Innovation Health

The stresses of life can affect us in many ways, and a lack of good sleep is often a consequence of a hectic life. But there can be other causes of poor sleep, such as underlying physical conditions, diet, screen time, and even the sleep environment. In this episode of Innovation Health, we speak with Dr. Amy Meoli, the Physician Chair of Sleep Medicine at Ochsner Health to answer common questions about sleep. We'll discuss the importance of sleep, problems that can affect sleep, like sleep apnea or insomnia, and what we can do to get better sleep.

Back pain and its related symptoms are among the most frequent medical complaints in our country today. In fact, about 80% of Americans will have back pain at some point in their lives. We discuss this common condition with Christine Keating, MD, and Nathan Harrison, MD, to explore back pain causes, treatments and pain relief programs available to patients today.

This episode takes a closer look at the latest research on COVID-19,  the Delta variant and other variants, vaccines, boosters and the future of the pandemic. Podcast guest Leonardo Seoane, MD, is senior vice president and chief academic officer for Ochsner Health, where he leads groundbreaking research into COVID-19 and vaccines.

Living in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, the morality of having to make life-and-death decisions in a healthcare setting has taken center stage. Who decides which patients can receive lifesaving treatment if it's in short supply? Who decides when it's right for a dying patient to no longer prolong life? What if patients and family disagree? In this episode of “Innovation Health,” we talk with the Dr. Susan Nelson, chair of Ochsner Health's bioethics committee, to take a more nuanced look at how healthcare providers deal with ethical dilemmas, and how life-and-death decisions are made.

As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, many women are concerned about the effects the vaccine may have on their health. Does the vaccine have any effect on fertility or pregnancy? What about nursing and their baby's health? On this episode of Innovation Health, host Alex Gaudin discusses these issues with Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, a senior OB/GYN at Ochsner Health.

According to the Pew Research Center, only 42% of the Black population in the United States say they are willing to get the current COVID-19 vaccine. In this episode, we try to learn more about  the hesitancy among the Black community to take the vaccine, and then take a deeper dive into understanding the vaccine itself. Is it safe? Why should people consider getting it? Alex Gaudin, host of Innovation Health, talks with one of Ochsner Health's senior Black physicians, Dr. Obinna Nnedu, who specializes in infectious Disease, in order to gain a better understanding of this issue.

Almost a year into the pandemic, the United States has surpassed a staggering four hundred thousand deaths as a result of COVID-19. As the new vaccines are rolled out, there will be light at the end of the tunnel, but many cases will still occur before the country is able to get a hold of the virus. How has medical care changed since the start of the pandemic? Are we treating patients differently? What about all the home treatments that we read about online? On today's episode of Innovation Health, we talk with Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, a Sr Physician and Medical Director of Infectious Disease at Ochsner Health. We'll discuss how treatments have changed for those entering the hospital, and look into the validity of other treatments for milder cases.

(Recorded on December 11th, 2020, right before the FDA emergency use authorization) Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has given the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, emergency use approval. As the rollout occurs all across the United States, including Louisiana, many have concerns and questions in regards to safety, efficacy, and the rollout timeline, to name a few. On this episode of “Innovation Health,'' host Alex Gaudin talks with Dr. Julia Garcia-Diaz, Director of Clinical and Infectious Disease Research, and Medical Subspecialties at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Julia Garcia-Diaz answers these questions and addresses concerns the general public may have regarding this new vaccine.

As the pandemic emerged in early 2020, it became known that people with certain pre-existing conditions, such as cancer, were more at risk to have a worse outcome if they contracted COVID-19. Cancer care had to adapt, as treating the disease had to continue without pause.  In this episode of Innovation Health, we talk with Dr. Zoe Larned, Chair of Hematology and Oncology at Ochsner Health to see what changes have been made in cancer care since the pandemic began. What special health considerations do cancer patients need to be aware of during this time? Should people still get screened for cancer? And we'll also discuss Ochsner's latest state of the art treatment facility, the new Benson Cancer Center.

As many children attend classes virtually during the pandemic, many parents are faced with the dilemma of trying to limit screen time, yet needing to put their children in front of screens in order for them to attend class and do their homework. In this episode of Innovation Health, we talk with Ochsner Health pediatric psychologist, Dr. Jill West, to figure out what approach parents should take with screens, so that their children are learning, while not hindering their development or health.

As children of all ages return to school during the pandemic, many schools have implemented a remote learning approach, where children are able to attend class online. However, as many parents and teachers have seen, this method of learning can be quite difficult for some children and their families, sometimes causing anxiety, stress and even depression. In this episode of Innovation Health, we talk with Ochsner Health pediatric psychologist, Dr. Jill West, to get to the bottom of what may be causing this and to also get some tips on what parents can do to help families going through this.

Palliative care is an often overlooked healthcare option, with misconceptions about what it entails. Many people associate it with dying, and are fearful of the subject. In this episode, we try to decode what it is, and hopefully gain a better understanding of this potentially life-changing innovation in health. We talk with palliative care physician, Dr. Kate Freeman of Ochsner Health in Baton Rouge. Dr. Freeman has a unique role in patient care, in that she specializes in palliative medicine, helping people who are suffering with chronic disease, and also those who are nearing the end of life. 

There's been a major rise in stress since the pandemic began, caused by major changes in how we go about our daily lives. The population is experiencing increased levels of depression and anxiety, and many people are having a difficult time coping. On this episode, host Alex Gaudin talks to Ochsner psychologist, Dr Jackie Ball, to try and make sense of what is going on with our mental health during these times, and to get some advice on what to do if we are feeling depressed or anxious. Dr Ball specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies in the treatment of trauma-related disorders, depression, anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, researchers are studying the impact it has on communities. One research paper that has recently made national headlines, reveals major racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes among patients in Louisiana. On this episode of "Innovation Health," host Alex Gaudin talks to the lead co-author of this paper, Dr. Eboni Price-Haywood, Director of the Center for Outcomes and Health Services Research at Ochsner Health. Dr Price-Haywood has been leading the effort to improve healthcare practices as it relates to the health and well being of communities across the Gulf South region, and helps to shed light on these important findings.

Is it safe to return to school, daycare, or to have playdates? What impact is the pandemic having on the mental health of children? In this two-part episode, host Alex Gaudin talks with Dr. William Lennarz, System Chair of Pediatrics for Ochsner Health. Dr Lennarz has been leading the care for pediatric patients at Louisiana's largest healthcare provider, and has been helping shape Ochsner's response to COVID-19 in children. He's also been a valuable resource for the community, as schools and organizations looking for guidance during the pandemic, consult with him on how to best return to operations. In this second part, they discuss the impact of the pandemic on children's development, and what a return to school may look like. Join us in two weeks for the next episode of "Innovation Health."

If you are a parent, the unique challenges of caring for children during this time of uncertainty can leave you stressed and worried. Children have needs that must be met for proper development and health, but meeting those needs under these circumstances are challenging to say the least. Is it safe to return to school, daycare, or to have playdates? What about the inflammatory disease that we are hearing about now? How susceptible to COVID-19 are children?  In this two-part episode, host Alex Gaudin talks with Dr. William Lennarz, System Chair of Pediatrics for Ochsner Health. Dr Lennarz has been leading the care for pediatric patients at Louisiana's largest health care provider, and has been helping shape Ochsner's response to COVID-19 in children. He's also been a valuable resource for the community, as schools and organizations looking for guidance during the pandemic consult with him on how to best return to operations. In this first part, they discuss COVID-19 symptoms, infectiousness, and how sick children get. They discuss multi-inflammatory disease and Kawasaki disease. Additionally, they discuss the effects of COVID-19 on "well" visits, and the need for continuing immunizations and development checks. Lastly, they discuss the safety of Ochsner clinics for children. Look out for the second part of this episode coming next week, where Dr. Lennarz discusses the impact of the pandemic on children's development and what a return to school may look like.

When the pandemic started, many surgeries, medical procedures, and tests had to be postponed. Additionally, many people who should have gotten care were scared of catching the virus if they went to a clinic or hospital. This delay in care created a new wave of patients who now need to get back to care immediately. But, is it safe to do so? What will it be like to go see your doctor now? On this episode, host Alex Gaudin talks with Dr. Pedro Cazabon, System Leader of Primary Care at Ochsner Health. Dr. Cazabon has been leading the effort to reconfigure Ochsner Health clinical facilities to ensure that patients are safe from COVID-19 when they return to seek care. New episodes of Innovation Health are released every other Friday.

On this episode of "Innovation Health," host Alex Gaudin talks to neurologist David Houghton, MD, chairman of Telemedicine and Digital Health at Ochsner Health. Dr. Houghton has been on the front lines of the pandemic fight, having been called out of his normal neurology duties to tend to COVID-19 patients. His main role at Louisiana's largest healthcare network has seen him usher in new and innovative ways in delivering medicine that are helping in the pandemic fight, and that will be shaping the way healthcare is done in the future. New episodes of this podcast are released every other week!