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chsnersummer 2 01 6
your guide to health and wellness
it takes a village Born at 28 weeks, Celia Lewko had to fight for her life, but Ochsner—and St. Tammany Parish Hospital—brought her home to her mom, Shannon
inside: Ochsner’s bold new hospital expansion will elevate patient care for years to come (page 6). An innovative procedure promises pain relief from neuralgia and migraine headaches (page 10). Strategies to simplify your life (page 16).
> complimentary issue <
www.ochsner.org
2 w w w . o c h s n e r . o r g
dear friends,
Healthcare as an industry
is evolving faster than ever
before. Ochsner’s plan
to lead the way through
innovation and growth is
part of our commitment
to always put our patients
first. In this issue, we share
our vision for future growth and expansion of services
to better serve our patients. I firmly believe these
efforts will play a crucial role in the quality of life
available to Ochsner patients, families and loved ones.
Earlier this year, Ochsner unveiled an extensive
plan to create the Ochsner Healthcare Corridor. This
venture, which spans the length of Jefferson Highway
from Causeway to the parish line, will enable Ochsner
to continue to meet the need for highly specialized
care while serving as a catalyst for an incredible
transformation in the greater New Orleans area.
I’m also excited to share how Ochsner is advancing
care throughout the system. From a new cancer
treatment facility in Baton Rouge, to expansion
projects in the West Bank Emergency Department, the
Covington Clinic and Ochsner Baptist facilities, our
efforts to provide every community we touch with the
best possible healthcare options are underway.
In addition, the continued expansion of the Ochsner
Health Network is creating success stories every day.
By collaborating with like-minded healthcare partners
throughout the region, we are able to offer patients
the highest-quality care, no matter where they are.
Shannon Lewko’s story illustrates the importance of
offering excellent care close to home. When Ochsner
and St. Tammany Parish Hospital worked together
to care for Shannon and her newborn daughter, born
three months premature, the family was able to heal
while remaining close to home and to each other. This
is just one example of how the Ochsner Health Network
is changing and saving lives every day.
Warner L. ThomasPresident and CEO
Ochsner Health System
Welcome
we’d like to hear from you! please send comments to magazine@ochsner.org.Copyright © 2016 by Ochsner Health System. Ochsner is published as a community service and is not intended
for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing.
C o v e r : D a y m o n G a r d n e r
#tBt Got ochsner?Help us tell our story by adding to our archives
Ochsner Medical Library is seeking artifacts, documents and photos that reflect
the health system’s 75-year history. If you are an employee, patient or donor, you
may have items that would make helpful additions to our archives or that could be
considered for display. All contributions are appreciated!
to donate, call 504-842-3760, email medicallibrary@ochsner.org, or stop
by the medical library on the first floor of ochsner medical Center on Jefferson
highway. to view our magazine archives, visit www.ochsner.org/magazine.
Alton Ochsner, MD
s u m m e r 2 0 1 6 3
The Scoop
MAkeS 4 ServingS
ingredients:
• 9 large egg whites• 3 extra-large whole eggs• 1/4 cup nonfat milk• 1 dash table salt• 1 dash cayenne pepper (optional)• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes• 2 cloves garlic• 1/3 cup onion, chopped• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped• 1 cup zucchini, chopped• 2 tablespoons pecan oil
directions: Preheat oven to 400°F. In a large
bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper
and thyme.
Chop up tomato, garlic, onion, bell pepper
and zucchini. Add pecan oil to a cast-iron
skillet on medium heat. Add chopped
vegetables (optional: add one large bunch
coarsely chopped fresh spinach) and cook
thoroughly. Pour the eggs over the mixture.
Pull the edges away from the sides of the
pan with a spatula so the eggs flow to the
bottom. Transfer the pan to the heated oven.
Bake for 10 minutes until puffed and golden.
Per serving: 190 calories, 11.5 grams fat, 2
grams saturated fat, 233 mg sodium, 6 grams
carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 4 grams sugar, 15
grams protein.
FREE Cookbook!➜ Don’t miss this special offer for a collection of recipes that not only taste great, they’re great for you! To learn more, visit www.ochsner.org/magazine. Quantities are limited.
Summer Vegetable FrittataMolly Kimball, registered dietitian with Ochsner’s Elmwood
Fitness Center, has collaborated with area restaurants to create
Ochsner Eat Fit, a partnership that highlights the better-for-
you items on local menus and makes it easy for everyone to
eat nutritiously. This seasonal frittata recipe was developed
by the Eat Fit NOLA team. For a complete list of participating
restaurants in Greater New Orleans and on the North Shore,
visit www.ochsner.org/magazine.
4 w w w . o c h s n e r . o r g
Safe TravelsPlanning a trip abroad? Take these precautions so you come back with tales of fun
and adventure—not illness and injury.
• Get travel vaccinations. Visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control
(www.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list) to find out which shots are recommended
for your destination.
• Pack a first-aid kit. Include Band-Aids, gauze, an elastic bandage, moleskin for
blisters, aloe gel for sunburns, anti-diarrheal medication, aspirin or ibuprofen,
and a digital thermometer.
• take care when eating and drinking in developing countries. Unclean water and food
can cause traveler’s diarrhea or disease. Eat food that is cooked and served
hot, avoiding street fare. Stick to drinks like bottled water, coffee or tea, and
pasteurized milk.
• Prevent bug bites, which can spread infections like malaria and the Zika virus. Use
an insect repellent that contains at least 20 percent DEET (the most common active
ingredient in insect repellents); natural products like citronella are not as effective.
4 Foods for a Better Night’s SleepDid you know that some foods and beverages can help ease you into dreamland? Here are a few to try.
PASSIONFLOWER TEA
Sipping a cup of this tea one hour before bed
can help you get to sleep faster. Researchers
have found that it reduces anxiety and has a
gentle sedative effect. Choose a tea containing
180 to 200 milligrams of passionflower.
KIWI
Kiwi fruit contains serotonin, a chemical
that promotes good sleep. Research shows
that eating two kiwis about one hour before
bedtime can help you drift off sooner and get
better-quality sleep.
CARB-AND-PROTEIN SNACK
Protein-rich foods like turkey, chicken, eggs
and Greek yogurt contain tryptophan, an
amino acid needed to produce serotonin. To
boost tryptophan’s benefits, pair your protein
with carbohydrates, which further elevate
serotonin. Great protein-carb combos are
crackers and cheese, toast with peanut butter,
or cottage cheese and berries.
SPINACH
A sleep-inducing power player, spinach has
magnesium (to promote falling and staying
asleep) and potassium (for muscle relaxation).
The Scoop
s u m m e r 2 0 1 6 5
The Scoop
Quitting Smoking? Here’s Why Your Body Will Thank YouYou’ve heard the bad news about smoking. Now for some good news: When you quit, the body begins to respond quickly.
• Within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure start to decrease.
• A mere 12 hours after your last cigarette, your bloodstream’s carbon monoxide level falls
back to normal.
• After three months, your circulation and lung function improve.
• At the nine-month mark, you begin to breathe easier and cough less.
• After one year, your risk of coronary disease drops by half.
• After five years as a nonsmoker, your risk of mouth, throat, esophagus and bladder cancer
is cut in half.
• After 15 years, your risk of coronary disease is the same as someone who never smoked.
Need help kicking the habit? Contact our tobacco Cessation Clinic at 844-371-5806 or
tobaccofree@ochsner.org or go to www.ochsner.org/magazine.
THE LATEST ON ZIKA Headlines about the Zika virus, which
is spread through the bite of an infected
mosquito, have caused some anxiety. But
while an infection may cause symptoms—
fever, rash, joint and muscle pain, and
headache—infected people don’t usually get
sick enough for a hospital visit, and deaths are
very rare.
There is no vaccine for the Zika virus, but
you can take steps to avoid infection while
traveling to affected areas of the world. Wear
long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats,
and use insect repellent. Visit www.cdc.gov
for the most up-to-date information on the
countries affected by the virus.
Current CDC guidelines recommend that
pregnant women should postpone travel
to elevations less than 2,000 meters above
sea level in countries and U.S. territories
with active Zika virus transmission. Ask
your physician if it is safe for you to travel
and whether you might need additional
immunizations or other preventive measures.
Ochsner’s construction of a new campus and expansion of existing ones will allow the healthcare system to better serve its patients for generations to come
RE
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New plans to expand the
facilities and services of
Ochsner Health System will
broaden the scope of specialized
services available and further cement
Ochsner’s reputation as not only one
of the top healthcare providers in the
Southeast but also the largest private
employer in the state, growing to more
than 23,000 jobs in New Orleans, the
North Shore and Baton Rouge. The
$360 million expansion project will
include additions to the North and
South campuses and the construction
of a new West Campus, along what
will become a healthcare corridor on
Jefferson Highway in New Orleans.
“We are building on our legacy
as a national and global destination
for healthcare for the Greater New
6 w w w . o c h s n e r . o r g
a new expansion will double the size of the Gayle and tom Benson Cancer Center.
A New Healthcare Corridor
building, six of which will contain
34 private rooms each, increasing
inpatient capacity from 602 beds to 767
beds. Patients will appreciate that an
additional 39 semiprivate rooms will
be made private, offering safer and
more comfortable stays. And to further
accommodate the growing number
of patients and visitors, the current
parking structure will get a new level
with an additional 300 parking spaces.
“The expansion at our Jefferson
Highway campus will allow us to
continue to offer additional services
to take care of more patients in our
specialized Centers of Excellence—
Cancer, Cardiology, Neurosciences,
Pediatrics and Transplant,” says Robert
Wolterman, CEO of Ochsner Medical
Center. “And a generous gift from
Orleans Region and the Gulf South,”
says Warner Thomas, CEO and
President, Ochsner Health System.
“The next chapter is to create a more
comprehensive healthcare corridor
anchored by Ochsner Medical Center
so we can continue to change and save
more lives.”
growing the Main facility
At the end of 2015, renovations to
Ochsner’s primary New Orleans
hospital on Jefferson Highway, the
South Campus, increased the hospital’s
capacity by adding 40 new inpatient
rooms and five new operating rooms on
the 10th floor, giving Ochsner’s doctors
the ability to perform an additional
1,800 surgeries in 2016. The project will
also add seven floors to the West Tower
s u m m e r 2 0 1 6 7
Growth &
Innovation
expansion, the center will get a new
Simulation Lab to ensure that students
and staff receive the most up-to-date
and advanced training available.
coMprehensive inpatient and
outpatient rehab facilities
Ochsner knows how important high-
quality and convenient rehab is to
many patients’ outcomes. Patients’
needs include sessions with physical
and occupational therapists and
access to the equipment and facilities
they need to successfully complete
rehabilitation. A new West Campus,
built at the site of the Jefferson Plaza
Shopping Center, will feature the
Ochsner Rehabilitation Hospital and
the Ochsner Outpatient Physical
and Occupational Therapy Clinic.
Gayle and Tom Benson will fund the
expansion of the Gayle and Tom Benson
Cancer Center, doubling its size.”
As a result, the expanded cancer
center will include 100,000 square feet
of oncology clinics across five floors and
more than 50 personalized, semiprivate
chemo infusion stations. In addition, a
new clinical cancer research program
will help research teams undertake a
wide range of clinical studies, including
the testing of promising new cancer
drugs and procedures.
cutting-edge iMaging services
The effective diagnosis and treatment
of patients require convenient access to
cutting-edge digital imaging services
like MRI, CT scans and mammograms.
That’s why Ochsner plans to build
a new imaging center on the North
Campus, just across the street from
the main hospital, where patients and
physicians will have easy access to
these vital services, including three
new MRI machines, along with a
pharmacy and an on-site laboratory for
processing test results.
training the next generation
of healthcare providers
The North Campus is also home
to Ochsner’s Center for Academic
Excellence, the largest nonuniversity-
based physician training center in
the country, which hosts 275 medical
residents and fellows in 24 different
programs every year, along with more
than 2,500 medical, nursing and
allied health students. As part of the
“The next chapter is to create a more comprehensive healthcare corridor anchored by Ochsner Medical Center so we can continue to change and save more lives.”
—warNer thomas, Ceo aNd PresideNt,
oChsNer he alth system
RE
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8 w w w . o c h s n e r . o r g
Growth & Innovation
more Louisianans and their families
and will offer even more specialized
care than ever before,” says Don
Pierson, Secretary of Economic
Development for Louisiana. “It feels
good to know that those I love can
receive the highest quality of care right
here in Louisiana.”
Ochsner has also worked with the
local government and the Jefferson
Parish Economic Development
Commission to identify how these
projects can contribute to the larger
goals of transforming the Jefferson
Highway corridor into a vibrant, green
and visually pleasing urban space,
with improved housing, shopping and
transportation options.
An economic impact study,
more convenient access to the specialty
services they need but also brings
substantial benefits to the surrounding
community in Jefferson Parish and to
the state overall.
“Today we own or manage 11
hospitals as part of the Ochsner Health
System,” Thomas says. “Together with
our Ochsner Health Network partners—
an additional 17 affiliated hospitals
across Louisiana—we care for more than
1 million patients statewide each year.”
He adds that, in 2015, nearly 9,000
acute and critical care patients were
referred to Ochsner, and the numbers
are growing, highlighting the need for
expanded facilities and services.
“Through these new projects,
Ochsner will be able to care for even
Ochsner Rehabilitation Hospital will
be operated in partnership with Select
Medical Corporation, a national leader
in inpatient rehabilitation, and its
construction will increase the number
of inpatient rehabilitation beds from
28 to 60 and add 15 pediatric inpatient
rehabilitation beds. Services will cover
a wide range of conditions, including
spinal cord and brain injuries, stroke,
amputation, neurological disorders and
orthopedic conditions.
good for patients, good for
the coMMunity
The expansion happening at Ochsner
not only helps provide patients from
across Louisiana and beyond with
the highest quality of care and better,
a rendering of the ochsner medical Center west tower expansion, which will add seven new floors.
“Through these new projects, Ochsner will be able to care for even more Louisianans and their families and will offer even more specialized care than ever before.”
—doN PiersoN, seCretary of eCoNomiC
develoPmeNt for louisiaNa
s u m m e r 2 0 1 6 9
commissioned by Ochsner, found
that the construction phase of these
projects alone will create 284 new
jobs and increase household earnings
among Jefferson Parish residents by
$135 million. And once complete, the
additions will contribute more than
3,200 local jobs and $1.3 billion in
household earnings.
“Ochsner has been committed to
Jefferson Parish for nearly 75 years,”
Thomas says. “We are dedicated to
growing jobs, being a good community
partner and expanding healthcare
services for years to come. We are so
proud to call Jefferson Parish and the
Greater New Orleans area our home,
and we are here to serve the patients
that trust us to care for them every day.”
a rendering of the outpatient diagnostic imaging Center; the new facilitiy will provide convenient access to comprehensive testing services.
Ochsner’s Jefferson Plaza Developmentas part of its $360 million expansion, ochsner health system announced the construction of a new west Campus located at the old Jefferson Plaza shopping Center at a news conference on feb. 18, 2016.
Clockwise from top left: a helicopter does a flyover of the new location; warner thomas, Ceo and President of ochsner health system, shares his goal of making ochsner a top medical destination worldwide; bystanders watch as an excavator tears down the remains of a restaurant at Jefferson Plaza; suzanne mestayer, Chair of the ochsner health system Board of directors, discusses the expansion.
1 0 w w w . o c h s n e r . o r g
Pain
Relief
a normal life despite trying numerous
nerve blocks and medications.
“When she came to see me, she was
about to have a surgical procedure that
would drill holes in the back of her
head to give the nerves room to move,”
says Jose Posas, MD, a neurologist
at Ochsner Baptist’s Comprehensive
Headache Center, one of a few centers
in the country currently offering a
cutting-edge treatment for occipital
neuralgia called iovera° cryoneurolysis.
“She decided to try this first. I gave
her the treatment in November. Now
she is off her medications and has
remained headache-free for almost
six months.”
Iovera° is a small, handheld device
with a sharp probe, like a hollow
needle that is closed at the end. The
doctor uses live ultrasound to locate
the nerve and gives the patient an
injection of local anesthetic before
inserting the probe into the tissue
alongside the nerve. Then superchilled
liquid nitrous oxide flows into the
probe, causing ice to form at the tip,
rapidly cooling the tissue around it.
for more than seven years, Ochsner
Baptist patient Natasha Smith
suffered from a condition called
occipital neuralgia, which caused
her to have excruciating headache
pain almost every day. The condition
stems from damage or inflammation
to the occipital nerves, which run
up the back of the neck and head,
causing symptoms similar to migraine
headaches and potentially triggering
actual migraines. Smith’s pain got so
bad that she had to take medical leave
from work, and she could no longer live
A game-Changing Treatment for Nerve PainA minimally invasive procedure offers welcome relief to patients who suffer from neuralgia and migraine headaches
“We are certainly proud to be one of the select few in the country doing this particular procedure, helping to make our program a national destination for the treatment of neurologic disorders.”
—Jose Posas, md, NeuroloGist at oChsNer BaPtist’s ComPreheNsive headaChe CeNter
s u m m e r 2 0 1 6 1 1
“It freezes the nerve but leaves the
sheath intact,” Dr. Posas explains. “So
we are essentially destroying the part
of the nerve that sends signals while
keeping the scaffolding in place, which
prevents neuroma [a growth or scarring
of the nerve tissue].” Traditional
treatments for occipital neuralgia
do permanent damage to the entire
structure of the nerve, including the
sheath, either by surgically cutting the
nerves or burning them with a radio-
wave probe, which can cause numbness
or other irreversible complications.
So far, iovera° cryoneurolysis seems
to have lasting effects, though the
relief is not necessarily permanent.
Depending on the patient, the pain
may return after a few weeks, months
or even longer. “The nerves do
regenerate over time, but our hope is
that they won’t send pain signals when
they come back,” Dr. Posas says. “This
is a new approach for dealing with
headaches, and as we continue to do
the procedure, we will be able to gauge
the sustained success of blocking pain
through this method.”
Fortunately for patients who find
relief with iovera° cryoneurolysis,
even if the pain does return after a few
months, the procedure is simple and
minimally invasive enough to allow
for repeat treatments. “Surgery was
going to be extremely painful with a
long recovery,” Smith says. “Instead,
the iovera° treatment was a series
of injections that took less than 30
minutes.”
The iovera° system has been
available since 2013, but it was initially
designed to relieve knee pain. In fact,
Posas started giving the treatment in
the fall of 2013 while working at an
orthopedic clinic in Los Angeles. Only
recently have Posas and a few other
physicians begun applying iovera°
cryoneurolysis to occipital neuralgia.
“This is a good nonopioid way to treat
headaches. Currently, we’re only
treating occipital nerves, but we could
treat other nerves in the future,” Dr.
Posas says. “We are certainly proud to
be one of the select few in the country
doing this particular procedure,
helping to make our program a
national destination for the treatment
of neurologic disorders.”
For Smith, the treatment has proved
to be life changing. “I had lost all hope
until I came here,” Smith says. “When
I came to Ochsner, I was reassured that
my care team knew what I was going
through, and I trusted them enough to
be one of the first patients to have this
done. Now, I am back at work and feel
like I have my life back.”
➜ To learn more about iovera°
cryoneurolysis at Ochsner,
call 504-894-2700.
1 2 w w w . o c h s n e r . o r g
health systems. Through this new
collaboration, STPH has been able to
expand access to pediatric specialists
on the North Shore and help families
get care for their children close to
home whenever possible.
personalized care
STPH and Ochsner specialists began
collaborating on Celia’s care soon
after she arrived in the STPH Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “We got to
know all of the nurses and pretty much
all of the staff at St. Tammany on a
first-name basis,” says Shannon.
Nurses helped Shannon with
kangaroo care—which allowed her
to bond with Celia while she was
on the ventilator—and later with
breastfeeding. “They went above and
beyond to help me nurse Celia,” says
Shannon.
Celia’s care team began to suspect
there were additional complications
when she remained dependent on
the ventilator at three weeks. She
was diagnosed with patent ductus
arteriosus (PDA), a congenital heart
defect common in infants born
prematurely, and she needed surgery—
at Ochsner—to correct it.
That decision required even closer
collaboration between specialists
at Ochsner and STPH, including a
literal “handoff” of the baby. Ochsner
sent a team of neonatal specialists to
transport Celia to Ochsner Baptist
Medical Center.
Once there, Shannon says the
staff made the Lewkos feel instantly
comfortable. “I could poke my head out
of Celia’s little NICU room and speak to
whichever nurse was there,” she says,
and neonatologist Stacey Soileau, MD,
“explained things to me in a way that I
Celia’s Journey HomeThanks to a strategic partnership between Ochsner Health System and St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Celia Lewko—born at 28 weeks’ gestation—received exceptional care close to home
D a y m o n G a r d n e r
at birth, Celia Lewko weighed just
2 pounds, 10 ounces. She was
whisked away and put on a ventilator
before her mother, Shannon Lewko, had
the opportunity to meet her.
The night before, Shannon—only 28
weeks pregnant—had just put her then-
4-year-old daughter, Meredith, to bed
when she started experiencing what
felt like contractions. Then came heavy
bleeding. “All of a sudden, it felt like
my water broke, but it wasn’t water,”
she says.
With her husband, Josh, traveling
out of state, Shannon called 911 and
was rushed from her home in Bush to
the Emergency Department at
St. Tammany Parish Hospital (STPH).
A few minutes after 2 a.m. on
Dec. 29, 2014, Celia was delivered via
emergency cesarean section. (Doctors
confirmed Shannon had suffered a
serious pregnancy complication called
placental abruption.)
Celia would spend the first 78 days
of her life in the hospital—actually, in
two hospitals. Her long journey home
highlights a central aim of STPH’s
participation in the Ochsner Health
Network, a strategic partnership
among regional hospitals and
Celia and shannon lewko
s u m m e r 2 0 1 6 1 3
Power of
Teamwork
“We all agreed that it would be best
for everyone to move her back to STPH
because that would be better for her
family,” Norris says.
Celia’s most exciting breakthrough
came on March 17, 2015, when she went
home with her parents and big sister
for the first time.
Since then, Celia has faced
challenges—including frequent viruses
and an infection that required another
stint in the hospital—but Shannon says
her daughter is thriving. “She receives
therapy through EarlySteps to oversee
her development, but for the most part
she does really well,” says Shannon.
Celia is growing, meeting
developmental milestones and doing
her best to keep up with her big sister,
Meredith, now 5. “Celia will follow her
anywhere,” says Shannon. “They love
to play together.”
➜ To learn more about the Ochsner
Health Network and other partners,
visit www.ochsner.org/magazine.
family for rides—and never missed one
day of visiting Celia at Ochsner.
Meanwhile, Shannon received
hands-on training in caring for her
tiny baby. “I was very nervous to
handle Celia because she was so small
and fragile,” says Shannon. “The
nurses at Ochsner were so supportive.
They encouraged me to touch her and
to change her diaper, which really
helped me get over my fear.”
Once Celia was stabilized and
recovering well, her medical
teams at STPH and Ochsner made
an unprecedented decision. They
transported Celia back to the North
Shore to complete her recovery closer to
home in STPH’s NICU, putting an end
to the exhausting commutes. “Prior to
our partnership, she would not have
come back to us but would have stayed
at Ochsner,” says Nicole Norris, RN,
NICU department head at STPH.
Instead, the neonatal teams at
each hospital got together to discuss
the Lewko family’s needs for the
remaining weeks of hospitalization.
could understand and process.”
Within days of Celia’s surgery—which
took place one month after her birth—
she was weaned off the ventilator. She
still needed supplemental oxygen, but
she steadily improved.
bringing celia back
However, Celia needed time to
recover—and weeks of commuting
between Bush and New Orleans
were taking a toll, especially because
Shannon wasn’t comfortable driving in
New Orleans. She recruited friends and
“I was nervous to handle Celia because she was so small. The nurses at Ochsner were so supportive. They encouraged me to touch her, which helped me get over my fear.”
—shaNNoN lewko
Ochsner Health System patients of all ages were thrilled by recent visits from the Saints and the Pelicans. The staff had a good time with the players as well!
1 4 w w w . o c h s n e r . o r g
Glimpses
People and Places
above: New orleans saints players stop by the ochsner hospital for Children and the Gayle and tom Benson Cancer Center during the holiday season to brighten the day of several patients.
above and below: New orleans Pelicans players toney douglas and eric Gordon take a break from the court to visit with ochsner patients and employees.
Power in NumbersMore clinical trials are coming to Ochsner, thanks to statewide research collaborations fostered by the Perkin Forum
s u m m e r 2 0 1 6 1 5
Community
programs at Ochsner and has also
funded the Perkin Alternative Birthing
Center and the Digital Medicine
Program’s Apple Watch project.
Many of the forum participants—
including Ochsner and Pennington—are
part of REACHnet, a regional research
network established in 2014 by a grant
from the Patient-Centered Outcomes
Research Institute. “The focus of this
funding was to do clinical trials,” says
Sohail Rao, MD, MA, DPhil, Ochsner’s
System Vice President for Research.
“The Perkin Forum allows the
investigators to talk to each other about
the possibility of working together for
existing or future clinical trials.”
Since the launch of the Perkin
Forum in 2014, these exchanges have
been fruitful. “We brought in national
speakers to talk about obesity,” says Dr.
Rao. “We provided ample opportunity
to interact, so when ideas were thrown
around, lots of people indicated that
they would like to participate. That
resulted in a competitive application,
which has now yielded $10 million in
funding.” That study, the Louisiana
Trial to Reduce Obesity in Primary Care,
is based at Pennington and involves
Ochsner and other REACHnet partners.
Other Perkin Forum discussions
led to Ochsner becoming a key player
in another study involving REACHnet
partners: ADAPTABLE, a national
study of aspirin dosage.
“The collaborations [are helping]
to bring better-quality research to
Ochsner,” says Courtney Parke, PhD,
Research Project Manager, REACHnet,
Ochsner Health System. “We strive to
bring patients the newest technology
so that they don’t have to go elsewhere
to get the care that they need.”
“Nicolas Perkin had the vision to
understand what we were trying to
accomplish and had the wisdom to
support it, and look where we are
today,” adds Dr. Rao. “We express our
gratitude to him and to the foundation.”
➜ To learn how you can support this
work, call 504-842-7117 or email
philanthropy@ochsner.org.
What happens when you put
Louisiana’s top medical
researchers in the same room?
Collaborations form, and, eventually,
patients gain greater access to
innovative medical care.
That is the objective—and the result
thus far—of the Perkin Forum, a series
of quarterly forums co-hosted by
Ochsner Health System and Pennington
Biomedical Research Center that bring
together researchers from institutions
including Ochsner, Pennington,
Louisiana Public Health Institute,
Tulane University, Louisiana State
University, Louisiana Cancer Research
Center, Xavier University, Children’s
Hospital, and Baton Rouge General.
“We have tremendous research talent
in Louisiana,” says Nicolas Perkin,
whose family foundation, the Perkin
Fund, initiated the forums to promote
research collaborations. “If we can
get the top minds working together, it
benefits the state more than if everyone
works separately and independently.”
The Perkin Fund supports innovative
Extended Hours for Busy Patients There’s never a good time to get sick, but thanks to Ochsner’s extended hours and
same-day and next-day primary care appointments, you can see a doctor when it’s
convenient for you. Many of Ochsner’s locations provide early and late weekday
appointments, as well as weekend appointments. To view a list of locations with
extended hours, visit www.ochsner.org/magazine.
Ochsner offers easy options for scheduling, too:
• Existing patients with a MyOchsner account can visit my.ochsner.org any time.
• Nonpatients and those without a MyOchsner account can schedule via the Find
a Doctor tool on ochsner.org.
• Call the Ochsner Health Center you wish to visit.
• Contact Ochsner On Call at 800-231-5257.
1 6 w w w . o c h s n e r . o r g
Body
& Soul
Simplify Your LifeWhen life gets complicated, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and anxious. With simple actions—such as chipping away at that pile of clutter on your desk and taking advantage of Ochsner’s convenient options for managing your health—you can free yourself to focus on what matters most.
A Simple Plan for Stress ReliefWhether you enjoy dancing, reading or relaxing with an adult coloring book, doing things you like relieves stress naturally. The American Heart Association recommends dedicating at least 15 minutes a day to activities you enjoy. Easy-to-implement stress relievers include taking a walk, breathing deeply, meditating, thinking positive thoughts, laughing, spending time with loved ones and learning to say no. Above all, avoiding your known triggers—for example, by leaving earlier to beat the traffic and keeping your distance from people who irritate you—is perhaps the simplest way to help reduce anxiety.
s u m m e r 2 0 1 6 1 7
A One-Stop Shop for Health TechnologyAt Ochsner’s O Bar—a spin on Apple’s “genius bar”—
you can find answers to your health questions and try
new technologies to help manage your health.
you don’t need to be a genius to navigate the o Bar, since a specialist is available to
help with technologies including:
➜ iPads loaded with physician-recommended health and wellness apps and an
interactive health library
➜ High-tech monitoring devices including wireless blood pressure monitors and
scales and Bluetooth blood glucose monitors
➜ Wearable activity trackers, including Fitbit and Jawbone
visit the o Bar at two locations: ochsner Center for Primary Care and wellness at
1401 Jefferson highway in New orleans and ochsner health Center – Covington at
1000 ochsner Blvd. in Covington.
/ “Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy.”—Sir Isaac Newton
Basic Techniques for Preventing Sports Injurieskeep safe while working out with these essential injury prevention guidelines
• Don’t be a weekend warrior. Instead, exercise 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.
• Start slowly and gradually increase the intensity and length of your workouts, as well as resistance if you lift
weights. A good rule of thumb: Once the exercise feels too easy, increase activity by increments of no more
than 5 or 10 percent.
• Be mindful of your age and fitness level. Listen to your body and adjust your workout accordingly. Rest at least
one or two days a week.
• Warm up and cool down with light cardiovascular activity, followed by stretching.
• Invest in the right footwear, equipment and lessons to learn proper technique.
• Don’t forget strength training. If you don’t have weights or access to a gym, try body-weight exercises such as
squats, planks and lunges.
• Cross-train. varying your activities will give certain muscle groups and joints a rest and others a workout.
• Stay hydrated and eat well.
1 8 w w w . o c h s n e r . o r g
Navigation Tips
Staying Connected➜ Just call, click or tap!from online appointment booking to ochsner on Call, a 24/7 nurse care line, we make it easy for patients to navigate ochsner health system. here are helpful tools that make our services more accessible than ever.
Ochsner On Call / No matter what time of day or night it is,
connecting with your Ochsner healthcare team has never been easier.
For non-life-threatening issues, you can call Ochsner’s free 24/7 nurse care
line, Ochsner On Call, and speak
with a registered nurse. Our specially
trained nurses will help determine
the best care options for you. Ochsner
On Call provides nurse triage, appointment booking, health education and
advisory services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Call 800-231-5257 or 504-842-3155 to speak to one of our nurses.
3
➜ Visit our appointment page to find phone
numbers, set up a MyOchsner account or book
online at www.ochsner.org/schedule.
➜ Like Ochsner Health System on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/ochsnerhealthsystem.
➜ Follow Ochsner on Instagram at
www.instagram.com/ochsnerhealth.
➜ Check ER wait times at
www.ochsner.org/chooseer.
➜ Bookmark www.ochsner.org on your tablet
or smartphone. Our newly updated mobile
version makes it easy to contact us on the go!
sign up at www.ochsner.org to manage your health online, wherever and whenever you want.
s u m m e r 2 0 1 6 1 9
At a Glance
Myth vs. RealityThe truth about some common health
misconceptions.
myth: Watching TV will ruin your eyes.
reality: Keep on binging those Netflix
shows. According to the American Academy
of Ophthalmology, watching television
won’t cause physical harm to your eyes, even
if you sit too close. Mom’s admonition to
view from a distance goes back to the 1960s
when General Electric sold TVs that emitted
excessive radiation (the sets were recalled and
the issue fixed). Modern devices are perfectly
safe, though too much TV can cause eyestrain
and fatigue. Take a break and get a good
night’s rest and your eyes will feel just fine.
myth: Eating microwaved foods from plastic
containers is harmful.
reality: As long as your Tupperware is
marked “microwave safe,” there’s no danger,
but standard plastic takeout cartons can melt
and leak chemicals into your food. Always
check your dish for a microwave-safe label
before heating up that pasta.
myth: Men don’t go through menopause.
reality: Testosterone levels decline by about
1 percent each year in men after the age of
30; doctors call this process “andropause.”
Low testosterone levels are associated
with changes in sexual function and sleep
patterns, along with declining energy and
even hot flashes.
Sources: www.harvard.edu, www.aao.org
hello, health!Don’t miss Hello Health, Ochsner’s healthcare seminar series for the entire
community. Ochsner physicians and local healthcare experts discuss relevant
health topics and medical trends.
visit www.ochsner.org/hellohealth to find seminars near you or for the
television schedule. to register, call 855-312-4189 (toll-free) monday through
friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sudoku
Fill out the grid so that each row, column, and box
contains only one of each number from 1 to 9.
Answer
417
985
326
563
271
489
982
346
751
762
561
843
358
724
916
614
839
527
234
178
659
897
645
132
165
293
478
1 7
9 5
5 3
4 8 9
6
1
5
4 3
7 4
6 1
9
2
1
8 9 7
1 2
2 3
4 7
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