exchange summer 2012 reading spreads flat
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TRANSCRIPT
Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 • ## www.BRGLinkin.org
©2012 Capital City Pre
ss
87th year, No. 342
WEDNESDAYJUNE 6, 20
12
BATON ROUGE
theadvocate.com
75 cents
INDEX
GOOD MORNING,
LOUISIANA
PEOPLE
BR designer,
others showcase
collections in BR
ä PAGE 1D
SPORTS
LSU’s Nola
goes to Marlins;
Goody drafted
by Yankees
ä PAGE 1C
NATION
Wis. governor
survives recall
challenge
ä PAGE 2A
BUSINESS
Gross domestic
product up in La.
ä PAGE 6B
THE
ADVOCATETH E I ND E P END EN T VO I C E O F SOU TH LOU I S I A NA
TODAY’SWEATHER
Showers.
High: 92.Low: 70.
DETAILS: 10B
H
Business6B
Classified1E
Comics 5D
Deaths7A
Movies3D
Notices7E
Opinion8B
People 1D
Puzzles4D
Sports1C
Television3D
Weather10B
BOSSIER CITY—Will
iam “Bil-
ly” Bretherton, sta
r of the
A&E reality TV s
how “Billy
the Exterminator,”
was ar-
rested ondrug pos
session
chargesin Bossie
r City.
City spokesmanM
ark
Natale said Tuesda
y that a
warrantwas
issued last
week for
Bretherton
and his wife,
Mary, after
items recov-
ered from
their hotel
room tested
positive for synthe
tic mari-
juana.They sur
renderedto
authorities Friday
, posted
$6,000 bond each a
nd were
releasedlater that
day, Na-
tale said.
The reality show f
ollows
Bretherton, a pes
t-control
specialist in north
Louisiana,
as he responds to
calls to
wrangle,trap or k
ill various
critters and pests,
among
them bees, snakes
and cock-
roaches.
A&E didnot reply
to a re-
quest forcommen
t.
By The Associated
Press
Reality show star
faces drugcharges
Bretherton
Fiscal hawks not disc
ouraged
LouisianaHouseRe
publicans
who fashioned the
mselvesas
fiscal hawks during
the recent
session said Tuesd
ay that they
are not discourag
ed by their
failure topurge on
e-time mon-
ey from the state b
udget.
Roughlythree doz
en Repub-
licans held up the
budget de-
bate fortwo days
and inspired
a poemtitled “F
iscal Hawk
Ride.” However, i
n the waning
days of the sessio
n, they lost
their battle over th
e budget.
“We’re not going
anywhere.
We’re going to ke
ep plugging
away. We have a
lot of new,
fresh blood,” stat
e Rep. John
Schroder, R-Covin
gton, saidon
Tuesday.
The 2012Legislati
ve session
endedMonday nig
ht.
The budget disput
e is raising
questionson wheth
er the clash
with theRepublic
an governor
will result in a pol
itical gutting
of committee vic
e chairmen
who opposed him.
Gov.BobbyJindal
saidhewill
leave that decisi
on to House
SpeakerChuck K
leckley,R-
LakeCharles, and
SenatePresi-
dent JohnAlario, R
-Westwego.
“I respect those th
at came to
themicrophone,ev
en those that
disagreed with us
, even those
that voted differe
ntly fromthe
way wewould ha
ve wanted,”
the governor said.
Kleckley, who pre
sides over
the chamber in wh
ich the bulk
of the defiance oc
curred, re-
fused to speculate.
“I’m notgo-
ing to comment o
n that atthis
time,” hesaid.
The self-descri
bed fiscal
hawks clashed wi
th Jindalon
how to balance the
$25.6 billion
state spending pla
n for thefis-
cal year that starts
July 1.
At issuewas whe
ther to use
one-timedollars to
pay expens-
es that must be m
et year after
year. With state re
venue short
of the amount nee
ded to keep
servicesat their c
urrent level,
Jindal wanted to
sell property
and gather dollar
s from funds
scatteredacross st
ate govern-
ment to fill in the g
aps.
BY MICHELLEMILLHOLL
ON
Capitol news bure
au
Source: The Leapfr
og Group
Advocategraphic
Hospital grades
BATON ROUGE AREA
Baton Rouge Gene
ral Medical Center
A
OchsnerMedical
Center—
Baton Rouge
B
Earl K. Long Med
ical Center
C
Lane Regional Me
dical Center C
Our Ladyof the La
ke Regional
MedicalCenter
C
St. Elizabeth Hosp
italC
Woman’s Hospital
C
LAFAYETTE AREA
The Regional Hea
lth System
of Acadiana
A
Our Ladyof Lourd
es Regional
MedicalCenter
B
LafayetteGeneral
MedicalCenter C
University Medica
l CenterC
Dauterive Hospit
alC
Baton Rouge Gene
ral Medical Center
Baton Rouge
Earl K. Long Med
ical Center
Lane Regional Me
dical Center
St. Elizabeth Hosp
ital
LafayetteGeneral
MedicalCenter
University Medica
l Center
WASHINGTON – Sen.
Mary
Landrieu, D-La
., and other
Democratswho pu
shed forleg-
islation to more e
asily litigate
for equal pay in t
he workplace
were defeated Tue
sday by Sen-
ate Republicans.
As expected, the
Paycheck
FairnessAct legis
lation seek-
ing to amend the
Fair Labor
Standards Act
of 1938fell
short of the neede
d 60 support-
ers in a 52-47 part
y-line vote.
Sen. David Vitter,
R-La., like
other Senate Repu
blicans, vot-
ed against the me
asure.
Republicans ar
gued the
legislation was
unnecessary
since appropriat
e protections
alreadyare in p
lace andthe
bill added extra
burdenson
businesses.
“This bill is about
rewarding
trial lawyers for
filing law-
suits,” SenateMin
ority Leader
Mitch McConnell
, R-Ky, said.
“We have a joble
ss problem.
We havea debt p
roblem.We
have a deficit prob
lem. Wegot
a lot of problems
. Not enough
lawsuitsis not on
e of them.”
Asked ifhe was c
oncerned
about alienating
women with
a GOP filibuster
, McConnell
said themeasure
opened the
door to more laws
uits against
employers.
Democrats argu
ed in favor
of creating more
remediesfor
workplace discrim
ination in a
nation where wo
men receive
77 centson the d
ollar com-
pared with men
for the same
work.Earlier i
n the day, Landr
ieu
took tothe Sen
ate floor to
speak infavor of
the legisla-
tion, while also n
oting pay in-
equitiesin Louisi
ana.
She called the b
ill an “eco-
nomic developme
nt issue.
“Wage discrimin
ation based
on gender is parti
cularly prob-
lematic in my sta
te, according
to the Joint Eco
nomic Com-
mittee report,” La
ndrieu said.
“Womenin Louis
iana don’t
earn 77cents. T
hey earn69
cents forevery do
llar paidto
men,which is sign
ificantlyless
than thenational
average.”
Landrieu said t
he legisla-
tion is about helpi
ng American
families.
“Thereare wom
en nowat
the highest ranks
of corporate
America,” Landri
eu said. “The
problemis, when
you lookat
the wage gap, u
nfortunately,
it still exists. And
, with women
now in many inst
ances being
the major brea
dwinners in
their families, thi
s reallyis a
family issue.
“It’s paying som
e families
much less than oth
ers basedon
the factthat ther
e is a woman
as the breadwinn
er instead of
the man,” she sai
d.
BY JORDAN BLUM
AdvocateWashingt
on bureau
U.S. Senate
rejectsequal paylegislation
Baton Rouge Gen
eral Medi-
cal Center was t
he lone area
hospitalto get an
A in Hospi-
tal Safety Score,
a Leapfrog
Group-created ran
king of hos-
pitals nationwide.
The grades are ba
sed on pre-
ventablehospital
conditions,
such as infections
, medication
errors, acquired i
njuries such
as bedsores, and ot
her sources
of harm,includin
g falls, that
can often be fata
l, according
to the report.
OchsnerMedical
Center-Ba-
ton Rouge receive
d a B, while
the other Baton
Rouge-area
hospitalsreceived
C’s, accord-
ing to thereport.
Some local hosp
itals com-
plainedof not re
ceivingthe
report orknowing
how grades
were calculated an
d what they
mean.“We’re n
ot sayingthat som
e-
bodywhogot aBor
aC is ahor-
rible hospital. We
’re not,”said
DavidKnowlton, p
residentand
chief executive of
ficer of the
New Jersey Heal
thcare Qual-
ity Institute and
chairman of
The Leapfrog Gro
up’s Patient
Safety Committee.
“We’re say-
ing we want ever
ybody toget
A’s.”“Really
there are two el
e-
ments toyour car
e. The first
elementis finding
a physician
and a team that’s
going topro-
vide optimal care
…,” Knowl-
ton said.“But the
n the other
component that e
ncompasses
themajority of ca
re in thehos-
pital is what syste
ms the hos-
pital hasin place t
o make sure
the hospital is a sa
fe place and
to ensurethat no h
arm is done
to you byvirtue of
you beingin
the hospital.”
For example, a pa
tient goes
into a hospital f
or a hipre-
placement, the s
urgeon does
a wonderful job
and theop-
eration isa success
, Knowlton
said. Butwhile in
the hospital,
the patient picks
up an infec-
tion andspends m
onths fight-
ing it offor, worse
, dies from
the complications.
Patientsshould co
nsider the
second element o
f care inde-
ciding where to g
et care,he
said.The Leap
frog Group, whos
e
membership incl
udes various
large corporations
and public
agenciesthat buy
health ben-
efits, uses empl
oyer-buying
power topush the
health in-
dustry to make
big leaps in
improving health-
care safety,
quality and custo
mer value,
according to its w
ebsite.
The ideais to get
people to
ask questions, Kn
owlton said.
Consumers may
completely
trust their docto
rs, but still
be able to tell the
ir physician
they’re uncomfor
table being
sent to aC hospita
l.
BY TED GRIGGS
Advocatebusiness
writer
1 BR hospital gets
A on national list
Baton Rouge General t
ops in safety; Ochsne
r gets B
Photo provided b
y CHARLESBREARD
The Bellemont Hote
l, built in1946 at Airline
Highwaynear Gre
enwell Springs Roa
d, is being
demolished for salvag
e. The accompanying
50,000-square-foo
t Great Hall conve
ntion center,
bottom right, faces the sa
me fate. Itwas built
in 1984.
A massive tinkli
ng chande-
lier still hangs abo
ve the black-
and-white, marbl
e-tiled lobby
of the Bellemont H
otel’s Great
Hall — at least, fo
r now.
Like therest of t
his vestige
from Airline High
way’s glory
days, the chand
elier will be
coming down.
Crews are poundi
ng through
walls, recovering
bricks along
with copper wiri
ng andthe
other salvageab
le building
materials that v
andals have
not already carte
d off, asthey
demolishthe hotel
complex.
The jobshould b
e done in
about five weeks,
said Patrick
Jeansonne, of B
ayou Corne,
who’s completing
the job with
his brother Cha
rlie Hayden
andworkcrews. A
fter that,the
18-acresite that
once housed
more than 250 h
otel rooms,
swimming pools, p
arking spac-
es and the 50,000
-square-foot
Great Hall conve
ntion center
BY SKIP DESCANT
Advocatebusiness
writer
Landmark hotel
Bellemont leveled
Advocatemap
N
ChoctawDr.
Winbourne A
ve.
Prescott Rd. Airline
Hwy.
GreenwellSpringsRd.
Bellemont
Hotel
äSee EQUALPAY, page 4
A
äSee SAFETY, page 5A
äSee BELLEMONT, pag
e 5A
äSee HAWKS, page 4A
ä Governor vetoes three items,
urged to veto another. 4A
Second Quarter, 2012
Baton Rouge General and General Health System Employee Newsletter
ExchangeA Satellite Campus of
Tulane University School of Medicine
One Vision 2
Cancer Awareness 6
In the Spotlight 8
Nurse Excellence Awards 9
Tulane Graduates 9
Summer Safety 14
Employees Getting FitSee BRGFit! Page 4
BRG Patient Safety Is Front Page News! See Page 2
2 • Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 www.BRGLinkin.org
No matter where we are, we are representatives of Baton Rouge General, and it’s important that we feel a sense of pride regarding the positive changes, opportunities and growth taking place on both of our campuses.
Although we embrace the uniqueness of our two campuses, we are one hospital with one mission.
Being able to draw upon the strengths, skills, talents and technology of two facilities ensures that we can deliver consistent, high-quality care and achieve superior outcomes for our patients.
One Mission. One Vision. One BR General.
Go to www.BRGLinkin.org to read the complete Advocate story.
Leading the WayA message from Bill Holman, President and CEO
©2012 Capital City Press87th year, No. 342
WEDNESDAYJUNE 6, 2012
BATON ROUGEtheadvocate.com
75 cents
INDEX
GOOD MORNING,
LOUISIANAPEOPLE
BR designer,others showcasecollections in BRä PAGE 1D
SPORTS
LSU’s Nolagoes to Marlins;Goody draftedby Yankeesä PAGE 1C
NATION
Wis. governorsurvives recallchallengeä PAGE 2A
BUSINESS
Gross domesticproduct up in La.ä PAGE 6B
THEADVOCATETH E I ND E P END EN T VO I C E O F SOU TH LOU I S I A NA
TODAY’SWEATHERShowers.
High: 92. Low: 70.
DETAILS: 10BH
Business 6BClassified 1EComics 5DDeaths 7AMovies 3DNotices 7E
Opinion 8BPeople 1DPuzzles 4DSports 1CTelevision 3DWeather 10B
BOSSIER CITY—William “Bil-ly” Bretherton, star of theA&E reality TV show “Billythe Exterminator,” was ar-rested on drug possessioncharges in Bossier City.City spokesmanMarkNatale said Tuesday that a
warrant wasissued lastweek forBrethertonand his wife,Mary, afteritems recov-ered fromtheir hotelroom tested
positive for synthetic mari-juana.They surrendered toauthorities Friday, posted$6,000 bond each and werereleased later that day, Na-tale said.The reality show followsBretherton, a pest-controlspecialist in north Louisiana,as he responds to calls towrangle, trap or kill variouscritters and pests, amongthem bees, snakes and cock-roaches.A&E did not reply to a re-quest for comment.
By The Associated Press
Reality show starfaces drug charges
Bretherton
Fiscal hawks not discouragedLouisianaHouseRepublicanswho fashioned themselves asfiscal hawks during the recentsession said Tuesday that theyare not discouraged by theirfailure to purge one-time mon-ey from the state budget.Roughly three dozen Repub-licans held up the budget de-bate for two days and inspireda poem titled “Fiscal HawkRide.” However, in the waningdays of the session, they losttheir battle over the budget.“We’re not going anywhere.
We’re going to keep pluggingaway. We have a lot of new,fresh blood,” state Rep. JohnSchroder, R-Covington, said onTuesday.The 2012 Legislative sessionendedMonday night.The budget dispute is raisingquestions on whether the clashwith the Republican governorwill result in a political guttingof committee vice chairmenwho opposed him.
Gov.BobbyJindal saidhewillleave that decision to HouseSpeaker Chuck Kleckley, R-LakeCharles, andSenatePresi-dent JohnAlario, R-Westwego.“I respect those that came tothemicrophone,even those thatdisagreed with us, even thosethat voted differently from theway we would have wanted,”the governor said.Kleckley, who presides overthe chamber in which the bulkof the defiance occurred, re-fused to speculate. “I’m not go-ing to comment on that at thistime,” he said.
The self-described fiscalhawks clashed with Jindal onhow to balance the $25.6 billionstate spending plan for the fis-cal year that starts July 1.At issue was whether to useone-time dollars to pay expens-es that must be met year afteryear. With state revenue shortof the amount needed to keepservices at their current level,Jindal wanted to sell propertyand gather dollars from fundsscattered across state govern-ment to fill in the gaps.
BY MICHELLE MILLHOLLONCapitol news bureau
Source: The Leapfrog Group Advocate graphic
Hospital gradesBATON ROUGE AREABaton Rouge General Medical Center AOchsner Medical Center—Baton Rouge BEarl K. Long Medical Center CLane Regional Medical Center COur Lady of the Lake RegionalMedical Center CSt. Elizabeth Hospital CWoman’s Hospital C
LAFAYETTE AREAThe Regional Health Systemof Acadiana AOur Lady of Lourdes RegionalMedical Center BLafayette General Medical Center CUniversity Medical Center CDauterive Hospital C
Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton RougeEarl K. Long Medical CenterLane Regional Medical Center
St. Elizabeth Hospital
Lafayette General Medical CenterUniversity Medical Center
WASHINGTON – Sen. MaryLandrieu, D-La., and otherDemocratswho pushed for leg-islation to more easily litigatefor equal pay in the workplacewere defeated Tuesday by Sen-ate Republicans.As expected, the PaycheckFairness Act legislation seek-ing to amend the Fair LaborStandards Act of 1938 fellshort of the needed 60 support-ers in a 52-47 party-line vote.Sen. David Vitter, R-La., likeother Senate Republicans, vot-ed against the measure.Republicans argued thelegislation was unnecessarysince appropriate protectionsalready are in place and thebill added extra burdens onbusinesses.“This bill is about rewardingtrial lawyers for filing law-suits,” SenateMinority LeaderMitch McConnell, R-Ky, said.“We have a jobless problem.We have a debt problem. Wehave a deficit problem. We gota lot of problems. Not enoughlawsuits is not one of them.”Asked if he was concernedabout alienating women witha GOP filibuster, McConnellsaid the measure opened thedoor to more lawsuits againstemployers.Democrats argued in favorof creating more remedies forworkplace discrimination in anation where women receive77 cents on the dollar com-pared with men for the samework.Earlier in the day, Landrieutook to the Senate floor tospeak in favor of the legisla-tion, while also noting pay in-equities in Louisiana.She called the bill an “eco-nomic development issue.“Wage discrimination basedon gender is particularly prob-lematic in my state, accordingto the Joint Economic Com-mittee report,” Landrieu said.“Women in Louisiana don’tearn 77 cents. They earn 69cents for every dollar paid tomen,which is significantly lessthan the national average.”Landrieu said the legisla-tion is about helping Americanfamilies.“There are women now atthe highest ranks of corporateAmerica,” Landrieu said. “Theproblem is, when you look atthe wage gap, unfortunately,it still exists. And, with womennow in many instances beingthe major breadwinners intheir families, this really is afamily issue.“It’s paying some familiesmuch less than others based onthe fact that there is a womanas the breadwinner instead ofthe man,” she said.
BY JORDAN BLUMAdvocate Washington bureau
U.S. Senaterejectsequal paylegislation
Baton Rouge General Medi-cal Center was the lone areahospital to get an A in Hospi-tal Safety Score, a LeapfrogGroup-created ranking of hos-pitals nationwide.The grades are based on pre-ventable hospital conditions,such as infections, medicationerrors, acquired injuries suchas bedsores, and other sourcesof harm, including falls, thatcan often be fatal, accordingto the report.Ochsner Medical Center-Ba-ton Rouge received a B, whilethe other Baton Rouge-areahospitals received C’s, accord-ing to the report.
Some local hospitals com-plained of not receiving thereport or knowing how gradeswere calculated and what theymean.“We’re not saying that some-bodywhogot aBor aC is ahor-rible hospital. We’re not,” saidDavidKnowlton, president andchief executive officer of theNew Jersey Healthcare Qual-ity Institute and chairman ofThe Leapfrog Group’s PatientSafety Committee. “We’re say-ing we want everybody to getA’s.”“Really there are two ele-ments to your care. The firstelement is finding a physicianand a team that’s going to pro-vide optimal care …,” Knowl-
ton said. “But then the othercomponent that encompassesthemajority of care in the hos-pital is what systems the hos-pital has in place to make surethe hospital is a safe place andto ensure that no harm is doneto you byvirtue of you being inthe hospital.”For example, a patient goesinto a hospital for a hip re-placement, the surgeon doesa wonderful job and the op-eration is a success, Knowltonsaid. But while in the hospital,the patient picks up an infec-tion and spends months fight-ing it off or, worse, dies fromthe complications.Patients should consider thesecond element of care in de-
ciding where to get care, hesaid.The Leapfrog Group, whosemembership includes variouslarge corporations and publicagencies that buy health ben-efits, uses employer-buyingpower to push the health in-dustry to make big leaps inimproving health-care safety,quality and customer value,according to its website.The idea is to get people toask questions, Knowlton said.Consumers may completelytrust their doctors, but stillbe able to tell their physicianthey’re uncomfortable beingsent to a C hospital.
BY TED GRIGGSAdvocate business writer
1 BR hospital getsA on national list
Baton Rouge General tops in safety; Ochsner gets B
Photo provided by CHARLES BREARD
The Bellemont Hotel, built in 1946 at Airline Highway near Greenwell Springs Road, is beingdemolished for salvage. The accompanying 50,000-square-foot Great Hall convention center,bottom right, faces the same fate. It was built in 1984.
A massive tinkling chande-lier still hangs above the black-and-white, marble-tiled lobbyof the Bellemont Hotel’s GreatHall — at least, for now.Like the rest of this vestigefrom Airline Highway’s glorydays, the chandelier will becoming down.Crews are pounding throughwalls, recovering bricks alongwith copper wiring and theother salvageable buildingmaterials that vandals havenot already carted off, as theydemolish the hotel complex.The job should be done inabout five weeks, said PatrickJeansonne, of Bayou Corne,who’s completing the job withhis brother Charlie Hayden
andwork crews. After that, the18-acre site that once housedmore than 250 hotel rooms,swimming pools, parking spac-es and the 50,000-square-footGreat Hall convention center
BY SKIP DESCANTAdvocate business writer
Landmark hotelBellemont leveled
Advocate map
NChoctaw Dr.
Winbourne Ave.
Prescott Rd.
AirlineHw
y.
Greenw
ellSpr
ings R
d.BellemontHotel
äSee EQUAL PAY, page 4AäSee SAFETY, page 5A
äSee BELLEMONT, page 5A
äSee HAWKS, page 4A
ä Governor vetoes three items,urged to veto another. 4A
©2012 Capital City Pre
ss
87th year, No. 342
WEDNESDAYJUNE 6, 20
12
BATON ROUGE
theadvocate.com
75 cents
INDEX
GOOD MORNING,
LOUISIANA
PEOPLE
BR designer,
others showcase
collections in BR
ä PAGE 1D
SPORTS
LSU’s Nola
goes to Marlins;
Goody drafted
by Yankees
ä PAGE 1C
NATION
Wis. governor
survives recall
challenge
ä PAGE 2A
BUSINESS
Gross domestic
product up in La.
ä PAGE 6B
THE
ADVOCATETH E I ND E P END EN T VO I C E O F SOU TH LOU I S I A NA
TODAY’SWEATHER
Showers.
High: 92.Low: 70.
DETAILS: 10B
H
Business6B
Classified1E
Comics 5D
Deaths7A
Movies3D
Notices7E
Opinion8B
People 1D
Puzzles4D
Sports1C
Television 3D
Weather10B
BOSSIER CITY—Wil
liam “Bil-
ly” Bretherton, sta
r of the
A&E reality TV s
how “Billy
the Exterminator
,” was ar-
rested ondrug pos
session
chargesin Bossie
r City.
City spokesmanM
ark
Natale said Tuesd
ay that a
warrantwas
issued last
week for
Bretherton
and his wife,
Mary, after
items recov-
ered from
their hotel
room tested
positivefor synth
etic mari-
juana.They sur
renderedto
authorities Friday
, posted
$6,000 bond each a
nd were
releasedlater tha
t day, Na-
tale said.
The reality show
follows
Bretherton, a pes
t-control
specialist in north
Louisiana,
as he responds to
calls to
wrangle,trap or k
ill various
critters and pests,
among
them bees, snakes
and cock-
roaches.
A&E didnot reply
to a re-
quest forcommen
t.
By The Associated
Press
Reality show star
faces drugcharges
Bretherton
Fiscal hawks not disc
ouraged
LouisianaHouseR
epublicans
who fashioned th
emselves as
fiscal hawks duri
ng the recent
session said Tues
day thatthey
are notdiscoura
ged by their
failure topurge on
e-time mon-
ey fromthe state
budget.
Roughlythree do
zen Repub-
licans held up the
budget de-
bate fortwo days
and inspired
a poemtitled “F
iscal Hawk
Ride.” However,
in the waning
days ofthe sess
ion, theylost
their battle over t
he budget.
“We’re not going
anywhere.
We’re going to ke
ep plugging
away. We have a
lot of new,
fresh blood,” stat
e Rep. John
Schroder, R-Covin
gton, saidon
Tuesday.
The 2012Legislati
ve session
endedMonday ni
ght.
The budget disput
e is raising
questions on whe
ther theclash
with theRepublic
an governor
will result in a po
litical gutting
of committee vic
e chairmen
who opposed him.
Gov.BobbyJindal
saidhewill
leave that decis
ion to House
SpeakerChuck K
leckley,R-
LakeCharles, and
SenatePresi-
dent JohnAlario,
R-Westwego.
“I respect those th
at cameto
themicrophone,ev
en those that
disagreed with u
s, even those
that voted differe
ntly fromthe
way wewould ha
ve wanted,”
the governor said
.
Kleckley, who pr
esides over
the chamber in wh
ich the bulk
of the defiance
occurred, re-
fused tospeculate
. “I’m not go-
ing to comment o
n that atthis
time,” hesaid.
The self-descri
bed fiscal
hawks clashed w
ith Jindal on
how to balance the
$25.6 billion
state spending pla
n for thefis-
cal yearthat star
ts July 1.
At issuewas whe
ther to use
one-timedollars to
pay expens-
es that must be m
et year after
year. With state r
evenue short
of the amount nee
ded to keep
servicesat their c
urrent level,
Jindal wanted to
sell property
and gather dollar
s from funds
scatteredacross st
ate govern-
ment to fill in the
gaps.
BY MICHELLEMILLHOLL
ON
Capitol news bure
au
Source: The Leapf
rog Group
Advocategraphic
Hospital grades
BATON ROUGE AREA
Baton Rouge Gene
ral Medical Center
A
OchsnerMedical
Center—
Baton Rouge
B
Earl K. Long Med
ical Center
C
Lane Regional M
edical Center
C
Our Ladyof the La
ke Regional
MedicalCenter
C
St. Elizabeth Hos
pitalC
Woman’s Hospital
C
LAFAYETTE AREA
The Regional He
alth System
of Acadiana
A
Our Ladyof Lourd
es Regional
MedicalCenter
B
Lafayette Genera
l Medical Center
C
University Medic
al Center
C
Dauterive Hospit
alC
Baton Rouge Gene
ral Medical Center
Baton Rouge
Earl K. Long Med
ical Center
Lane Regional M
edical Center
St. Elizabeth Hos
pital
Lafayette Genera
l Medical Center
University Medic
al Center
WASHINGTON – Sen.
Mary
Landrieu, D-La
., and other
Democratswho pu
shed forleg-
islation to more e
asily litigate
for equal pay in t
he workplace
were defeated Tu
esday bySen-
ate Republicans.
As expected, the
Paycheck
FairnessAct legis
lation seek-
ing to amend th
e Fair Labor
Standards Act
of 1938fell
short ofthe need
ed 60 support-
ers in a 52-47 part
y-line vote.
Sen. David Vitter
, R-La., like
other Senate Rep
ublicans, vot-
ed against the me
asure.
Republicans a
rguedthe
legislation was
unnecessary
since appropriat
e protections
alreadyare in p
lace andthe
bill added extra
burdenson
businesses.
“This bill is abou
t rewarding
trial lawyers for
filing law-
suits,” SenateMin
ority Leader
Mitch McConnell
, R-Ky, said.
“We have a joble
ss problem.
We havea debt p
roblem.We
have a deficit pr
oblem. We got
a lot of problems
. Not enough
lawsuitsis not on
e of them.”
Asked ifhe was c
oncerned
about alienating
womenwith
a GOP filibuster
, McConnell
said themeasure
openedthe
door to more laws
uits against
employers.
Democrats argu
ed in favor
of creating more
remedies for
workplace discr
imination in a
nation where wo
men receive
77 centson the d
ollar com-
pared with men
for the same
work.Earlier i
n the day, Landr
ieu
took tothe Sen
ate floor to
speak infavor of
the legisla-
tion, while also n
oting pay in-
equitiesin Louisi
ana.
She called the b
ill an “eco-
nomic developme
nt issue.
“Wage discrimin
ation based
on gender is parti
cularly prob-
lematic in my sta
te, according
to the Joint Eco
nomic Com-
mittee report,” L
andrieusaid.
“Womenin Louis
iana don’t
earn 77cents. T
hey earn 69
cents for every
dollar paid to
men,which is sig
nificantly less
than thenational
average.”
Landrieu said t
he legisla-
tion is about helpi
ng American
families.
“Thereare wom
en nowat
the highest rank
s of corporate
America,” Landr
ieu said.“The
problemis, when
you lookat
the wage gap, u
nfortunately,
it still exists. And
, with women
now in many inst
ances being
the major brea
dwinners in
their families, thi
s reallyis a
family issue.
“It’s paying som
e families
much less than ot
hers based on
the factthat ther
e is a woman
as the breadwinn
er instead of
the man,” she sai
d.
BY JORDAN BLUM
AdvocateWashing
ton bureau
U.S. Senate
rejectsequal paylegislation
Baton Rouge Ge
neral Medi-
cal Center was t
he lonearea
hospitalto get an
A in Hospi-
tal Safety Score
, a Leapfrog
Group-created ran
king of hos-
pitals nationwide
.
The grades are ba
sed on pre-
ventablehospital
conditions,
such as infection
s, medication
errors, acquired
injuriessuch
as bedsores, and
other sources
of harm, includi
ng falls,that
can often be fata
l, according
to the report.
OchsnerMedical
Center-Ba-
ton Rouge receive
d a B, while
the other Baton
Rouge-area
hospitalsreceived
C’s, accord-
ing to thereport.
Some local hosp
itals com-
plainedof not r
eceivingthe
report orknowing
how grades
were calculated a
nd whatthey
mean.“We’re n
ot sayingthat som
e-
bodywhogot aBor
aC is ahor-
rible hospital. We
’re not,”said
DavidKnowlton, p
residentand
chief executive o
fficer ofthe
New Jersey Hea
lthcare Qual-
ity Institute and
chairman of
The Leapfrog Gr
oup’s Patient
Safety Committe
e. “We’resay-
ing we want ever
ybody toget
A’s.”“Really
there are two el
e-
ments toyour car
e. The first
elementis findin
g a physician
and a team that’s
going topro-
vide optimal car
e …,” Knowl-
ton said. “But th
en the other
component that e
ncompasses
themajority of ca
re in thehos-
pital is what syste
ms the hos-
pital hasin place
to makesure
the hospital is a s
afe placeand
to ensurethat no h
arm is done
to you byvirtue of
you being in
the hospital.”
For example, a pa
tient goes
into a hospital f
or a hipre-
placement, the s
urgeon does
a wonderful job
and theop-
eration is a succe
ss, Knowlton
said. Butwhile in
the hospital,
the patient picks
up an infec-
tion andspends m
onths fight-
ing it offor, worse
, dies from
the complications
.
Patientsshould c
onsider the
second element o
f care inde-
ciding where to
get care, he
said.The Lea
pfrog Group, who
se
membership incl
udes various
large corporation
s and public
agenciesthat buy
health ben-
efits, uses empl
oyer-buying
power topush the
health in-
dustry to make
big leaps in
improving health
-care safety,
qualityand cus
tomer value,
according to its w
ebsite.
The ideais to get
people to
ask questions, Kn
owlton said.
Consumers may
completely
trust their doct
ors, butstill
be able to tell the
ir physician
they’reuncomfo
rtable being
sent to aC hospita
l.
BY TED GRIGGS
Advocatebusiness
writer
1 BR hospital gets
A on national list
Baton Rouge Genera
l tops in safety; Ochsn
er gets B
Photo provided b
y CHARLESBREARD
The Bellemont Hote
l, built in1946 at Airline
Highwaynear Gre
enwell Springs R
oad, is being
demolished for salvag
e. The accompanying
50,000-square-f
oot Great Hall co
nventioncenter,
bottom right, faces the sa
me fate. Itwas built
in 1984.
A massive tinkli
ng chande-
lier stillhangs ab
ove the black-
and-white, marb
le-tiled lobby
of the Bellemont
Hotel’s Great
Hall — at least, fo
r now.
Like therest of t
his vestige
from Airline Hig
hway’s glory
days, the chand
elier will be
coming down.
Crews are poundi
ng through
walls, recovering
bricks along
with copper wi
ring andthe
other salvagea
ble building
materials that v
andals have
not already carte
d off, asthey
demolishthe hotel
complex.
The jobshould b
e donein
about five weeks,
said Patrick
Jeansonne, of B
ayou Corne,
who’s completing
the job with
his brother Cha
rlie Hayden
andworkcrews. A
fter that, the
18-acresite that
once housed
more than 250
hotel rooms,
swimming pools, p
arking spac-
es and the 50,00
0-square-foot
Great Hall conv
ention center
BY SKIP DESCANT
Advocatebusiness
writer
Landmark hotel
Bellemont leveled
Advocatemap
N
ChoctawDr.
Winbourne A
ve.
Prescott Rd. Airline
Hwy.
GreenwellSpringsRd.
Bellemont
Hotel
äSee EQUAL PAY, pag
e 4A
äSee SAFETY, page 5A
äSee BELLEMONT, pag
e 5A
äSee HAWKS, page 4A
ä Governor vetoes three items,
urged to veto another.4A
The Advocate n theadvocate.com n Wednesday, June 6, 2012 n 5A
will lookmuch lik
e it did be-
fore themotor ho
tel was built
in 1946.Glenda
Calloway, 61, th
e
hotel’s current o
wner would
have liketo have r
eturnedthe
Bellemont to the
eleganceshe
remembers. Cal
loway grew
up in thearea, and
in themid-
1980s bought the
Pines Motel
across the highwa
y from the
Bellemont.
In 2009,after the
Bellemont
hotel had long si
nce stopped
accepting guests
, the hotel
and conference c
enter were
purchased byCall
oway’s fam-
ily for $535,000, a
ccordingto
an Advocate new
s report.
Calloway wante
d to return
the Great Hall to
its original
splendor, capabl
e of accom-
modating 2,500.
“I would have
broughtit
back thesame wa
y,” she said
Tuesday. The ro
oms would
have been trans
formedinto
extended-stay a
partments,
often used by co
ntract work-
ers, sheadded, m
uch likeher
currentproperty
Crown Ef-
ficiencyApartme
nts, which
used to be the Pin
es Motel.
At the time, Ca
lloway es-
timatedit would
have cost
about $200,000 t
o renovate
the Great Hall. T
hat wasbe-
fore vandals ran
sackedthe
place. Now, who
knows what
it wouldcost, she
said. It was
built in1984 for
about $5.8
million.“They t
ore thewalls ou
t,
and ripped thewi
ring out,and
all the copper ou
t of theair-
conditioning,” C
allowaysaid,
recallingthe vand
al-inflicted
damageacross al
l of the prop-
erty. “And I didn’
t know what
to do, and I didn
’t knowhow
to stop it.
“So now, it’s ju
st too far
gone,” she added.
The non-paying g
uests have
even made the B
ellemont’s
demolition som
ewhat of a
challenge, said Je
ansonne.
“The biggest thin
g has been
the homeless peop
le thatwere
staying here in un
safe areas,
and the crackhead
s,” she said.
“They just took
it over,”
Jeansonne conti
nued. “I’ve
been jumped four
times since
I’ve beenhere.”
As for the future
of what’s
left of the hotel, w
hat can be
salvaged will b
e sold,said
Jeansonne.
Other memorab
ilia, like
signedphotos
of former
guests such as G
eorge H.W.
Bush and Stevie
Wonder,will
be donated, thoug
h no organi-
zation has been n
amed.
The Bellemont l
ives in the
memories of ne
arly anyone
who haseven a p
assing con-
nectionto Baton
Rouge, said
CarolynBennett
, executive
directorof the Fo
undationfor
Historical Louisi
ana.
“The Bellemont
was cer-
tainly the hot spo
t for social,
political, conven
tion andcul-
tural gatherings
prior tothe
existence of the
Riverside
Centroplex and
the I-10and
12 hotels,” said B
ennett.
A volunteer with
the Foun-
dation for Histo
rical Louisi-
ana remembers
that theBel-
lemontwas the
first motel
in the city with
a swimming
pool, said Benne
tt.
“You had frater
nity things
there,” she adde
d, recalling
the hotel’s storie
d past. “You
had sorority (eve
nts.) Youhad
all the balls. It w
as just,the
place. And a lot of
bands came
and played there
in the club.”
“The Bellemont
was like
what you call, e
legant and
formal,”said Ca
lloway.“I
mean when you w
alked in, it
was tablecloths
…; theyhad
pretty silverwar
e; they had
just pretty ever
ything.Ev-
erythingin there
was justel-
egant allthe way.
”
News accounts r
ecall Clark
Gable booked in
to the Pan
American Suite
at one time
while hewas film
ing a movie
in the area. The
room even
includedits own
swimming
pool, “unheard
of in those
days,” said Benne
tt.
As for the chan
delier still
hangingamid ru
bble and
overturned ban
quet chairs
in the Great Ha
ll, Calloway
plans tokeep it
for herself
and maybe insta
ll it in the
lobby ofher own
extended-
stay apartment b
uilding.
“I’d haveto make
a big, big
lobby,” she said.
“But I think
it wouldbe gorge
ous.”
BELLEMONT
Continuedfrom page 1A
Bellemont Hotelthrough th
e years
1946: Built by A.C. Lewis Jr.
and former Lt. Gov. Jamar Ad-
cock, of Monroe. Room-rates
for the original 36 rooms were
$2.50 a night.
1958: Bellemont is sold to
Fields’ Louisiana Corp. for $3.5
million. After several legal dis-
putes regarding unpaid prop-
erty taxes, ownership returned
to Lewis.
1984: The 50,000-square-foot
Great Hall is built for $5.8 mil-
lion.1985: Lewis dies.
1986: Property enters bank-
ruptcy proceedings.
1992: Bellemont goes to Hiber-
nia Bank in bankruptcy court
settlement.
1993: Bellemont was pur-
chased by World Plan Execu-
tive Council for $1.325 million.
2009: Bellemont was pur-
chased by T. Joseph Calloway
for $535,000.
2012: Bellemont and Great
Hall are being demolished for
salvage.
Source: Advocate
news reports
Advocate staff photo by ARTHUR D. LAUCK
The Bellemont Hotel on Airline Highway is being stripped of its brick, copper and wiring as it is demolished. The owner said
vandals had already taken enough materials to eliminate any chance of renovating the property.
Doing sowill gen
erate two
results,Knowlto
n said. Doc-
tors willput pres
sure onthe
hospitalto do mo
re to protect
againsterrors,
and hospital
administrators
will realize
they have to pay
more atten-
tion to patient sa
fety or risk
losing their phys
icians.
“Everytime you
take data
and make it tran
sparent,you
bring about chan
ge and that’s
what we’re try
ing todo,”
Knowlton said.
In an email, Dr. F
loyd Rob-
erts, Baton Rou
ge General’s
chief medical off
icer, saidthe
hospitalwas ple
ased byits
grade.“Patient
safety and quali
ty
are Baton Roug
e General’s
highestprioritie
s and this
is reflected in th
e culture of
safety that we h
ave created
at our hospital,” h
e said. “We
take a collaborati
ve approach
by engaging our
physicians,
frontlineclinician
s and staff
in continuously e
nhancingour
processes to prov
ide the saf-
est, highest-qual
ity carefor
our patients,” Rob
erts said.
Amy Delaney,
a spokes-
woman for Ochsn
er, saidthe
hospital’s admin
istrationand
quality personnel
had not got-
ten thereport a
nd couldnot
comment.
“Since we have n
ot seen the
Leapfrog Group
’s Hospital
Safety Scorecard
, and donot
know the source
of the data,
we are unable to
respondto
these scores,” Te
ri Fontenot,
Woman’spresiden
t and chief
executive office
r, said in a
preparedstatemen
t.
Knowlton said Le
apfrog had
shared the datawi
th the hospi-
tals three weeks
ago.
However,Woman
’s andOch-
sner arenot alon
e in saying
they hadnot seen
the report.
According to the
American
Hospital Assoc
iation,The
Leapfrog Group
had commu-
nications proble
ms, so many
hospitalswere not
able to see
their own scores
, had no infor-
mation on how th
e scoreswere
calculated or wha
t the scores
might mean.
Terrie Sterling, th
eOurLady
of the Lake’s ch
ief operating
officer,said the
hospitalhas
participated in
a number of
other databases
that measure
quality of care bu
t this was its
first time to par
ticipatein a
LeapfrogGroup d
atabase.
She is not sure t
he hospital
will continue to d
o so.
The Lake was p
leased by
some ofthe resu
lts, she said.
The Lake’s nursi
ng scorewas
100 percent and i
ts leadership
rankingwas also
very strong.
But thehospital
does have
questions about o
ther areas of
the report, Sterli
ng said.
Parts ofthe rank
ing were
based on hospit
als’ self-as-
sessments, she sa
id. The Lake
graded itself str
ingently, but
it’s possible oth
er facilities
took a different a
pproach, she
said.The Lak
e’s analytics’ sta
ff
has taken a curso
ry look at the
report but will d
rill downinto
the datafor a mo
re detailed
review, Sterling s
aid.
Sterlingsaid the h
ospitalwas
concerned that so
me Leapfrog
participants, like t
heCleveland
Clinic, have opted
out.
The Lake suppo
rts trans-
parencyand help
ing consum-
ers make inform
ed decisions,
Sterlingsaid. Th
e Leapfrog
rankingsare just
one source
of information.
If consumers wa
nt updated
information — Le
apfrog used
data from 2008
and 2010 —
they canfind it o
n the Lake’s
website, www.o
lolrmc.com,
she said.
Consumers will
be ableto
access the Leap
frog ratings
beginning Wedne
sday onhos-
pitalsafetyscore.o
rg.
SAFETYContinued
from page 1A
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Contact Us
TEMPE, ARIZ. — An
SUV found
burningin the de
sert withfive
bodies inside was
registered to
the homeof amiss
ing family of
five, including th
ree children,
police inthe Phoe
nix suburb of
Tempe saidTuesda
y.
Anacquaintanceo
ftheButwin
family toldpolice
onMondayhe
was concerned ab
out themaf-
ter receivinganote
fromJames
Butwinwith instru
ctionsonhow
tooperatehis cons
tructionbusi-
ness without him,
Tempe police
Sgt. JeffGlover sa
id.
Investigators wen
t to the Bu-
twin home and fo
und “suspi-
ciousandconcerni
ng”evidence,
but not the Butwin
s, and began
treatingthe case
as a murder-
suicide.Thefamily
’swhiteFord
Expedition alsowa
s gone.
Glover declined
to specify
what theevidence
was but said
nomurderweapon
was found in
the home.
Meanwhile, the P
inal County
Sheriff’sOffice w
as investigat-
ing the discovery
of five bodies
found burned bey
ond recogni-
tion in awhite Fo
rd Expedition
in the desert 35 m
iles south of
Phoenixon Saturd
aymorning.
Glover said the S
heriff’s Of-
fice notified them
the SUVwas
registered to the
Butwin fam-
ily’s home.
He saidalthough
they can’t
be certain the Bu
twins arethe
same five people
found inthe
SUV, investigator
s are sosure
they’redead they
aren’t looking
for themand belie
ve thereare
no outstanding su
spects.
Glover said Jam
es and his
wife, Yafit Butwin
, were expe-
riencingfinancial
difficulties;
court records sh
ow YafitBu-
twin filed for div
orce in Sep-
temberand the
processwas
ongoing.
Two of the coupl
e’s children
were teenagers a
nd one was
a pre-teen, but G
lover didnot
have their exact a
ges.
The fivebodies fo
und in the
desert have not be
en identified
becausethey wer
e burnedbe-
yond recognition,
saidGregory
Hess, chief medi
cal examiner
for PimaCounty.
He said the office
will haveto
use dental record
s to confirm
the identities of th
e bodies.
Robert Kempton,
a neighbor
of the Butwins, sa
id the couple
hadconfided inhim
aboutgoing
througha divorc
e and James
Butwinwas bat
tling a brain
tumor.
BY AMANDA LEE MYERS
Associated Press
Police: Bodies in SUV
might be Ariz. family
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As President and CEO of the hospital referenced in the Advocate’s front page story “1 BR
Hospital Gets ‘A’ on National List,” I’d like to share some thoughts. As you can imagine, our
hard-working nurses, physicians and staff were so pleased to see that Baton Rouge General’s
commitment to excellence and transparency were recognized in such a public way. We’d like
to thank our many patients, their families, our friends and partners in the community for their
calls, high-fives and congratulations. A word about report cards… As with any full-service hospital performance comparative
report, strengths and improvement areas always emerge. Institutions such as Leapfrog and
HealthGrades have a job to do, and with their results, hospitals have the opportunity to celebrate
areas of achievement in patient care, and importantly, embrace areas that need improvement.
These scores keep us all striving for improvement, which can only make us better caregivers.What I’d like for our community to know is this: At Baton Rouge General, our people consider
themselves on a bigger team of healthcare providers that exists outside our footprint. Regardless
of the address or tax ID, our hospital stands together with all hospitals, locally and across the
nation…we are all on the journey to perfection in how we take care of our patients and their
families. I sincerely applaud all healthcare professionals and institutions in the Capital Area
for their commitment to excellence – we should be proud of the top-notch talent, high quality
care, research and medical education offered right here at home in the Greater Baton Rouge
metro area.
I learned very early on in my career, as a medic in Vietnam, that healthcare workers are a
special group of people. They give of their hearts and souls, day in and day out, and feel truly
privileged to take care of patients, families, and importantly, each other. A score or a report card
won’t change the heart of a healthcare professional. Positive or negative, it only makes one work harder. And when we stand together, it makes the journey to perfection a little easier.On behalf of Baton Rouge General’s 4,000 doctors, nurses and
staff, we express heartfelt thanks for the privilege of serving our community for more than a century, and will continue our mission for years to come.
William R. Holman, President & CEOBaton Rouge General Medical Center
A Satellite Campus of Tulane University School of Medicine
Mid City: 3600 Florida Blvd. • Bluebonnet: 8585 Picardy Ave. • www.BRGeneral.org
Dear Members of Our Community,
June 12, 2012
We take care of:• Each other• Patients and Families• Ourselves • Physicians • Community
Baton Rouge General has a single, clear vision for the future … to be the region’s hospital of choice. With that as our destination, there are many steps on this journey that will lead us there.
Our shared mission became shared pride on June 6 when Baton Rouge General was recognized in a very public way on the front page of The Advocate. Under the headline “1 BR Hospital Gets A on National List,” writer Ted Griggs reported that BRG was the only hospital in Baton Rouge to receive an A in hospital patient safety.
The score was issued by The Leapfrog Group, a non-profit employer-sponsored organization that reviewed 2,651 facilities nationwide and generated a “report card” for each. This distinction is directly due to the amazing work you all do at BRG. Day in and day out, you are working at the bedside and behind the scenes to embrace the highest standards for patient safety and quality performance.
I am so pleased that our team’s hard work, dedication and commitment have been recognized in this way. Baton Rouge General has always had a single, clear vision for the future … to be the region’s hospital of choice. The good news reported in The Advocate is confirmation that we are on the right path– delivering consistent and high quality care, achieving superior outcomes for our patients.
Thank you for your continued hard work.
Bluebonnet Campus
- Investment in medical technologies, like daVinci’s robotics platform
- Enhancements in specialty care programs and services (Surgery, Cancer, Heart)
- New construction – MOB, ORs, Hybrid room surgical technology and retail space
Mid City Campus
- Investments with community focus
- Growing medical education enrollment through successful affiliation with Tulane University School of Medicine
- Enhancements in specialty programs and services – Burn, Behavioral Wellness, Seniors services, ER, Wound, Rehab, etc.
As President and CEO of the hospital referenced in the Advocate’s front page story “1 BR
Hospital Gets ‘A’ on National List,” I’d like to share some thoughts. As you can imagine, our
hard-working nurses, physicians and staff were so pleased to see that Baton Rouge General’s
commitment to excellence and transparency were recognized in such a public way. We’d like
to thank our many patients, their families, our friends and partners in the community for their
calls, high-fives and congratulations. A word about report cards… As with any full-service hospital performance comparative
report, strengths and improvement areas always emerge. Institutions such as Leapfrog and
HealthGrades have a job to do, and with their results, hospitals have the opportunity to celebrate
areas of achievement in patient care, and importantly, embrace areas that need improvement.
These scores keep us all striving for improvement, which can only make us better caregivers.What I’d like for our community to know is this: At Baton Rouge General, our people consider
themselves on a bigger team of healthcare providers that exists outside our footprint. Regardless
of the address or tax ID, our hospital stands together with all hospitals, locally and across the
nation…we are all on the journey to perfection in how we take care of our patients and their
families. I sincerely applaud all healthcare professionals and institutions in the Capital Area
for their commitment to excellence – we should be proud of the top-notch talent, high quality
care, research and medical education offered right here at home in the Greater Baton Rouge
metro area.
I learned very early on in my career, as a medic in Vietnam, that healthcare workers are a
special group of people. They give of their hearts and souls, day in and day out, and feel truly
privileged to take care of patients, families, and importantly, each other. A score or a report card
won’t change the heart of a healthcare professional. Positive or negative, it only makes one work harder. And when we stand together, it makes the journey to perfection a little easier.On behalf of Baton Rouge General’s 4,000 doctors, nurses and
staff, we express heartfelt thanks for the privilege of serving our community for more than a century, and will continue our mission for years to come.
William R. Holman, President & CEOBaton Rouge General Medical Center
A Satellite Campus of Tulane University School of Medicine
Mid City: 3600 Florida Blvd. • Bluebonnet: 8585 Picardy Ave. • www.BRGeneral.org
Dear Members of Our Community,
June 12, 2012
Life After 50 a Smashing Success!Music played in the background while a glittering disco ball twirled above the makeshift dance floor inside the BRG tent at the Life After 50 Expo. Baton Rouge General was a big hit at the event, which was held April 21 at the Baton Rouge River Center. Nearly 700 visitors stopped by to learn firsthand the benefits of ballroom dancing.
Instructors Cecil and Neila Phillips, Dr. Jim Crowell and Dr. Sterling Sightler swayed and sashayed as they taught the East Coast Swing to their “students.” A seminar on the health benefits of ballroom dancing took place in the morning, and volunteers distributed information on the Seniors ER program throughout the day. Nurse volunteers conducted 400 blood pressure screenings.
“People had so much fun. They left our exhibit with smiles on their faces,” said Mary Uter, Senior Care Consultant. “It is ‘success’ when you can demonstrate to people that they can enjoy themselves while improving their health.”
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Caregivers often establish a special connection with their patients … especially when those patients are tiny preemies that fit into the palm of your hand. That connection extends to the families who spend countless hours in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, praying for their babies’ health and yearning to take them home. NICU staff members were able to reconnect with many of
their former patients at a special reunion sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Baton Rouge and held on the Bluebonnet campus in May. A balloon release was also held to honor both survivors and the children who passed away. Parents and their children watched as pink balloons lifted up into the sky on a clear day and drifted out of sight.
NICU Hosts Reunion Event
Reconnecting and Remembering
Family and staff members posed for a photo before releasing the pink balloons.
Dr. Hina Patel, left, and Dr. Neel Shah, whose son was born at 30 weeks, attended the event.
Neila Phillips convinces a visitor to try a few dance steps.
Brandon Dufrene, left, and Amy Wilson, of the Corporate Communications Department, greeted visitors
Dr. Jim Crowell and Dr. Sterling Sightler show off their dance moves at the Life After 50 Expo.
BRG FIT! by the numbers
4 • Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 www.BRGLinkin.org
Lakesha Ennis, LPN, Employee Health Nurse and Waist Watchers Coordinator, has lost 46 pounds since January.
Questions about BRG Fit!? E-mail [email protected] or call 237-1573.?
Brenda Parr, RN, Oncology, has lost 35 pounds on her own weight loss program since January.
The good news is 2,265 Employees have participated in the BRG Fit! wellness program, and 92% of them have completed their biometric screenings.
The not-so-good news is
what those screenings revealed:
68% of BRG employees are overweight or obese(According to BMI or body mass index.)
5% Athletic
9% Fit
26% Acceptable
60 % At Risk
5%
60%26%
9%
2012 Combined Employee Body Fat Percentage N= 2,236 Employees who completed their biometric screening
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This means there is lots of room for improvement, and the BRG Fit! program has many features to help get employees moving in the right direction. As Phase II of BRG Fit! begins, keep in mind these amenities:
• 24-hour gym on the Mid City campus Free
• Smoking cessation classes Free
• Discounts to YMCA, Spectrum and Bally fitness clubs
• A Waist Watchers weight loss program
• Bootcamp and yoga classes
• Healthy vending machine offerings
• A Health Mile path around the Bluebonnet campus Free
• A Wellness Station at the Mid City campus Free
“The first phase of the BRG Fit! Initiative was creating self-awareness and empowering Employees to take responsibility for their own health and wellness,” said Paul Douglas, Vice President of Human Resources and Development. “The next phase will be to use this information to maintain a healthy lifestyle for those without substantial risk findings … and for those with risk findings, to start addressing underlying health issues.”
Probably one of the best examples is the Waist Watchers Club. A total of 90 employees have signed up on both campuses, and many are experiencing substantial weight loss. Lakesha Ennis, LPN is one of them. The Employee Health Nurse and Waist Watcher Coordinator has lost 46 pounds since January and says the peer support is crucial.
“At our meetings, we talk about our issues … what foods and habits are holding us back and what kind of things are helping us succeed,” she said. “The people in the class are my motivation. They make me accountable. They make me want to lead by example.”
Oncology nurse Brenda Parr, RN, is another success story. Once her screening was complete, she started her own weight loss program and has shed 35 pounds.
“I started eating more fish, chicken and lean ground beef. I cut down on the carbs. For exercise, I walk with a friend whenever I can. The weight loss is great, but I really just want to get healthy again.”
Anyone with questions about BRG Fit! should send an e-mail to [email protected]. You can also call 237-1573.
Ann Fann, Director of Retail Operations, left, and Shelley Matthews, Gift Shop Coordinator, participated in the March Heart Walk. Also pictured are Fann’s children Alex and Molly.
Coming Soon:- Updated BRG Fit! info on
www.BRGLinkin.org
- July Waist Watchers session
- Healthier choices in the cafeterias
- On-site learning opportunities
- Fitness coach
On the cover: The BRG Fit! Boot Camp sessions are open to employees, their families and friends. Pictured here at a recent session on kickboxing (left to right) are: Mark Schexnayder, RPh, Clinical Informatics; Brandi Johnson, Kori Johnson, Penny Johnson, Accounts Payable; and Toni Cangelosi, Information Technology.
“ I wish my doctor and my nurses could be treated by themselves, just so they’d know how special they really are.”
– JK Bordelon
JK Bordelon, Moreauville, LA BRGeneral.org
“ I had too much to live for.”
6 • Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 www.BRGLinkin.org
BRG kicked off its cancer awareness campaign May 1, with direct mail pieces, billboard messages, newspaper and television ads, participation in a cancer study, a free skin cancer screening and more.
JK Bordelon, a South Louisiana farmer who was treated at Baton Rouge General’s Pennington Cancer Center, is featured in several ads and in a television commercial that has been running for the past month. (View it on www.BRGLinkIn.org.) His story illustrates the nationally recognized treatment and compassionate care he received at Pennington Cancer Center.
JK was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer at age 40. He and his wife immediately went to Baylor Clinic in Houston, where doctors told them to return to Baton Rouge General for IL-2 (interleukin) treatment. It was here that Dr. Gerald Militello and our IL-2 team treated Bordelon for several weeks. JK is now cancer free. He expressed gratitude to all of the staff at BRG, but he singled out Dr. Militello, Kory St. Pe, RN, and Brenda Parr, RN, as essential to his great outcome.
Another element of the hospital’s cancer campaign was the national CPS-3 (Cancer Prevention Study), for which 64 Employees volunteered. The study is open to men and women age 30 to 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer, according to Zack Smith, RT, (R)(T), MBA, Director of Radiation Oncology at Pennington Cancer Center.
Amy Williams of The American Cancer Society sent the following message to BRG Employees. “Thank you for your hard work in helping us to better understand how to prevent cancer and ultimately save lives!”
“ I spent 12 hours a day, 5 days a week
with JK ... for 4 weeks total. Beyond the
nurse/patient relationship, we became
friends. His experience showed me that
life should not be taken for granted.
Tomorrow is not a certainty. JK and his
family have probably done more for me
than I have for him.”
– Kory St. Pé, RN, Oncology
Creating Cancer Awareness
Digital Billboard AdTelevision Ad
Exceptional Care The staff of the Pennington Cancer Center receives countless accolades for providing “the very best in cancer care” right here in Baton Rouge:
• Louisiana’s first accredited Comprehensive Cancer Program • Louisiana’s first NAPBC-accredited comprehensive breast program*• Commission on Cancer’s “Outstanding Achievement Award”* • Regionally recognized IL-2 Program
Weight loss surgery continues to improve the lives of patients who struggle with obesity. If you or someone you know has considered weight loss surgery, it’s important to learn as much as possible about the procedure. If you are interested in learning more about medically managed weight loss, including surgery, register for BRG’s free weight loss surgery support groups and seminars.
To register call 763-4242 or go online www.BRGeneral.org/WLS.
Weight loss seminars
Taking Control
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Women’s Services ExpandedThe women’s health program at BRG has expanded with the addition of five new specialists who recently joined Baton Rouge General Physicians. BRG welcomes Drs. Evelyn Hayes, Jane Peek, Jo Anne Barrios and Kimberly Neathamer-Guillory, as well as nurse practitioner Erin Michel.
BRG now provides state-of-the-art services in: • Gynecologic care, including daVinci minimally-invasive
robotics• Labor and delivery• Fertility and Maternal Fetal Medicine• Neonatal and Pediatric Care, including Level 3 NICU,
Pediatric ICU and Peds ER
• Genetic counseling and early detection of female cancers and other related diseases, including diagnostic mammography through the Women’s Imaging Center
• Diagnosis and treatment of female cancers through medical, surgical and radiation oncology services, including the nation’s first ARTISTE technology and robotics
• Support services such as nutritional counseling, social work, and physical and occupational therapy
“The expansion of OB/GYN medical staff represents our long-term commitment to the comprehensive health and wellness of women of all ages in our community,” said GHS President and CEO Bill Holman.
(left to right) Kimberly M. Neathamer-Guillory, MD; Jo Anne Barrios, MD; Erin Michel, NP; Evelyn K. Hayes, MD; Jane B. Peek, MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology8595 Picardy Ave., Suite 320
(225) 237-1880
Did you know? According to the National Cancer Institute, obese patients have a higher risk of certain cancers, including breast, esophagus, endometrium, colon and rectum, kidney, pancreas and thyroid.
*American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer, National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.
8 • Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 www.BRGLinkin.org
Moving Mountains … For decades, medical records were kept in file folders that became stuffed with forms, test results and handwritten notes. The files filled box after box after box, and when storage space in the hospital was exhausted, the boxes were shipped off to storage facilities. Even after medical records were entered electronically, the paper pile kept growing. By 2006, Baton Rouge General had thousands of boxes stored at a Port Allen facility called Iron Mountain. Off-site storage costs money, and the monthly bills were escalating.
Enter Don Shaw and Shirley Snodgrass. The state of Louisiana had established a law that required hospitals to keep medical records for 10 years, and Don Shaw, Vice President, Revenue Cycle, asked Shirley Snodgrass, a supervisor in the Health Information Management Department to take on the project.
“It was overwhelming at first,” she said. “It required me going to Port Allen and locating and identifying which boxes had to be kept and which could be destroyed. For
7 months, I did nothing but go through boxes and try to reduce the volume … one box at a time.”
In spite of her hard work, the job wasn’t finished. Medical Records is just one department. Many other hospital departments were storing their files as well … to the tune of 19,000-plus boxes. Don asked Shirley
to share her expertise and experience with other departments and she now makes recommendations to help others with their own housecleaning.
“We’ve cut our medical record inventory in half since 2007,” Shirley said. “Hopefully, as electronic records replace paper records, we can get down to zero one day.”
Shirley Snodgrass took on the project of sifting through thousands of boxes of files as part of a cost-cutting program. Inset: The person in this photo is standing in front of 36 boxes indicated by green line.
Life-Saving Gift
36 of the thousands of boxes we currently store
You might have noticed the mustache Ronald Coats sported during the spring. If you ask him about it, he’ll jokingly tell you it’s just one of the many ways he suffers for his art … the theatre!
Coats, Executive Assistant in Administration, recently played the part of a British gentleman in 39 Steps, a comedy thriller produced by Baton Rouge Little Theater. But in case you missed it, you’ll get another chance to see him when he portrays Lee Harvey Oswald in Assassins August 24 - September 1.
Ronald is just as comfortable hamming it up on the stage as he is manning the phones in the Administrative Office. But it wasn’t always that way. With no formal acting training, he was a little anxious the first time he auditioned for a part back in 2006. But he clearly has what it
takes. Twenty productions later, he has played everything from a mad scientist to a prince to a saloon owner.
“I never did anything like this growing up,” he said, “so I was nervous to try it as an adult. But after my first audition, I kept getting cast despite having no clue what I was doing. And now, with every new production, you learn a little more, you get a little better, you meet a few more people, you make more connections … and in my case, you develop a real passion for it.”
In the Spotlight … literally Actor Ronald Coats
It has been a year since her husband’s death, but Tracey McDowell takes comfort in the fact that by sharing her personal story, she helped promote organ donation, thereby saving lives. In May of 2011, her husband Beau, 42, died suddenly of a brain hemorrhage.
To mark the month of April as National Donate Life Month, Tracey agreed to do a testimonial video to promote organ and tissue donation. “I’ve heard that people were moved by my story, and to those who became organ donors … I thank you. It’s a hard thing to go through, but it’s easier if you’ve talked to your loved ones and know what their wishes are.”
For more information on organ and tissue donation, go to www.donatelifela.org. To view McDowell’s video, go to www.youtube.com/user/batonrougegeneral
“Nothing prepares you for the loss of a
loved one. But to know that (organ
donation) was his wish … it made it
easier. I felt like God had his hands on
me and I knew I was doing the right
thing.”
Tracey McDowell, RT, (R)(T)Chief Radiation Therapist Pennington Cancer Center
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Nine students graduated on May 19 from Tulane University School of Medicine’s Baton Rouge LEAD (Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Discovery) Academy, the satellite campus at Baton Rouge General. Four of the nine graduates have chosen to remain in Louisiana for their residency training.
The satellite campus is an important component of expanding BRG’s role as a teaching hospital and enhancing medical leadership and education opportunities in Baton Rouge. BRG Medical Center and Tulane University School of Medicine opened the satellite campus in the summer of 2010. It was the first time Tulane established a training campus outside the New Orleans area.
Inaugural Graduation Class of Tulane’s Satellite Campus
From left, Dr. Floyd Roberts, Matthew Cooper, Eric ‘Jove’ Graham, Wendy Wong, Amber Fontenot, Marc Quinlan, Gregory Mitchell.
A Satellite Campus ofTulane University School of Medicine
It Was a Night to Recognize ExcellenceThe 2012 Nurse Excellence Awards Ceremony was a well-attended event that combined food, music, laughter and recognition at Parc 73 in Prairieville on May 10. The annual event honors nurses, clinicians and ancillary professionals for their high nursing standards and for providing exceptional patient care.
Two nursing scholarships were also presented at the ceremony to help nurses advance their nursing education. Baton Rouge General’s Chief of Staff Andrew Olinde, MD, presented the scholarship awards.
Congratulations to this year’s winners.
2012 Nurse Excellence Award Winners
Hall of FameMarilyn Dayries, RN
Traditional Nurse of the Year Amanda Alello, RN, BSN Burn Unit
Non-Traditional Nurse of the Year Kerri Talbot Holden, RN, BSN, CEN Emergency Department
Edith LoBue Nursing LeadershipJosé Milano, RN, OCNOncology
Nurse Rookie of the YearBonny Fielding, RN, BSNBurn Unit
Physician Friend of NursingJeffrey Littleton, MD
Ancillary Friend of NursingSara DeRosa, LMSW Social Services
Special honorees recognized for their dedication to nursing:
GRAduATE MATCH SITE SPECIALTY
Matthew Cooper, MD LSUHSC – Shreveport, LA Emergency Medicine
Amber Fontenot, MD University of Colorado School of Medicine – Denver, CO Obstetrics/Gynecology
Eric ‘Jove’ Graham, MD University of California San Francisco – Fresno, CA Emergency Medicine
Gregory Mitchell, MD Tulane University School of Medicine – New Orleans, LA Urology
Rachel ‘Alix’ Oreck, MD Tulane University School of Medicine – New Orleans, LA Internal Medicine
Kenneth Perry, MD Earl K. Long Medical Center – Baton Rouge, LA Emergency Medicine
Marc Quinlan, MD Denver Health Medical Center – Denver, CO Emergency Medicine
Shai Rosenfeld, MD Providence Milwaukee Hospital – Portland, OR Family Medicine
Wendy Wong, MD Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University – Providence, RI Emergency Medicine
10 • Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 www.BRGLinkin.org
Since his passing in May 2009, a group of physicians from BRG’s Emergency Department have organized a golf tournament to remember Dr. Charlie Prejean, a man whom many people considered a brilliant, caring physician and close friend. Funds raised through the annual Dr. Charlie Prejean Memorial Golf Tournament support an endowment fund established in his memory through the BRG Foundation.
Physicians Host 3rd Annual Memorial Golf Tournament
Thank you for your overwhelming support of this year’s You, Me & BRG Employee Giving Program! Your generosity through pledges and donations will make an incredible impact on our co-workers, patients and their families. Keep your eyes open for a special You, Me & BRG publication coming in August with more information on this year’s program. Below is a letter from President and CEO Bill Holman:
“I have been inspired by your generosity and commitment to our hospital through the 2012 You, Me & BRG Employee Giving Program. I personally would like to extend a very sincere thank you to each and every one of you. The gifts that you have given through pledges and donations are making a BIG difference in our hospital and community.
This reinforces something that I have always known – that we have the very best, most supportive team here at Baton Rouge General, who goes above and beyond each and every day.
We are truly a family here at the General and I can’t think of a person who better embodied that spirit of family than Ms. Helen Stepter-Collins. Last fall, our friend and co-worker Ms. Helen passed away unexpectedly – reminding us of how life can change in an instant. Her warm smile and kind heart were a staple here at Baton Rouge General for the more than 50 years she worked with us. She became ingrained in the fabric of our organization and was an inspiration to us all.
Our new Clinical Simulation Lab, which was funded through the 2011 You, Me & BRG program, and the plaque outside its doors will serve to remember Ms. Helen’s passion and enthusiasm for enhancing our hospital through You, Me & BRG. I encourage you to visit the new lab on the 3rd Floor near MACU to view this honorary plaque in Ms. Helen’s memory.”
Foundation Update
Several organizations held fundraisers in May to support former Baton Rouge General pediatric burn patients. The funds raised sent children to the “I’m Still Me” Summer Burn Camp, which aids in emotional and physical rehabilitation.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hosted a golf tournament May 12, which raised $12,000. Brother’s Keepers Firefighter Motorcycle Club (9th Chapter) hosted a poker run and raffle, which raised $9,000. The 69-mile poker run was held at Friendly Yamaha.
Local Organizations Support the General’s Pediatric Burn Patients
Pictured are Brother’s Keepers members at the event, which was held at Friendly Yamaha.
Above, Leola Havard, left, and Shelia Johnson, right, both relatives of the late Helen Stepter-Collins, pose with President and CEO Bill Holman and Diane Bourgeois, Director of Business Development.
Left, A plaque honoring Helen Stepter-Collins has been placed outside the new Clinical Simulation Lab.
Pictured are members of IBEW at their golf tournament in May.
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The international Service organization GFWC (General Federation of Women’s Clubs) raised more than $10,000 in May when it hosted Fun, Food, and Fashion at the Crowne Plaza. The annual fundraiser, which included a bridge tournament, lunch, silent auction and fashion show, supported BRG’s pediatric burn patients.
Fashion Forward
Dads, the Foundation needs your words of wisdom.
The Foundation will create a special commemorative book that will be filled with famous phrases, thoughts and well wishes that fathers have shared with their daughters. If you’d like to submit your own words of wisdom, go to www.BRGeneral.org/Sweetheart
The date for the 2013 Father/Daughter Sweetheart Dance has not been set yet, but tickets will go on sale in November. At the dance, the Foundation will hold a raffle for a fantastic American Girl Dallas Weekend. The package will include four Southwest Airline flight passes, a 2-night stay at the Westin Galleria Dallas, and a $200 shopping spree at The American Girl Store. Tickets are $50 each and are available now. (Only 500 tickets will be sold.) Call the Foundation at (225) 763-4372 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Father/Daughter Sweetheart DanceShare your words of wisdom
Beautiful music can be heard throughout both hospital campuses now, thanks to generous donors who purchased two new Baby Grand Player Pianos.
Reverend Ronnie and Soonja Williams purchased a piano for the Mid City campus, and Dr. William Russell purchased a piano for the Bluebonnet campus. Both pianos are in high traffic areas of the hospital and have been well received by patients, their families and employees.
The Gift of Music
Pictured (from left) Robin Comeaux, RN, BRG Burn Unit Nursing Manager, Beth Barback, BRG Burn Unit Social Worker, Della Sinclair, GFWC Event Co-Chair, Ann Fann, BRG Gift Shop Director, Jeanette Johnson, GFWC Event Co-Chair, Shelley Johnson, BRG Gift Shop Coordinator, Jenny Jackson, BRG Foundation Event Coordinator, and Beth Veazey, BRG Foundation Vice President & Chief Development Officer.
Reverend Ronnie and Soonja Williams
Dr. William Russell
12 • Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 www.BRGLinkin.org
A Job Well DoneThe Distribution Center team at Bluebonnet won an Allied Health and Ancillary Excellence Award. The group is pictured here with Executive Vice President and COO Edgardo Tenreiro, left, and Siobhan Sellers, RRT, Allied Health and Ancillary Staff Development and Clinical Educator/School Liaison, right.
At Your ServiceEmployees were all smiles when managers from throughout the hospital served complimentary lunches during Hospital Week. Pictured above are (from left) Kenyatta Francois, Environmental Services, Anne Segura, Director of Employment and HR Services, and Alan Jochim, Director of Facilities Management. Pictured in the second photo is Bluebonnet Operating Room Manager Nicole Cheramie, RN.
Special OccasionBRG’s volunteers were treated to a special luncheon April 18 in the Old Governor’s Mansion. About 100 volunteers attended the event, which featured delicious food, guest speakers and a historical tour of the mansion. Pictured here are Auxiliary Board members (top row left to right) Katie Williams, Marsha Johnston, (second row left to right) Robin Cash, Vivian Rowell, Joyce Rodrigue, (third row left to right) Vicki Pernici, Pam Causey, Lynette LoCoco and (bottom center) Pug Gussman.
Golden GiftLocal artist Nancy Ladner donated a painting to the Pennington Cancer Center at Bluebonnet in May. Titled Sunburst, the painting hangs in the Radiation/Oncology area. Most of Ladner’s work is commissioned by the U.S. Veterans Corp. In fact, an abstract flag she painted earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2011. Her work has also been featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. “I was happy to see the painting a few weeks ago when I visited the hospital. It looks great,” she said. “I have been wanting to do more donations, especially locally, and I’m excited that this piece has found a home at the Pennington Cancer Center.”
Snap Shots
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Snap Shots
## • Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 www.BRGLinkin.org 14 • Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 www.BRGLinkin.org
Emergency Drills Test Employee Preparedness
Ready? Set? Go! Mass Medication Distribution
Mass Influx of PatientsTo ensure preparedness in the event of a community-wide emergency, BRG is conducting a series of drills that began in February. The first was a Mass Medication Distribution exercise that tested the hospital’s ability to provide medication to employees and their families in case a biological incident should occur. The second was a Mass Influx of Patients exercise that measured the hospital’s ability to accept a surge of
acutely ill patients in a short period of time. The most recent drill was an infant/child abduction scenario. All exercises were successful, according to Paulette Faul, RN, Joint Commission & Regulatory Coordinator. “We were well prepared and our staff responded appropriately in both exercises,” she said. “There is always an opportunity to learn from these drills so that next time, we can respond even better.”
Safety Tips From the ChiefResearch shows that summer is a time when crime rates rise. According to Chief of Security Jeff LeDuff, the reason is simple. “Kids are out of school, they’re bored, they sometimes get into trouble,” he said. “But there are a lot of things you can do to stay safe.”
Here are a few of Chief LeDuff’s safety tips for the summer months:
• Whether you’re at home, at work, or running errands ... always lock your car. Never leave valuables in plain view.
• When you go on vacation, be sure to have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers.
• If you have children, keep them busy. Enroll them in summer camps and other activities.
The Chief and his Security team are focused on safety and security best practices, as a hospital, but also at the individual level. “We care about our employees and their families,” he said, “and we want to keep them safe, both at home and at work.”
Chief LeDuff has offered to share a quarterly safety message with Employees in Exchange. His next message will focus on a personal safety training series for Employees that will begin in the fall.
Important Message for All Employees:
To report an Emergency On Campus
Call “20”
Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 • ## www.BRGLinkin.org
Mass Medication Distribution
Exchange, Second Quarter 2012 • 15 www.BRGLinkin.org
APPlAuSERobert Kenney, MD and Wanda Hughes, RN, PhD, completed their Patient Safety Fellowship program, along with 30 others from across the nation. The fellowship is sponsored by the American Hospital Association. Dr. Kenney is Director of Medical Education and a Tulane University School of Medicine satellite campus faculty member for the internal medicine residency program based at BRG Mid City. Wanda is Director of Quality and Patient Safety.
Wanda Hughes, RN, PhD, and Robert Kenney, MD
Myra Collins, Consultant, Service Development and Physician Outreach, was named to the Board of Directors of the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging on May 16.
Myra Collins, LPN
Congratulations to Diane Bourgeois, Director of Business Development, who received an Executive MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University on May 12.
Diane Bourgeois, LMSW, MPA, MBA
Employee Health Nurse Lakesha Ennis (Mid City), Employee Health Medical Assistant Tiffany Baxter (Bluebonnet), and HR Specialist Gwandella Nolan were instrumental with bringing the Waist Watchers program to employees on both campuses ... and what a success it has been. Employees on both campuses have lost a grand total of 627.8 pounds, a homerun for this BRG Fit! program. Congratulations to both Waist Watchers groups. A new session will begin Wednesday, July 11, 5 p.m., at the Plaza at Bluebonnet.
From left, Lakesha Ennis, Tiffany Baxter and Gwandella Nolan.
Congratulations to the BRG Foundation for receiving a Bronze Telly Award for their 2011 Thank You video produced in conjunction with Launch Media. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators and corporate video departments in the world. You can view the video here: http://bit.ly/Mi5lvC.
Baton Rouge General was recently recognized by Premier Healthcare Alliance as a winner in the 6th Annual Supply Chain Excellence and Innovation Awards. Premier selects hospitals and health systems based on their superior supply/expense performance. “This award exemplifies the consistent hard work performed by all those involved in the supply chain at our organization,” said Todd Daniel, Materials Management Director. “With so much turmoil surrounding healthcare, it’s important that we seek all opportunities to save money while being certain that patient care is first and foremost.”
Dozens of employees were recognized May 17 and 18 at the annual Allied Health and Ancillary Excellence Awards. “These awards are an acknowledgment of Employees who promote the values of everyday excellence in action,” said Siobhan Sellers, RRT, Allied Health and Ancillary Staff Development and Clinical Educator/School Liaison. “We want to congratulate all Employees nominated in all categories. Our support services are the backbone in making our organization successful.”
Mid City Winners Daisy White, Admission; Jermaine Price, Patient Transport; Keira
Johnson, Phlebotomist; Melissa Broussard, Social Worker; Kevin Martin, Bio-Med; Soudabeh Parandian, PT Tech; Chauncey Quinn, Nutritional Care; Connie Sarphie, Administrative Secretary; Curtis Brumfield, Facilities Maintenance; Sejal Patel, Pharmacist; Darrien Harris, Distribution Center; Sandra Richardson, EVS; Mattilee McVay, Radiology; John Selvage, IT; Angela Brown, Pharmacy Tech; Randy Pero, Security; Kerry Haynes, Java General; Megan Dewberry, Speech Therapist; Tony Simoneaux, Respiratory Therapist; Danisha Deal, Occupational Therapist; Alysha Bonvillian, Radiation Therapist; Michael Gray, Medical Laboratory Tech; Sharon Jackson, Guest Services; Brooke Piccione, Clinical Nutritionist; Venita Mishra, Retail Pharmacy; Lauren Mecier, Physical Therapist; Sadie Hutchinson, Case Management; Catherine Mahoney, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant; Kelli Smith, Physical Therapy Assistant; Brad Barhorst, Physicist.
Bluebonnet Winners Brandy Whitfield, Admissions; William Chiang, Patient Transport;
Charlene Brown, Phlebotomist; Beverly Bensen, Social Worker; Wade Holdeman, Bio-Med; Jennifer Shropshire, PT Tech; Latasa Rivers, Nutritional Care; Dalynn Babin, Administrative Secretary; Facilities Maintenance (Group); Chase Ament, Pharmacist; Distribution Center (Group); Brunetta Spears, EVS; Chad Landry, Radiology; Mark Schexnayder, IT; Elesha Davis, Pharmacy Tech; Toni Thomas-Cole, Security; Wyquitta Davis, Java General; Babette Thibodeux, Speech Therapist; Jessica Pourciau, Respiratory Therapist; Lainie Audas, Occupational Therapist; Chris Black, Radiation Therapist; Kylie Bourgeois, Medical Laboratory Tech; Elise Fryou, Guest Services; Charles Mouton, Clinical Nutritionist; Vanessa Smith, Retail Pharmacy; Lauren Clancy, Physical Therapist; Bridget Shoptaugh-Lorio, Case Management; Mary Ann Lacoste, Physical Therapy Assistant; Joe Finnagan, Physicist.
16 • Exchange, Second Quarter 2012
the Gift Shop!
The latest addition to the Baton Rouge General Gift Shop is ladies’ apparel and accessories. The clothing is trendy, chic, affordable and great for your summer look. Our prices are budget friendly and our styles and brand names are the same that you find at area boutiques.
Follow us on Facebook. Go to our page (Facebook.com/brggiftshops), “like us,” and you’ll be the first to know about our new arrivals, current trends, customer comments and specials.
Don’t forget football season is right around the corner. The Gift Shop carries many items that fans love, including wallets, money clips, caps and more.
Finally, just in time for “back to school” shopping, you will be able to purchase school uniforms. Best of all, employees can purchase the uniforms using their payroll deduct. Look for these items at the end of June: khaki, navy or black bottoms and any type camp or polo shirt. We can also order a cute dress or skort for your girls! Now that’s convenience.
Trendsetters!
With summer in full swing, it’s important to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. More than 2 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, but when detected early, skin cancer has up to a 95% cure rate. Here are a few sun safety ideas from the American Academy of Dermatology to help protect you and your family from skin cancer.
• Always wear sunscreen (with an SPF of 30 or more). Re-apply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
• Use extra caution near water, snow and sand because they reflect and intensify the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chances of sunburn.
• Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look tan, consider using a self-tanning product or spray, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
Comments? Story ideas? Email: [email protected]
EXCHANGE is produced by Baton Rouge General’s Corporate Communications Department:
Director: Nicole Kleinpeter Team: Brandon Dufrene, Emily Guidroz, Audrey Hubert,
Maryann Rowland, Robin Taylor, Amy Wilson
Ideas for:Game Day
“When I re-entered the work force at age
50 (23 years ago), I was shocked that I
could find employment after having been
out for 27 years raising my family. Today, I
am equally shocked that I still have and
love my job at the General. The people
here keep me on my toes and keep me
feeling young. I enjoy interacting with the
public and find great pleasure in helping
those at a time when they need it most.”
Elise Fryou, Guest Services, Bluebonnet
“Before I came here I worked in construction. I’ve
been working at the General for 20 years now, doing
work as a carpenter and mechanic. Most days, I
work on doors, locks, cabinets. And every once in a
while, there’s a challenge … a job I’ve never done
before. I like that. I stay busy in my job and I like
the people I work with.”
A.C. McQuirter, Facilities Maintenance, Mid City
We Love our Seniors!
We Love our Seniors!
Sun S
afety
EXCHANGEEditor: Lisa TramontanaDesigner: Barbara Ruiz
Photographer: Barrett Berard