HJBR May/Jun 2026

48 MAY / JUN 2026  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds upon arrival, which will direct walk-in patients to the appropriate Emergency Department entrance. Emergency services at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center remain fully open and operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout this transition. Clear campus signage and on-site team mem- bers will be available to assist patients and vis- itors and ensure continued ease of access dur- ing this phase of the project. Ambulance access and emergency response operations remain unchanged. Ochsner Health Announces Launch of M7’sWorkforce Management Platform Ochsner Health and M7 Health announced the system-wide launch of M7’s workforce manage- ment platform across all Ochsner inpatient hospi- tal campuses. In April 2025, Ochsner introduced a pilot with nursing teams at three of its hospi- tals. By the end of 2025, M7 was deployed across every inpatient nursing unit at all 47 hospitals in the Ochsner system, with expansion to additional frontline, shift-based teams planned for 2026. Through M7 all inpatient nursing staff can express personalized schedule preferences, pick up open shifts, and manage their schedules in a simple, mobile-first interface. For nurse manag- ers, house supervisors, and centralized staffing teams of approximately 9,000 teammembers, M7 replaces hours of manual work with automated, real-time decision support. Following the system-wide nursing rollout, Och- sner and M7 are now expanding the platform to additional shift-based frontline teams, including surgical and procedural areas and other inpa- tient roles. Allyson Bennett, MSN, RN, Named Chief Nursing Officer at Lane Regional Medical Center Allyson Bennett, MSN, RN, has been promoted to chief nursing officer at Lane Regional Medi- cal Center. Bennett succeeds Staci Sullivan, MSN, PMHCNS-BC, NEA-BC, RNC, who has served as chief nursing officer since 2015. Bennett served as chief quality officer since February 2025. She earned her nursing degree from Southern University and master’s degree in NewProcedure to Help Control High Blood Pressure First Per- formed at Baton Rouge General Patients with high blood pressure that is diffi- cult to control despite medications and lifestyle changes have a new option in Baton Rouge. The first renal denervation (RDN) procedures were recently performed in the cardiac catheterization lab at Baton Rouge General, expanding treatment options and supporting better long-term heart health outcomes. A minimally invasive procedure, the Symplic- ity Spyral RDN system works by targeting overac- tive nerves near the kidneys that can contribute to elevated blood pressure. After mild sedation, the doctor inserts a very thin tube into the artery leading to the kidney. The doctor then administers energy to calm the excessive activity of the nerves connected to the kidney. The tube is removed, leaving no implant behind. The Symplicity blood pressure procedure, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Admin- istration in November 2023, is clinically proven to help reduce high blood pressure, which can lower serious health risks. The first RDN proce- dures were performed by Garland Green, MD, interventional cardiologist with Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) and medical director of BRG’s cath lab, and Amit Patel, MD, interven- tional cardiologist with CIS. High blood pressure (hypertension) affects about 50% of U.S. adults. It is the single largest contributor to death and a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. In 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that Louisiana had the fourth highest rate of adults with high blood pressure. Manning Family Children’s Announces NICU Expansion Manning Family Children’s is constructing a new Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The project will increase the hospital’s current main campus NICU capacity from 35 to 60 beds, while expand- ing its broader regional neonatal network, which encompasses all LCMC Health birthing hospitals and its affiliate partners, to nearly 200 beds. The new unit will triple the current NICU’s square footage and feature an intentional design that fosters a quiet, low-stimulation, family-centered healing environment. Key features of the expan- sion include: • Developmentally supportive care envi- ronments: Sensory optimized patient care rooms that promote optimal neurodevelop- ment and patient and family centered care. • Integrated procedural spaces: On-unit pro- cedure space to support rapid interven- tion by pediatric subspecialists when sec- onds matter. • Family transition rooms: Co-located suites designed for families to “room in” as they prepare for independent care and discharge home. • Modern, efficient design: Improved space for clinical workflows, equipment, and mul- tidisciplinary teams, along with state-of-the- art technology to equip care teams with the best tools to save lives and improve outcomes. • Advanced academic space: Expanded facili- ties for the neonatology fellowship program and other pediatric programs. The new unit will be housed on the fourth floor of Manning Family Children’s newest medical tower. The new NICU is scheduled to open in 2027. It is designed by Kennedy Kraft Architects and will be constructed by Woodward Designs. Additionally, the hospital has launched a corre- sponding capital campaign to help make this vital investment possible. FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Announces Emer- gency Department Access, Registration Updates FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center has implemented updated Emer- gency Department (ED) access and patient regis- tration procedures. The new flow and entry points are part of continued progress on the hospital’s Emergency Department Reimagination, a multi- phase renovation. Additional project milestones are expected in the coming months, including a future groundbreaking to mark the next phase of the Emergency Department transformation. Patients arriving for emergency care will notice updated entrance access points and revised reg- istration procedures as construction progresses. Visitors should follow updated campus signage