way to get physicals for their children for the upcoming school year. Students received a thorough screening which included a musculoskeletal assessment, vision screening, height and weight, vital signs, review of medical history and physical assessment by a physician. Coaches from each school were present to meet with parents and students and answer any questions they may have.

Tyra LeBlanc, who brought her daughter to receive a physical, said, “I was truly expecting to be here for hours, but everything was so well organized that we moved from station to station very quickly. Everyone at the hospital was so friendly and I was very impressed with the way things moved so smoothly.”

This event is an opportunity to provide a wonderful service to the community of St. Charles Parish, and it would not be possible to do so without the efforts of St. Charles Parish Hospital’s dedicated staff. When asked about the pre-sports physicals, Roxanne Elliot, RN, said, “Everyone really enjoys this experience. I love to help these students and the parents are all so appreciative. It makes you feel good about providing this service for the community.”

Pictured Above:Left-Michael Lang receives a musculoskeletal assessment from Robyn Tregre, P.T

Right-Suzanne Hood conducts a vision screening with Brionne Armstrong

Doctors Serve Community for 30 Years

(August 11, 2008)

This July, C. Jayakrishnan, M.D. and V.N. Devarajan, M.D., known as “Dr. Jay” and “Dr. Raj” respectively, celebrated their 30 years of service at St. Charles Parish Hospital. Both practice Internal Medicine while Dr. Jay specializes in Cardiology and Dr. Raj specializes in Nephrology.

Both attended medical school at Madras University in India and completed their residencies at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. After completing their residencies the life-long friends began working in New Orleans. While working in the city, they decided to open a practice in a smaller community where their services were truly needed. When they first arrived at St. Charles Parish Hospital the facility was small. There was no ICU and very little in terms of technology. Dr. Jay and Dr. Raj were often called upon to help staff the Emergency Room. However, they saw the potential for growth and improvement and opened their practice in a trailer next to the hospital. After building a successful practice on the west bank of St. Charles Parish, they expanded to the east bank in November of 1988 to better serve the entire parish.

Through the years they formed a close working relationship with the hospital’s administrative team, and as St. Charles Parish grew, so did the hospital. New and improved facilities were constructed and industry-leading technology was acquired. According to Dr. Jay, “It is very important to have a rapport with the people you work with. The growth and improvement of the hospital could not have taken place without the vision, planning and execution of our administration’s plan.”

In 1990, Dr. Jay was named head of the Cardiology Department at St. Charles Parish Hospital. Since then, the Cardiology program has continuously developed by adding sophisticated, high-tech diagnostic equipment and includes the area’s only nationally certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. The Cardiology department recently moved into a new 3800 sq. ft. area in the David J. Vial, M.D. Patient Care Centre’.

Dr. Raj was named head of Nephrology in 1980 and began seeing the hospital’s first nephrology patients. In 2004, St. Charles Parish Hospital opened a Dialysis Center to meet the growing needs of the community and provide residents with the highest quality of care available without having to travel great distances. The Dialysis Center has been continuously growing and has the capability to manage end-stage kidney diseases, as well as treat acute kidney failure. Dialysis has also recently moved into the David J. Vial, M.D. Patient Care Centre’ which increased its capacity from eight to 14 stations. Ten years ago, with diabetes becoming a growing health problem, Dr. Raj started the Diabetic Support Group at St. Charles Parish Hospital to better educate parish residents on living a healthy life with the disease.

Over the years Dr. Jay and Dr. Raj have seen many changes in the provision of healthcare. Dr. Raj stated that, “Since we started here at St. Charles Parish Hospital, healthcare in general has become more preventive and patients are better educated because of the internet. Also, with the expansion of facilities and implementation of new technologies, the hospital has come a long way.”

When asked what Dr. Jay and Dr. Raj mean to St. Charles Parish, Karen Guillot, COO of St. Charles Parish Hospital, said, “It is rare that such wonderful physicians as Dr. Jay and Dr. Raj make a lifetime commitment to a small community. We are extremely lucky to have them.”

C. Jayakrishnan, M.D. "Dr. Jay" V.N. Devarajan, M.D. "Dr. Raj"

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