HJBR May/Jun 2020

28 MAY / JUN 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs chronic mental health conditions,” said Melissa Silva, MHA executive director. “We want to reduce these risks by increasing the availability of appropriate mental health support for those who need it, and making this training available at no cost to providers and to the public is allow- ing us to do that.” The MHA worked with Louisiana Healthcare Connections to utilize the health plan’s exist- ing training infrastructure and team of clini- cally trained educators to provide the train- ing series. The web-based series features six 15-minute courses. The trainings are accessible via any mobile smart device, and are available on-demand to allow clinicians to complete the courses at their own pace, on their own sched- ules. The courses are designed for peer sup- port specialists and mental health rehabilitation (MHR) providers, but are available to the public. The skills and information may be useful to any- one facing or supporting someone with anxiety, grief or depression in this time. The training series Cardiovascular Institute of the South Using Telecardiology Services The CIS Virtual Care Center offers cardiac care to its patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The VCC is located in Lafayette, La., but provides care to our patients in all locations via phone and video chat. The VCC team is comprised of nurse practitio- ners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, telemetry technicians, and care navigators who work together to provide cardiovascular care remotely. The VCC houses multiple state-of-the-art vir- tual services for patients and hospital partners, including CIS’s Telecardiology Program. The pro- gram offers telecardiology services to remotely- located hospitals, anywhere in the country, allow- ing patients to receive world-class cardiology care without leaving their community. Ochsner Receives Financial Gift to Assist Patients with Oral Cancer Ochsner Cancer Center Baton Rouge recently accepted a $15,000 gift from insurance provider Unum Group. “Unum understands it is critical for patients to receive dental care immediately upon diagno- sis,” stated Shavon Knighten, manager corpo- rate social responsibility, Unum Baton Rouge region. “Radiation therapy cannot begin until three weeks after oral surgery or extractions are performed. Unum’s donation will be dedicated toward dental care for Ochsner patients diag- nosed with oral cancer.” Patients who are diagnosed with oral cancer usually require a dental evaluation and significant dental work prior to beginning their cancer treat- ment. Due to the high cost of this dental work outside of Ochsner, many patients lack the finan- cial resources to complete this necessary step and unintentionally delay a physician’s ability to plan radiation therapy and begin curative treatments Treating oral cancers as quickly as possible vastly improves long-term survival rates. “When treatment is delayed due to a lack of funding for dental care, patients risk their cancer progressing to a more aggressive, widespread stage,” said Burke J. Brooks, MD, section head hematology/ oncology, Ochsner Cancer Center Baton Rouge. Training Series Prepares Providers, Public to Offer Mental Health Support for Those in COVID-19 Isolation As thousands of Louisiana residents with COVID-19 diagnoses and symptoms care for themselves in isolation, they may experience anx- iety, depression or other mental health concerns. In collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), the Louisiana Affiliate of Mental Health America, the Mental Health Association for Greater Baton Rouge (MHA), is partnering with Louisiana Health- care Connections, a Medicaid health plan, to pro- vide free clinical trainings to mental health pro- viders and to the general public to prepare them to address the needs of those living in isolation. “Social isolation and loneliness can increase feelings of depression and anxiety, and lead to negative health consequences for those with Ochsner Cancer Center Baton Rouge recently accepted a $15,000 gift from large insurance provider Unum Group. Pictured at the check presentation are, left to right, Shavon Knighten, Manager Corporate Social Responsibility – Unum Baton Rouge Region; Burke J. Brooks, MD, Section Head Hematology/Oncology – Ochsner Cancer Center Baton Rouge; Takeasha Drake, Hematology/Oncology Social Worker – Ochsner Cancer Center Baton Rouge; Christy Reeves, Vice President, Regional Community Affairs and Government Relations – Ochsner Baton Rouge.

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