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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
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 Trina Douglas, Anitra Boyd, and Shannon Saulsberry. 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. 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.
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. 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 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. 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. 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.
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) 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 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:
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. 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. 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. 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. 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 meet these risk factors, you should consult a physician immediately. 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 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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St. Charles Parish Hospital | 1057 Paul Maillard Road | Luling, LA 70070 | (985) 785-6242 | (985) 785-3686 fax
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