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Healthcare Briefs
State & Local Healthcare News
PUBLISHED: November/December 2011
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STATE
LSMS Debuts New
Legislative Team
The Louisiana State Medical Society (LSMS)
has announced the addition of Greg Waddell
to its legislative team. Waddell will serve
as the director of legal affairs for the state’s
largest physician association. Additionally,
Jennifer Marusak will assume the duties of
director of governmental affairs effective immediately.
Sharon Knight, JD, who has served
as the LSMS’ director of governmental affairs
for the last 35 years, will continue to serve in
an advisory role through the end of the year.
Waddell graduated from Louisiana State
University with a BA in Finance and received
his JD from Southern University. He was previously
employed with the Louisiana Senate
and for the majority of his time there served
as legal counsel to the Senate Committee on
Health and Welfare.
Marusak has served as associate director
of governmental affairs for the LSMS since
January 2011. The Natchitoches native and
University of Louisiana-Monroe graduate
formerly served as confidential assistant to
Secretary of State Al Ater, executive director
of the Louisiana River Pilots Association,
legislative affairs director and communications
director for former Governor Mike
Foster, and served as government and infrastructure
vice president and communications
director for the Monroe Chamber of
Commerce.
Louisiana Gets Perfect Score
For the second consecutive year, Louisiana
received a perfect score on the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) evaluation
of the state’s public health emergency
preparedness and response capabilities. Louisiana
is one of only seven states to score 100
two years in a row. Louisiana’s public health
laboratories also received exemplary marks.
The CDC’s “Public Health Preparedness: 2011
State-by-State Update on Laboratory Capabilities
and Response Readiness Planning”
report evaluates the state over a three-year
period, from 2007-2010.
In the report, all 50 states and 4 localities
directly funded by the Public Health Emergency
Preparedness Cooperative Agreement
were graded on their ability to effectively receive
and distribute the CDC’s Strategic National
Stockpile (SNS), a cache of drugs and
medical supplies to protect the American
public if there is a public health emergency
severe enough to cause local supplies to run
out. The CDC and state public health departments
conduct annual technical assistance
reviews (TAR) to assess emergency preparedness
plans for receiving, staging, storing,
distributing, and dispensing the SNS to
ensure continued readiness for all disasters.
The state must attain a score of 79 or higher
in order to continue to receive preparedness
funding from the federal government.
The report also evaluated states’ public
health laboratories. The DHH labs received
high marks for their ability to test for and
detect chemical and biological agents and
their ability to assist DHH epidemiologists in
carrying out epidemiological surveillance for
early detection of potential threats.
Dupré Leaving LAHP
After 15 years as CEO , Gil Dupré has announced
he will be retiring from the Louisiana
Association of Health Plans (LAHP) at
the end of 2011. Dupré, a 40-year veteran of
the health benefits industry, served three
health insurers in a number of management
and executive positions and founded LAHP
in 1991.
“We are extremely appreciative of Gil Dupré’s
many years of service to the industry,”
said Glen Golemi, chief executive officer of
UnitedHealthcare’s Gulf States Region and
current president of LAHP’s Board of Directors.
Golemi and other health plan executives
are part of an Executive Search Committee
tasked with conducting the search for
a new CEO . The committee is chaired by Jeff
Fernandez, Market President, Senior Products,
Humana. At the request of the LAHP
board, Dupré is assisting in the search. Details
on qualifications for the position and information
on applying are available at www.
lahp.net.
Torres Joins North Oaks
Primary Care Clinic
Internal Medicine Physician Felix L. Torres,
MD, recently joined Drs. Phillip Ehlers, Jay
Kumar, and William G. Plunkett in practice at
North Oaks Primary Care Clinic in Livingston.
A board-certified internist, Dr. Torres brings
21 years of experience in the prevention, diagnosis,
and treatment of medical conditions
and diseases in adults to the clinic. Prior
to joining North Oaks, he practiced in La-
Fourche and Terrebonne parishes. Following
Hurricane Katrina, he relocated to Gaylord,
Mich. In 2008, he returned to Louisiana to
practice closer to home in the communities
of Monroe and Springhill.
DHH Selects Magellan for
Behavioral Health Services
After receiving bids from four companies,
the Louisiana Department of Health and
Hospitals (DHH) announced that Magellan
Health Services, Inc. is being recommended
for the contract as the Statewide Management
Organization (SMO) to operate the
program that will provide behavioral health
services to 100,000 adults and 50,000 children.
Magellan Health Services, Inc. is a specialty
health care manager headquartered in
Avon, Conn.
The Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership
was designed to transform how the
state delivers and pays for behavioral health
services for adults and children with the
primary goal of improving coordination of
those services, quality of care, and outcomes
for clients. The Coordinated System of Care
targets about 2,500 children and youth with
significant behavioral health challenges or
co-occurring disorders that are in, or at, imminent
risk of out-of-home placement.
As the SMO Magellan will be responsible
for improving access, quality, and efficiency
of behavioral health services for all children
(including those eligible for the CSoC) as well
as adults with serious mental illness and/or
addictive disorders. Also, the SMO will develop
a network of qualified behavioral health
care providers to offer a full array of services
to meet the needs of people with behavioral
health challenges.
The SMO is scheduled to begin operations
on March 1, 2012. More information on the
Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership and
Coordinated Systems of Care can be found at
http://www.obh.dhh.la.gov/.
Leal Joins North Oak Clinic
North Oaks Family Medicine Clinic announced
that Family Practitioner Christina
Leal, MD, has joined the Hammond practice.
Dr. Leal specializes in comprehensive health
care for the entire family including: management
of short- and long-term illnesses,
well and sick child care, annual physical and
wellness exams, and routine screenings. She
also places emphasis on motivating and
coaching her patients to make healthy lifestyle
choices and leads by her own example
as an active tri-athlete.
Dr. Leal comes to North Oaks from the
Family Medicine Residency Program of East
Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, where
she served as Chief Resident. A graduate of
Louisiana State University School of Medicine
in New Orleans, she completed her internship
at Orlando Regional Medical Center in Florida
and is certified in Advanced Trauma Life
Support. Professionally, Dr. Leal belongs to
both the American and Louisiana Academies
of Family Physicians.
Joint Commission Releases
Progress Report/Identifies
Top Performers
For the first time, The Joint Commission’s
2011 annual report on quality and safety,
Improving America’s Hospitals, lists hospitals
and critical access hospitals that are top
performers in using evidence-based care
processes closely linked to positive patient
outcomes. The 405 organizations identified
as attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability
measure performance for the full
previous year (2010) represent approximately
14 percent of Joint Commission-accredited
hospitals and critical access hospitals that report
core measure performance data.
Based on performance related to 22 accountability
measures for heart attack, heart
failure, pneumonia, surgical care, and children’s
asthma care, The Joint Commission
report singles out hospitals in 45 states. In
Louisiana recognized hospitals included:
• Rapides Regional Medical Center,
Alexandria
• Lakeview Medical Center, LLC,
Covington
• Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital,
Fort Polk
• Byrd Regional Hospital, Leesville
• Minden Medical Center, Minden
• Dauterive Hospital Corporation, New
Iberia
• Ochsner Medical Center NorthShore,
LLC, Slidell
• Mercy Regional Medical Center, Ville
Platte
The list of top performing hospitals
and the measure set or sets for which the
hospital was recognized are available online
at http://www.jointcommission.org/top_
performers_on_key_quality_measures/.
Faller Noted for Commitment
to Sports Health
North Oaks officials and Medical Staff members
recently honored retired Kentwood
Family Practitioner Carlton S. Faller, MD, for
49 years of dedicated service to the citizens
of Tangipahoa Parish and his longstanding
support of the North Oaks Sports Medicine
program.
Dr. Faller moved to Kentwood in 1961 and
practiced medicine there until his retirement
in 2010. From inception of the North Oaks
Sports Medicine program nearly 20 years
ago until his recent retirement, Dr. Faller was
always willing to volunteer his time and expertise
to help perform complimentary physical
screenings for area student-athletes in
order for them to meet annual Louisiana High
School Athletic Association requirements.
North Oaks Physicians
Named “Top Docs”
The North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond
noted that twelve of its staff physicians were
named among the state’s “Top Doctors,” in
the latest edition of the ranking published by
New Orleans magazine.
The physicians and their areas of specialty
are:
• William F. Beacham, MD, Obstetrics/
Gynecology
• William G. Black, MD, Gynecology
• Patricia S. Braly, MD, Gynecologic
Oncology
• Michael Dunn, MD, Family Medicine
• Richard J. Grisoli, MD, Anesthesiology
(critical care category)
• Paul Guilbault, MD, Family Medicine
• Ted Hudspeth, MD, Family Medicine
• Timothy J. Mooney, MD, Gynecology
• David N. Oubre, MD, Oncology
• S. Tahseen Rab, MD, Nephrology
• Jay Smith, MD, Emergency Medicine
• Arvind R. Yertha, MD, Pulmonology
(critical care category).
The physicians are selected by Best Doctors
Inc., a Boston-based company that surveys
and interviews peer professionals, for
New Orleans magazine. As part of its nationwide
survey, Best Doctors interviewed more
than 30,000 doctors. Physicians were asked
the same question, “If you or a loved one
needed a doctor in your specialty and you
couldn’t treat them yourself, to whom would
you refer them?”
Harvey Promoted to
Operations Manager
Kim Harvey has been promoted to Operations
Manager for CarePoint Partners, a Cincinnati-
based home IV infusion company.
Harvey will direct all operations for locations
in Baton Rouge, Gonzales, Lafayette, and Alexandria.
She has been with the company for
more than six years, serving most recently as
Pharmacist and Pharmacy Manager.
Abortion Facility Shut Down
The Louisiana Department of Health and
Hospitals has issued a cease and desist order
to the Gentilly Medical Clinic for Women.
The order required the facility, which has
been repeatedly cited for health and safety
violations since January 2010 and has been
under two license revocations, to immediately
halt operations.
DHH issued a license revocation for the clinic
on May 25, 2011 after an investigation found
repeat violations that posed significant health
and safety risks to women. The facility was
already under a license revocation originally
issued January 2010 for substantial failure to
comply with the minimum standards for licensure
of abortion clinics. Gentilly Medical Clinic
was appealing that decision when a May 6,
2011 survey found continued violations.
Federal Emergency
Partners Train in LA
The Louisiana Department of Health and
Hospitals recently had an opportunity to host
more than 300 federal and state emergency
preparedness employees in Alexandria for
the federal government’s 2011 National Field
Deployment Training. The Veterans Administration
chose Louisiana as this year’s training
site because of the state’s expertise in medical
sheltering and its state-of-the-art Mega-
Shelter in Alexandria.
The training highlights the critical partnership
between state, federal, and local resources
during a crisis event. It focuses on
how to establish and operate a Federal Medical
Station (FMS), which are shelters of last
resort, designed for people who have needs
that prohibit them from staying in a general
population shelter, but do not require
hospitalization. FMS sites are an extension
of Louisiana’s Medical Special Needs Shelter
(MSNS) Program, and are activated only
when the demand exceeds the state’s capacity.
Should Louisiana have a full-coastal or
southeast evacuation due to a hurricane, the
pre-identified FMS sites would be needed to
help the state augment its MSNS state-shelter
capacity.
Representatives from the United States
Department of Health and Human Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
United States Public Health Service, Veterans
Health Administration, FEMA, and Louisiana’s
Department of Health and Hospitals
and Department of Children and Family Services
took part in the three days of training.
Prevent Child Abuse
Louisiana Relocates
In an effort to maximize impact Prevent
Child Abuse Louisiana (PCA Louisiana) announced
that it has begun working closely
with Louisiana CASA Association and Children’s
Advocacy Centers of Louisiana. To
facilitate this partnership all three organizations
are now co-located at 9654 Brookline
Avenue, Suite 210 in Baton Rouge. PCA
Louisiana’s phone number, (225) 925-9520,
has not changed. However the organization
announced that the Department of Children
and Family Services has launched a
toll-free number for reporting child abuse in
Louisiana. The number, 1-855-4LA-KIDS (1-
855-452-5437) will allow callers to talk to a
trained child welfare worker at any time, 24
hours a day, seven days a week.
On a related note, PCA Louisiana indicated
it is in need of volunteers from the
Baton Rouge area to answer its KIDLINE,
1-800-CHILDREN, an anonymous, toll-free
crisis line that provides information about
the signs and symptoms of child abuse, how
to report suspected abuse and general parenting
and family support information. If you
are interested, please email Amanda@pcal.
org, visit our website at www.pcal.org or call
(225) 925-9520.
Patrons Can Check Restaurant
Records Online
The Louisiana Department of Health and
Hospitals has launched a new food safety
website, www.eatsafe.la.gov, which features
the sanitary inspection reports of the nearly
34,000 Louisiana retail food establishments
DHH permits and inspects. The site can be
accessed 24/7.
Health inspection reports have always
been public record, but prior to the release of
this website, residents had to request copies
from the parish health unit in their area and
then go to the health unit to view them. Full
reports will still be available at parish health
units, but EatSafe will give users details on
violations found at each establishment and
corrective actions taken.
The website will be updated daily, but
DHH officials are reminding residents that
it’s important to remember inspections are a
“snapshot” in time. Therefore, they are not always
reflective of the day-to-day operations
and overall condition of an establishment.
Parish Internal Medicine
Associates Achieves
Meaningful Use
The Louisiana Health Information Technology
(LHIT) Resource Center announced
that Parish Internal Medicine Associates of
Destrehan became the first practice working
with the Resource Center to attest to
meaningful use of electronic health records
(EHRs) and qualify for federal funds through
the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.
Since launching the practice in 2004, Kiran
Chava, MD, has been mindful of physicians’
concerns about implementation and use of a
certified EHR system. “I began the conversion
from paper to EHRs in anticipation that this
was the direction clinical practices were heading.
The implementation began with one to
three patients a day. This gave me the time and
support that I needed from my staff to make
the transition, and I’ve already seen my practice
become more efficient,” said Dr. Chava.
The LHIT Resource Center, administered
by the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum,
is one of 62 regional extension centers in the
country established through the Health Information
Technology for Economic and Clinical
Health (HITECH) Act. The HITECH Act authorized
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services to provide reimbursement incentives
to physicians and hospitals who demonstrate
meaningful use of certified EHR technology.
Medicare incentives can provide up
to $44,000 per provider over five years, and
Medicaid incentives up to $63,750 per provider
over six years.
For more information visit www.lhcqf.org
or e-mail
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
.
Ochsner Named
Top Performer
Ochsner Medical Center – North Shore has
been named one of the nation’s top performers
on key quality measures by The Joint
Commission, the leading accreditor of health
care organizations in America. The hospital
was recognized based on data reported about
evidence-based clinical processes that are
shown to improve care for certain conditions,
including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia,
surgical care, and children’s asthma.
Ochsner Medical Center – North Shore is
one of only 405 U.S. hospitals and critical access
hospitals earning the distinction of top
performer on key quality measures for attaining
and sustaining excellence in accountability
measure data reported to The Joint Commission
during the previous calendar year.
HHS Boosts CHIP
The U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) will provide $40 million in
grants for efforts to identify and enroll children
eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s
Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Grants
were awarded to 39 state agencies, community
health centers, school-based organizations,
and non-profit groups in 23 states.
The two-year grants are authorized under
the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization
Act (CHIPRA) of 2009.
While Louisiana did not receive any individual
grants, the state was part of a multistate
$1,000,000 award. The American Association
of School Administrators, working
in collaboration with the Children’s Defense
Fund, will conduct outreach in four states
— California, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
The goal will be to build the capacity of
selected school districts to incorporate children’s
health outreach and enrollment activities
into routine school operations. Various
strategies will be used to target eligible children
and help them enroll in health coverage,
including adding questions about insurance
status to school enrollment documents and
providing training on Medicaid and CHIP enrollment
procedures.
For more information, go to http://www.
insurekidsnow.gov/.
Enhanced Waiver for
Elderly and Disabled
The Louisiana Department of Health and
Hospitals has enhanced its choices of
available services to adults with disabilities
and the elderly who receive home and
community-based care. Effective Oct. 1,
2011, the Elderly and Disabled Adult (EDA)
Waiver is being replaced with a new program
called the Community Choices Waiver.
With the Community Choices Waiver, recipients
will still have access to all of the services
provided through the EDA Waiver, but will
also have the opportunity to select options
that empower them to lead more independent
lives. Individuals currently receiving the
EDA Waiver were automatically transferred
to the Community Choices Waiver on Oct. 1.
Currently, EDA Waiver recipients receive
the following services:
• Support coordination;
• Transition intensive support
coordination;
• Transition service (provided to people
leaving nursing homes);
• Personal assistance service (one-toone
care);
• Adult day health care;
• Environmental accessibility adaptations;
and
• Personal Emergency Response System
(PERS).
The Community Choices Waiver will provide
all of the services currently provided
through the EDA Waiver, but will also offer
waiver recipients the opportunity to
receive:
• Assistive devices and medical supplies,
including Personal Emergency
Response System (PERS);
• Physical, occupational, speech and
respiratory therapy;
• Nursing services;
• Home-delivered meal services;
• Caregiver temporary support services
or respite; and
• Non-medical transportation.
To qualify, individuals must meet Medicaid
eligibility; be 21 years old or older; and
meet nursing facility level of care criteria.
North Oaks Radiologic
Technology Students Sweep
Scientific Essay Competition
Four North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology
senior students swept the scientific
essay competition at the 54th annual Louisiana
Society of Radiologic Technologists annual
meeting held at the Astor Crowne Plaza
in New Orleans.
Darielle Avant of Independence and Sha
Parker of Hammond earned first place with
their essay, “The Effects of Health Care Reform
on Radiology.” Lauren Rawls of Slidell
took second place with her essay on “Misconceptions
of Computed Tomography,” and
Cara Klerk of Loranger placed third with her
essay on “Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear
Power Plant.” All essays were judged on originality,
educational value, and organization.
The North Oaks School of Radiologic
Technology is accredited by the Joint Review
Committee on Education in Radiologic
Technology (JRCERT). Radiologic Technology
incorporates the use of ionizing radiation
for diagnostic images and therapeutic applications
for diagnosis and treatment of diseases
and injuries. Upon completion of this
program, the students are eligible to take the
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
(ARRT) National Certification examination
and apply for Louisiana state licensure.
LOCAL
CAHSD to Assist Prisoners
The Department of Public Safety and Corrections
(DOC) has partnered with Capital Area
Human Services District (CAHSD) through a
signed memorandum to create an Adult Reentry
Pilot Program for DOC offenders who
are being released in the CAHSD service area.
Officials of DOC and CAHSD say the program
is designed to help adults access mental
health and substance abuse treatment quickly
upon release from prison. It ensures the
referral and treatment of offenders released
from state custody are expedited (including
those housed in local facilities) for those
with a serious mental illness and/or substance
abuse problem. This process is the best way
to prevent relapse into criminal behavior and/
or re-incarceration. As part of the program,
CAHSD will:
• Accept the individual who is released
into treatment if he/she meets the clinic’s eligibility
criteria
• Assist DOC in appropriate referrals and
placement elsewhere for individuals that do
not meet the clinic’s eligibility criteria
• Track the individual’s progress and participation
in treatment
• Communicate with Probation and Parole
regarding the individual’s progress and needs.
National statistics show that adults who
are released from prison are more likely to
remain free and become productive in society
if they have access to quality behavioral
health services, especially those that treat
mental illness and substance abuse.
Beck Installed as
Nursing School Dean
Our Lady of the Lake College has announced
the installation of Jennifer Beck, PhD, RN,
CNE, as Dean of the School of Nursing (SON).
Dr. Beck holds a PhD in Educational Leadership
and Research, a Master’s degree in Nursing,
and Baccalaureate degrees in Nursing and
Education. Her doctoral research focused on
student perceptions of incivility in the nursing
education triad – students, faculty, and nurses.
Currently, Dr. Beck’s research focuses on ways
to create a positive change in the professional
socialization process of nursing students.
Prior to beginning her academic career, Dr.
Beck worked in critical care in California and
Missouri and in medical-surgical nursing and
diabetes education at Our Lady of the Lake
Regional Medical Center. In addition, she has
done emergency care, community-based
care, and research. She holds membership
in the Louisiana Council of Administrators of
Nursing Education where she is secretary,
the American Nurses’ Association, National
League for Nursing, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society,
the Association for the Study of Higher
Education, and the American Educational Research
Association.
Strike Force Nabs Ten in BR
A recent nationwide takedown by Medicare
Fraud Strike Force operations in eight cities
resulted in charges against 91 defendants,
including doctors, nurses, and other medical
professionals, for their alleged participation
in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately
$295 million in false billing.
As part of the takedown, ten defendants
were charged in Baton Rouge for participating
in schemes involving more than $24 million
related to false claims for home health
care and DME. According to one indictment,
a doctor, nurse, and five other co-conspirators
participated in a scheme to bill Medicare
for more than $19 million in skilled nursing
and other home health services that were
medically unnecessary or never provided.
This coordinated takedown involved the
highest amount of false Medicare billings in a
single takedown in Strike Force history.
Whatley Joins Baton Rouge
General Physicians
Jordan Whatley, MD, dermatologist, has
joined Baton Rouge General Physicians. Dr.
Whatley is a graduate of Louisiana State University
School of Medicine in New Orleans
and completed his residency in internal medicine
at Earl K. Long Medical Center. He then
completed an additional residency in dermatology
at Louisiana State University Health
Science Center in New Orleans.
Dr. Whatley is Board Certified in Dermatology
and a member of several professional organizations
including the American Society
of Dermatologic Surgery and the American
Academy of Dermatology. In addition to his
dermatology practice, Dr. Whatley also volunteered
as a physician in the Dominican Republic,
Honduras, and in a Hurricane Gustav
shelter in Baton Rouge.
New Therapist Joins Kleinpeter
Emily Bonvillain, DPT, OTR/L has joined the
practice at Kleinpeter Physical Therapy located
in Baton Rouge and Zachary. Bonvillain
is a Physical and Occupational Therapist. She
received her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology,
Human Movement Science Concentration,
Pre-Physical Therapy at Louisiana State
University. She earned a Master of Occupational
Therapy degree at the University of St.
Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine,
Florida. Bonvillain received her Doctorate
of Physical Therapy at the University of
St. Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine,
Florida. She is a member of American
Occupational Therapy Association, and
the American Physical Therapy Association.
Easton and Ferachi Join Baton
Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic
The Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic has
announced its association with Robert W.
Easton, MD and David G. Ferachi, MD. With
the addition of Dr. Easton and Dr. Ferachi, the
Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic now has 30
physicians in three clinics serving the South
Louisiana region.
Dr. Easton completed his Doctor of Medicine
and Orthopaedic Residency at LSU in
New Orleans. He finished a Fellowship in
Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement
at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr.
Easton specializes in joint replacements and
also provides general orthopaedic care at the
Gonzales location.
Dr. Ferachi completed his Doctor of Medicine
and Orthopaedic Residency at Tulane
University in New Orleans. He finished a
Spine Fellowship at Oregon Health Science
University in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Ferachi
specializes in Spine at the Baton Rouge clinic.
Hume Named CEO
Craig Hume has been named Chief Executive
Officer of Surgical Specialty Center of Baton
Rouge (SSCBR). Hume most recently served
as Executive Vice President and COO of Frye
Regional Medical Center, a 355-bed acute
care hospital in Hickory, North Carolina. Prior
to that he was Regional Director of Operations
Improvement for Tenet Healthcare, Inc.
for the company’s central Northeast region.
He also served 11 years as COO at University
Medical Center of Lebanon, Tennessee.
Hume received his Bachelor of Science
degree from Duke University and his Master
of Business Administration from Vanderbilt
University.
CAHSD Receives
$1.9 Million Grant
The Capital Area Human Services District
(CAHSD) has been awarded a $1.9 million,
four year grant, as part of a national initiative
to find the best ways to improve the health
status and increase the life expectancy of
persons with serious mental illness (SMI) and
substance abuse conditions. During the grant
period, more than 7,500 persons with serious
mental illness in the Baton Rouge region are
expected to be helped.
CAHSD was the only Louisiana program
chosen and is one of 64 nationally awarded
sites for the Primary and Behavioral Health
Care Integration (PBHCI) grant project,
funded by the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA).
CAHSD will offer coordinated care through
its larger clinics and rural satellites with local
partners including the LSU-Mid City and
North Baton Rouge Clinics in Baton Rouge,
St. Elizabeth’s Community Clinic in Gonzales,
several locally Federally Qualified Health
Centers (FQHC) and private primary care
clinics and offices. The LSU Department of
Social Work will provide the evaluation component
of the grant.
Pennington Wins $6 Million
Military Research Grant
A new competitively awarded $6 million,
three-year grant will allow Pennington Biomedical
Research Center to discover novel
ways to increase warfighter resilience, combat
readiness, and optimal performance of
soldiers. The new research project is based
upon a 23-year history of collaborative
research between Pennington Biomedical
and the U. S. Department of Defense (DoD).
The grant will be led by Professor Jennifer
Rood, PhD, who will serve as Pennington
Biomedical’s principal investigator for
the CROWN project, which stands for: Collaborative
Research to Optimize Warfighter
Nutrition. The research team will be conducting
nutrition, metabolism, and human
physiology research in an attempt to discover
novel strategies that promote warfighter
resilience and improve warfighter readiness.
The grant provides $2 million for fiscal year
2011, with a commitment of equal annual allocations
through fiscal year 2013.
Moreau Physical Therapy
Opens Clinic in Zachary
Moreau Physical Therapy has opened a new
clinic on Main Street in Zachary. Clinical Director,
Althea Jones, PT, DPT will lead the
Moreau team. Ms. Jones is a graduate of
Loma Linda University and has been practicing
for over four years in the Zachary community.
Ms. Jones is currently the Baton
Rouge District Chair for the LPTA.
Moreau Physical Therapy currently manages
nine locations throughout South Louisiana
with concentrations in outpatient, inpatient,
and industrial therapy.
Mathai Joins Comprehensive
Pain Management
Koshy M. Mathai, MD has joined the practice
of Sandra Weitz, MD, Alpesh D. Patel, MD and
Tulsi N. Bice, MD, PhD at Comprehensive Pain
Management.
Dr. Mathai received his undergraduate degree
from Baylor University in Waco, Texas
and his medical degree from the University
of Texas Southwestern Medical School in
Dallas. He went on to complete an internship
in Internal Medicine at the Reading Hospital
and Medical Center in West Reading, Penn.
Dr. Mathai completed his residency in Anesthesiology,
and his fellowship in Pain Medicine
at the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center in Pittsburgh. He has also performed
research at the National Institute of Health in
Bethesda, Maryland.
Two Join Rheumatology
Services
Drs. Khanh T. Ho and Sean E. Shannon have
joined Rheumatology Services at Our Lady of
the Lake Physician Group.
Khanh T. Ho, MD received her medical degree
from the University of Florida College of
Medicine in Gainesville. She completed her
residency in internal medicine at LSU School
of Medicine, Earl K. Long Hospital, and performed
her fellowship in rheumatology at the
University of Texas Health Science Center in
Houston. Dr. Ho is Board Certified in internal
medicine and rheumatology.
Sean E. Shannon, MD received his medical
degree from LSU School of Medicine in New
Orleans. He completed his residency in internal
medicine at Medical University of South
Carolina in Charleston, where he also performed
his fellowship in rheumatology. Dr.
Shannon is Board Certified in internal medicine
and rheumatology.
Sonsky Joins Baton Rouge
General Physicians
Alan Sonsky, MD, has joined Baton Rouge
General Physicians, practicing at Baton
Rouge General Gastroenterology. Dr. Sonsky
is Board Certified in Gastroenterology,
and comes to Baton Rouge from the
Opelousas/Lafayette area with more than
25 years experience in gastroenterology.
Dr. Sonsky graduated from the Faculty of
Medicine of the University of Valencia in Valencia,
Spain, and completed his residency
in internal medicine at Long Island College
Hospital. He then went on to complete his
fellowship in gastroenterology at St. Mary’s
Hospital, an affiliate of University of Rochester
School of Medicine in Rochester,
New York. Dr. Sonsky served as an instructor
of medicine at Weill Medical College of
Cornell University and as the Chief of Gastroenterology
at New York Community
Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. He is a current
member of the American College of
Gastroenterology.
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