Podcasts about Ochsner Health System

Social determinants of health, including housing, food access, insurance status, and structural inequities, significantly influence stroke prevention, recovery, and long term outcomes. These factors affect biological risk, treatment adherence, and disparities in care, even when traditional clinical measures are addressed. This episode highlights practical strategies for integrating screening, leveraging multidisciplinary teams, and identifying opportunities for advocacy to improve patient outcomes. In this episode, Teshamae Monteith, MD, FAAN, speaks with Nneka L. Ifejika, MD, MPH, author of the article "Social Determinants of Health and Their Impacts on Stroke Prevention and Outcomes" in the Continuum® June 2026 Cerebrovascular Disease issue. Dr. Monteith is the associate editor of Continuum® Audio and an associate professor of clinical neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. Dr. Ifejika is an adjunct professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and the chief scientific officer of the Division of Academics at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, Louisiana. Additional Resources Read the article: Social Determinants of Health and Their Impacts on Stroke Prevention and Outcomes Subscribe to Continuum®: shop.lww.com/Continuum Earn CME (available only to AAN members): continpub.com/AudioCME Continuum® Aloud (verbatim audio-book style recordings of articles available only to Continuum® subscribers): continpub.com/Aloud More about the American Academy of Neurology: aan.com Social Media facebook.com/continuumcme @ContinuumAAN Host: @headacheMD Full episode transcript available here Dr Monteith: Two patients have the same stroke, but when they return, they have very different outcomes. We can look into some of their comorbidities, but something we don't spend enough time talking about is the social determinants of health. Stay tuned to this discussion. I promise you, you'll become a better neurologist. Dr Jones: This is Dr. Lyell Jones, Editor-in-Chief of Continuum. Thank you for listening to Continuum Audio. Be sure to visit the links in the episode notes for information about earning CME, subscribing to the journal, and exclusive access to interviews not featured on the podcast. Dr Monteith: This is Dr. Teshamae Monteith. Today I'm interviewing Dr. Nneka Ifejika about her article on social determinants of health and their impacts on stroke prevention and outcomes. This article appears in the June 2026 Continuum issue on cerebrovascular disease. How are you? Welcome to our podcast. Dr Ifejika: Thanks for having me. I'm doing great. Dr Monteith: Great. So, can you introduce yourself to our audience? Dr Ifejika: Sure. I'm Dr. Nneka Ifejika. I am the Chief Scientific Officer of Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, Louisiana. But I'm also a cerebrovascular rehabilitation doctor. I've been practicing for about nineteen years, and am happy and honored to be a contributor to this Continuum Neurology article. It's a really important topic. Dr Monteith: Great. So, what got you into this field, first of all? Dr Ifejika: Well, I was deciding between PM&R and neurology, and I was putting in both match lists. And I thought about it and I leaned toward PM&R, but stroke still had a grasp on my heart and my mind. And so, after I finished my residency, I joined the UT Houston stroke team, and I did a, thankfully did a two-year fellowship and became cross-trained in stroke as well as physical medicine rehab. So, I am a jack of both trades. Dr Monteith: So, you got your way in a way. Dr Ifejika: I did. Dr Monteith: You know, we have a lot of learners that are listening, so it's always, uh, nice for them to be inspired, I think, by people's career paths. So why don't we talk about the objectives of your article? Dr Ifejika: Sure. So, one of the most important things that we wanted to do was make sure that medical students, residents, faculty, and fellows understood the impact of social determinants of health on stroke recovery and stroke rehabilitation. It's not as simple as you have hypertension, hyperlipidemia, we're going to manage your stroke risk factors. Oh, you had an ischemic stroke. You presented in time for the window. We're going to give you endovascular therapy and then modified Rankin scale at hospital discharge in ninety days. No, no, no. The stroke survivor and their caregivers and their family have a lot more to deal with outside of what we look at during the acute stroke hospitalization and post-acute rehabilitation. Things like, can they afford the medication that we're prescribing? Antiplatelet agents or anticoagulation can be extremely expensive. Do they have housing insecurity? Is there food insecurity? What's going on behind the scenes that we are not addressing that can directly impact the admission rate and the readmission rate after we take care of a stroke survivor? Dr Monteith: I love the article because you took a real deep dive into social determinants of health, what they are, why they matter, and what we can do about them. And so why don't we talk a little bit about the NINDS framework for social determinants of health? I think many of us might not be familiar with the framework per se. Dr Ifejika: So, the framework consists of multiple domains specifically that relate to social determinants of health that were published in Neurology a couple of years ago. So, I do hope that people who are hearing this recording actually read them. There are interpersonal domains, there are classic medical domains, there are indeterminate domains, and there are six total domains. And health domains are the last domain. So, things like when it comes to housing insecurity, food insecurity, that's a domain of social determinants of health. When it comes to chronic racism, when it comes to biases that patients experience, those actually impact outcomes. So, there are six separate indices that we're going to get into in detail and how we address them as clinicians, whether it be at the medical student level, resident level, faculty level, to integrate the social determinants of health in our care plans, because we could be doing a much better job. And I think it'll be really important from the interpersonal perspective when we really relate to our patients and their families that we ask these questions. For example, if we're prescribing someone to have treatment for their diabetes mellitus and ha- and, and be taking insulin, if they have housing insecurity and they're in a homeless shelter, they have to leave the homeless shelter during the day. So, what happens to the insulin that we prescribe? These are variables that we are not considering on a regular basis, but they directly relate to compliance. Dr Monteith: Great. So that was one thing I wanted to bring up. We're very good at measuring blood pressure and trying to determine, uh, the association between stroke outcomes and things that we can measure, glucose, lipids, blood pressure. What is the evidence for social determinants of health and stroke outcome? Dr Ifejika: The evidence is growing, and there have been many publications that have come out that are, are going to be highlighted in this article related to structural determinants of health inequities, like structural racism, as well as disparities related to ethnicity and race. There's geographical disparities. For example, a lot of patients are, are primarily concerned about rural versus urban, whether you have access to different post-acute rehabilitation, whether you have access to secondary stroke prevention because you simply don't have the transportation from a, a rural area to get to a drugstore to get things available to you. Social status. There are actually publication related to socioeconomic status and the concerns when it comes to air pollution. So particulate matter 2.5, we know that that has a direct impact on stroke outcomes and health overall, but we don't really think about it as a structural determinant of health inequity. There's several multiple layers of research that have gone on specifically that have been cited in the literature that relate directly to social determinants of health and how we can address them moving forward. Dr Monteith: And what I found interesting in your article in that you gave at least a few examples where social factors like income, education were controlled for, and maybe in large part it is, but even when you control for some of these very obvious social risk factors, you still have inequities. Dr Ifejika: Absolutely. And I think it was really important to show that we had strong peer review evidence behind this, as it wasn't just something that we were creating or hypothesizing about. There have been studies that have been done over this over decades of time, showing the impacts of social determinants of health on outcomes. But the question and concern that we have is we know this growing body of literature continues to expand. What are we doing about it when it comes to education of the future generations of providers who will be caring for this population? Dr Monteith: Before we get into how, you know, what we're going to do about that, let's just kind of put that link, cause the evidence is there. How does it drive biology? Dr Ifejika: It's a great question. So, for example, particulate matter 2.5 in air pollution has been shown to have an existing impact on hypertension, raising your blood pressure. So that's a direct effect of a social determinant of health related to socioeconomic status because people who live in areas with higher air pollution are... They're not green spaces. They live near highways. Those are areas that unfortunately are also impacted by food deserts. Food deserts, if you're not able to get fresh fruits, vegetables, whole foods, increases your risk of developing diabetes, hyperlipidemia, also increases your sodium intake, again, increasing hypertension. These things are all connected to biological determinants. It's just that we're not asking about them necessarily within the social history when we're taking people into the hospital, but they have direct effects. Dr Monteith: Great. Neurologists tend to be busy and, you know, we're... have all of these things that we're being asked to do and chart and click and all of that stuff. And so how can we more readily integrate screening for social determinants of health and that conversation into the work we do? We recognize it's important. We recognize it's an important risk factor. There's a lot of these determinants. So, what is a good way to do so? And I, I know that in the paper you've, you've given different roles to different team players, so I want you to talk about that too, but just kind of even a regular routine office visit. Walk us through a way we can more easily integrate that kind of conversation. Dr Ifejika: It's an excellent question, and what I've recommended that we do in a standard office visit is utilize the time before the visit to send out screeners. So, for example, usually with an electronic medical record, you can send documents before the visit even starts, where people can check off whether they have any concerns regarding housing, food insecurity. They can check out their location of where they live, whether they live near a highway or not near a highway. It's specifically related to socioeconomic status. We can ask about insurance status, whether they have insurance, insured versus uninsured, but then also types of insurance, whether they have Medicaid insurance versus Medicare insurance. Then even drilling even further, type of Medicare insurance, Medicare Advantage versus traditional Medicare, cause all of those things actually play a role in this. Dr Ifejika: And evaluate these things and don't take time during your office visit. Send these screeners out beforehand. Have them be assimilated by your medical staff. Make sure you're utilizing every resource that you have at your disposal to help streamline things, so by the time the person comes in for the visit, you've primed the pump. You have this information already in your hands at your fingertips cause it was sent out in advance, and you have your medical staff already have an understanding of. If they didn't fill it out electronically, give it to them in the lobby. Make sure they have a handwritten copy in the lobby so that when they come into the office visit, you have the information at your fingertips. Dr Monteith: Are there any particular resources that you recommend for those types of screeners? Dr Ifejika: What I've used in the past, if you have patient-reported outcomes, so the PROMIS instruments, that's a good start. It doesn't get into the details of housing insecurity, food insecurity, but it's a good start to help prime questions and to start the conversation during your office visit. In my clinics, I do a PROMIS 27 on every patient, as well as a PHQ-9 for depression on everyone. And then I collect data longitudinally, and I can always drill down on factors that I noticed that could become a problem moving forward. Dr Monteith: Yeah. And then also in your article, you spoke a bit about this impact from the acute presentation in the hospital to rehab. Dr Ifejika: Yeah. Dr Monteith: So why don't you talk about these different entry points where we can really engage our patients and try and help reduce their burden? Dr Ifejika: Sure. So, healthcare can be quite fragmented, and the stroke patient, stroke survivor, and their family member have no grasp of that. They've had a stroke, and they may be going from the ER to the ICU to the stroke unit to the floor to the rehab unit, and we see it as multiple levels of care, multiple types of providers. They see it as one hospital. And the concern that we have is, at those branch points, things get dropped, and we have the opportunity to pick things up at those branch points. So, during the acute care hospitalization-Primarily, that's the establishment of what has happened, how we're gonna treat it, what are the variables that we can control for right now to address those determinants of health moving forward, and to specifically looking at whether they were taking medications before, whether they could afford medications before, what that looks like at hospital discharge. Is there any duplication of medications? If a person is taking Coreg and you prescribe metoprolol, but they still have the Coreg at home, should we have really prescribed the metoprolol? We're just spending money that they may have concerns when it comes to access to care and the cost of these prescriptions. So, it's the responsibility of the acute care physician to kind of look at that. Those are subtle things that we think are subtle, but they add up quickly for the family when it comes to having one group of medications that's the same class and having to buy another type. When it comes to post-acute rehabilitation, it's really an important time to screen for whether the caregiver can handle what's occurring. So specifically, if the caregiver is already burning out and the average length of stay for a stroke patient is five days and they've come to rehab for two weeks, what's gonna happen in the next two years or the next four years? So, during the post-acute rehabilitation phase, it's time to kind of look at that and drill down on those kind of questions. Also, the levels of care, Dr Ifejika: it's really important to look at other levels of rehabilitation, so skilled nursing facilities, making sure people have access to that if they need to, if the caregiver is burned out and they don't have the ability to go straight home. Because acute inpatient rehab, the goal of it afterwards, is to go straight home. It's not to go to another facility. So, you need to have that screener in place when it comes to whether the family can take care of this person, and whether the family can do it in an effective way to prevent them being readmitted. Dr Monteith: Great. I also like that you spoke about kind of the team approach and different roles, both for screening and for intervention, both being very important, especially the intervention. And so why don't you give us a few examples how the team could break up the responsibility and how also for the intervention component that can be done. Dr Ifejika: Sure. So, I broke up the team into several levels. So, the team medically is the medical student, resident, and faculty physician. However, the team also includes the support staff, so your case manager, your social worker, the therapist, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, the pastoral services, all these members of the team. You know, sometimes as physicians, we don't read those notes. There's a lot of information in the notes from social work, care coordination, and the therapist. They get down to subtleties cause they're asking questions, for example, "What kind of equipment do you have at home? How many stairs do you have at home? What level of house do you have, one story, two story? If you live in an apartment, do you have an elevator access?" That's important for someone with hemiparesis. When it comes to medications, when it comes to insurance status, when it comes to your ability to have the mechanisms to pay for care as an outpatient, social workers are required to ask these questions cause they have to figure out resources for the patient and their family to help facilitate improved outcomes. So, they have to ask questions regarding these tasks. The concerns are, do we read what they're saying? So, it's really important to interact with them, and if it's not something that you're looking at in the chart, cause we're all so tied to our computers, find where they are in the hospital. Walk by their office and have a chat. Run your list with them, especially for people who you're concerned have vulnerabilities, and make sure that you're setting an example for your medical students with your faculty doing so. If you're looking at it from the medical student, resident, faculty perspective, medical students, listen. This is your opportunity to really contribute to the team as well as learn about social determinants of health and research in their fields. You are the boots on the ground for the medical team. You are the ones who should be priming the pump and asking these questions of the family members. We're sending you into the rooms to do a history and physical. Social determinants of health should be a part of your history and physical, and you should be taking what we're saying in this article and asking these questions and tying it into your resident. Now, the resident is the work person of the hospital. We all know this. Things run through the resident. Things run through the fellow. It's really important that they have this information in a manner that is negotiable. The list keeps getting longer, and a resident doesn't need to be overburdened. It needs to be synthesized in a manner that can help facilitate the resident being able to act as well as communicate any concerns to the faculty. And at the faculty level, we are the voices that can affect change. So, if there's any concerns when it comes to advocacy, research, making sure that people are accessing care in a way that makes sense, particularly when it comes to the ability for us to galvanize change on a national level, that's kind of our job. Dr Monteith: Great, and so let's talk about intervention. What are things that, let's say, the neurologist can do to deal with some of these social factors? Dr Ifejika: From the neurology perspective, I think it's really important to identify missed opportunities and making sure that we address them. For example, the conversations around the ability to have access to care related to insurance versus no insurance. There are many, many ways that neurologists are able to advocate for a person being able to get to Medicare insurance, particularly in the outpatient setting. When we see patients in clinic, it takes two years, them, to qualify for Medicare, two years at a minimum. But there's a gap there that can be filled by us making sure that we document what's happened, contact their providers, facilitate communication with their employers, if they're employees, they can get some short-term disability benefits to help bridge that gap prior to receiving Medicare insurance. It behooves us to do this because if we do not, they fall into the gap and they get readmitted and they're back on service anyway. So, what's important is the outpatient that we really kind of focus on things that we can impact and things like insurance and getting people transitioned from having employer-based insurance versus getting to Medicare is a really important way that we can effect change in a, in a way that's viable and, and replicable. So, in the outpatient setting, neurologists have a wonderful opportunity to effect change in social determinants of health. When it comes to employed persons, who had a stroke transitioning to Medicare, it takes two years to do so. So, in the outpatient clinic, if you have an employed person, make sure that you fill out their short-term disability benefits forms, their long-term disability benefits form. Bridge the gap. Get that information to their employer so they can maintain constant coverage. Because if they do not, if they have to choose between refilling medications and putting food on the table, they're going to choose putting food on the table, and that's going to directly impact their outcomes if they're not taking the medication that we recommend. Dr Monteith: I think that's a great point. I mean, there's a lot that we can do, and in some ways, it may not take that much to document and to be able to ask the questions and to include some of that information into the assessment and plan is really a, a great idea. Dr Ifejika: And you know, if we don't bring these things up and have these conversations, it doesn't get addressed. And that's why I'm very, very thankful that I had the opportunity to do so, cause this is a part of what I do all day. I think that if I wasn't integrating these kind of conversations into my practice, I wouldn't have the ability to share these tips and these abilities to move things forward in a manner that will be constructive for our field overall and for our patients. Dr Monteith: And towards the end of the article, you brought up something I think we don't see in many articles, and that's the role of advocacy and getting involved in health policy. So, can you talk a little bit about that? Dr Ifejika: You know, it's really important to facilitate change when you see that there are things that need to be changed. And the best way to do that is through advocacy at the local or state or federal level. A lot of these variables that we're dealing with can be addressed through legal changes. I'll give you an example. End-stage renal disease, if you have immediate hemodialysis and you have that requirement upon hospital discharge, you qualify for Medicare immediately. Immediately. Before you even leave the hospital. Why wouldn't something be similar for a stroke? Well, the reason why is because there was a level of advocacy that came around end-stage renal disease and a member of Congress's wife had hemodialysis requirements. And so, a law was passed to make sure Medicare covered it immediately after hospital discharge. So, it requires advocacy in some significant ways to get things done, but we have the bandwidth to do this. We take care of a population that has some of the highest rates of preventable disability. That's not going away. We need to make sure that we're effecting change for this group to make sure that they have the best possible outcomes they can experience. Dr Monteith: So, any final messages for our listeners? Dr Ifejika: I look forward to hearing everyone's feedback about our issue. I am thankful for the opportunity to talk about, address, and write about this important topic, and look forward to everyone's feedback. Dr Monteith: Well, thank you so much for being on our podcast. It was a really wonderful summary and we had a very thorough conversation, but you didn't give away too much, so I think they're going to have to read the article. Dr Ifejika: You're going to have to read the article. And we want medical students, residents, fellows, faculty, all of our ancillary staff within the hospitals, please read this article. We really appreciate it. Dr Monteith: Again today, I've been interviewing Dr. Nneka Ifejika about her article on social determinants of health and their impacts on stroke prevention and outcomes. This article appears in the June 2026 Continuum issue on cerebrovascular disease. Be sure to check out Continuum Audio episodes from this and other issues. And thank you to our listeners for joining today. Dr Monteith: This is Dr. Teshamae Monteith, Associate Editor of Continuum Audio. If you've enjoyed this episode, you'll love the journal, which is full of in-depth and clinically relevant information important for neurology practitioners. Use the link in the episode notes to learn more and subscribe. AAN members, you can get CME for listening to this interview by completing the evaluation at continpub.com/audioCME. Thank you for listening to Continuum Audio.

In this episode, Kenny Cole, MD, System Vice President of Clinical Improvement at Ochsner Health System, joins the podcast to discuss ongoing clinical and operational pressures facing health systems. He shares his perspective on solutions for primary care reimbursement, along with strategies to expand access to care while minimizing clinician burnout.

In this episode, Kenny Cole, MD, System Vice President of Clinical Improvement at Ochsner Health System, joins the podcast to discuss ongoing clinical and operational pressures facing health systems. He shares his perspective on solutions for primary care reimbursement, along with strategies to expand access to care while minimizing clinician burnout.

This episode of Relentless Health Value features Dr. Kenny Cole from Ochsner Health System. The discussion emphasizes the critical role of trusted relationships and excellent primary care teams in keeping patients out of the emergency room, thus reducing healthcare costs. Stacey Richter revisits this conversation to highlight the importance of care teams building trust with patients and the concept of primary care as an investment in health and wellness. The episode outlines four key points for delivering great primary care, including accountability for outcomes, belief in clinical goals, standardized care flows, and building patient trust. Dr. Cole also discusses the real-world challenges and strategies for achieving clinical and financial success in primary care. The episode serves as a guide for plan sponsors, clinicians, and healthcare executives looking to improve primary care delivery and align it with financial viability. The discussion is further enriched with insights on digitizing care pathways and the importance of measuring and sharing best practices to achieve high standards of care.I Stacey revisits, in a take two, this episode with Dr. Kenny Cole because she's listening to it this time with a new focus. That focus is the theme that keeps coming up over and over and over again on Relentless Health Value these past few months. === LINKS ===

For a full transcript of this episode, click here. There's this meme that's going around on the interwebs with the caption, “Sometimes the shortest distance in between two places isn't a straight line.” What? Yeah, because actually there's three dimensions in the real world. So, when we all consider the real world, understanding the contours of reality and aligning with them is the only way to devise a winning strategy—not only if you're timing rubber balls getting dropped off straight or curved slopes. I'm saying this because I've seen (and you've seen) a whole lot of great ideas fail because someone draws a very elegant straight line on a whiteboard, calls it the fastest and most efficient way to get from here to a desired outcome … and then the plan ultimately fails. What contours am I talking about taking into account right now? Oh, pretty much the entirety of US healthcare. If you combine the complexities and perverse incentives of the industry itself plus the art and science of medicine plus epidemiology and social determinants and I'm probably forgetting other dimensions, you have contours that are mountain ranges. Not considering the reality of those elevations and just thinking there's some kind of straight line here to be found is really a kind of delusion. Now, investors and C-suites may like these delusions, but let's just get real: It's not gonna actually work out as written. One case study that I am talking about is digital health solutions or pharma companies even or pretty much anyone who thinks that the fastest way to increase sales is to talk about the product, let's just say as one example. That's the straight line to growth: Talk about the product. Another one is stripping away things that feel like they're a waste of time in the name of efficiency without actually checking if you're cutting into essential stuff. I talk about this at length with Kate Wolin, ScD, in an episode coming up. Jodilyn Owen has a thing or two to say on this point in episode 421 also. But let me be clear: I'm not talking about anyone listening to the show today making this mistake, at least wholesale. We all make it incrementally; it's hard to avoid. But you get this. That's why you're here. You get that the fastest path anywhere is truly understanding the problems faced by customers. And then it's showing how the product or whatever you're doing helps solve those problems. No one cares how efficient or safe your thing is if it's accomplishing something that no one cares about, no one gets paid for, and/or can figure out how to deploy or use. This is what the entire episode last week, episode 430 with Barbara Wachsman, was about. Why is all of this relevant? It's actually what makes Relentless Health Value relevant, frankly. Many listeners—and shout-outs to Nate Walker and MaryCarol Evans—say that this is why they listen to Relentless Health Value and what Relentless Health Value helps them with: finding those contours, understanding reality so that it can be aligned with. And on the show today, Kenny Cole, MD, I gotta say, could be really impactful in this regard as well as in others. Nate Walker wrote, “[Relentless Health Value] inspires me every day to stay true to my desire to make a difference in healthcare for patients by adding transparency and helping to connect the dots within this fragmented system.” MaryCarol Evans has alluded to the same thing multiple times as well and often highlights that Relentless Health Value helps her think through and identify the small things that are possible—she says there's plenty of them—that have a huge impact on the lives of plan members. Dr. Kenny Cole is from Ochsner Health System, and I love this conversation today because it has lessons for anybody working in a clinic or managing a clinic who wants to learn from a master. But it also is really interesting for anyone who's trying to work with, alongside of, or sell to a clinical practice or health system that is pulling away from the status quo, that is standardizing care and working as a team, one that is earning the trust of its patients, and also one that is figuring out how to reinvent the business model of healthcare such that clinical pathways and care flows are aligned with financial viability. That's really, obviously, the holy grail here. We talk today about how to achieve clinical and financial success, even if the financial models are all over the map. We talk about how to create a practice model or a clinical model that might appeal to clinicians and keep them from being burnt out while, at the same time, ensure that patients are getting the kind of outcomes everyone can be proud of and the place doesn't go bankrupt either. This episode reminded me a lot of the conversation with Scott Conard, MD (EP391)—there's lots of complementary points. The shows with David Carmouche, MD (EP316, AEE15, EP343) from when he was at Ochsner are also pretty relevant here. Some of the points that Dr. Kenny Cole makes today also align very much with what Rik Renard (EP427) was talking about a few weeks ago. But regardless of where you sit or what you're trying to do, this show is a great one to really get a bead on the lay of the land to find the actual shortest path between here and there, which is not gonna be (most likely) an obviously straight line. Dr. Kenny Cole makes, I'm gonna say, four main points by my counting; and they are as follows: 1. Clinical teams have to deliver care wherein outcomes are measurable, and it has to be done in such a way that those clinical teams are accountable for the outcomes that are generated. 2. Clinical teams need to really see with their own two eyes and believe that a clinical goal that they've been given is possible. 3. Care flows are critical here, which means getting everyone on the same page about what best-practice care looks like and operationalizing how that clinical excellence will be achieved. 4. Building trust with patients and connecting with patients cannot be underestimated, and care flows need to not only standardize care so that it can be delivered quicker and easier but also facilitate patient relationships. Dr. Kenny Cole is a primary care internist. He sees patients one day a week. The other days, he serves as a system vice president for Ochsner Health, which is a large integrated delivery system. In this role, he designs and develops new care models. If I'm making recommendations for what to listen to next, I'd go with episode 412 with Robert Pearl, MD—he talks about a model to lead healthcare transformation and clinical excellence. Then episode 391 with Dr. Scott Conard gets into what happens in the real world when the financial model is misaligned with excellent care. Lastly, episode 343 with Dr. David Carmouche. Oh, two last things and new topics: First, thanks to Santos-L-Halper, Nina Lathia, and KC64789 for some really nice reviews this month. I read them. They make me happy. Thanks so much for leaving them. And lastly, heads up that Rule of Three (ro3) has an annual March Healthcare Classic that is currently ongoing. It's pretty cool what they do. They have a very august panel that debates which trends will reign supreme in their impact on healthcare in 2024. The committee includes: ·      Dr. David Carmouche, SVP Healthcare Delivery, Walmart Health ·      Eric Gallagher, CEO, Ochsner Health Network ·      Leah Binder, CEO, The Leapfrog Group ·      Anisha Sood, Chief Financial & Strategy Officer, First Choice Health Follow along with the experts through the ro3 March Healthcare Classic at https://ro3.com/healthcare-classic/. Also mentioned in this episode are Jodilyn Owen; Barbara Wachsman; Nate Walker; MaryCarol Evans; Scott Conard, MD; David Carmouche, MD; Rik Renard; Robert Pearl, MD; Nina Lathia, RPh, MSc, PhD; Josh M. Berlin; Rule of Three, LLC; Eric Gallagher; Leah Binder; Anisha Sood; John Rodis, MD, MBA, FACHE, CPHQ; Bob Matthews; Marty Makary, MD, MPH; Sanat Dixit, MD, MBA, FACS; and Rob Andrews. You can learn more at Ochsner Health. You can also follow Dr. Cole on LinkedIn.   Kenny Cole, MD, began his role as System VP, Clinical Improvement, for Ochsner Health in New Orleans in September 2019. He is a practicing primary care internist with advanced degrees from LSU Health Sciences Center and Dartmouth, as well as executive training from Harvard Business School. Prior to joining Ochsner Health, Dr. Cole was the chief clinical transformation officer for Baton Rouge General Medical Center, where he designed, developed, and implemented a completely reimagined multidisciplinary team-based model of primary care that focused on aligning clinical with financial outcomes. His current work at Ochsner Health built on that prior foundation to design and help develop Ochsner 65 Plus, a group of redesigned primary care clinics focused on the needs of older adults.   07:38 Is there an optimal care pathway where there might be a lot of treatment variability? 11:01 Why doesn't Dr. Cole like the terms “noncompliant” and “nonadherent”? 11:45 EP412 with Robert Pearl, MD. 13:50 Why is it important to start with the end in mind? 17:20 How do you scale clinical excellence? 20:21 EP315 with Bob Matthews. 21:15 EP242 with Marty Makary, MD. 23:49 Why is it important simply to demonstrate what's possible for better health outcomes? 24:58 EP427 with Rik Renard. 26:10 How do we reinvent the business model of healthcare? 27:50 EP415 with Rob Andrews. 30:06 EP391 with Scott Conard, MD. 38:37 Dr. Cole is published in various healthcare journals; check out his most recent article.   You can learn more at Ochsner Health. You can also follow Dr. Cole on LinkedIn.   Kenny Cole, MD, discusses #accountability for #healthoutcomes on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthcareleadership #healthcaretransformation #healthcareinnovation   Recent past interviews: Click a guest's name for their latest RHV episode! Barbara Wachsman, Luke Slindee, Julie Selesnick, Rik Renard, AJ Loiacono (Encore! EP379), Nina Lathia, Marshall Allen, Stacey Richter (INBW39), Peter Hayes, Joey Dizenhouse  

We sit down with Tavis Piattoly, Registered Dietitian and Healthcare Educator for Omega-Quant Analytics, to discuss the importance of omega-3 fats for health, along with some surprising facts about deficiency and supplementation. Tavis also shares insight about how the omega-3 index testing can help guide your nutrition plan for optimizing your omega-3 intake.  We also discuss: An overview of the types of dietary fats and common food sources Who is at risk for omega-3 fatty acid deficiency Importance of omega-3 and its health benefits Individuals who must supplement with omega-3 The effectiveness of a ‘food first' approach for omega-3 optimization Things to know about choosing an effective supplement The difference between red blood cell testing and whole blood testing via venipuncture Quote: “It's not that we have an omega-6 problem. That's what is promoted in the influencer world. We have an omega-3 deficiency problem.”  –Tavis Piattoly Links: OmegaQuant omega-3 index testing A couple product recommendations that provide >90% triglyceride form of omega-3: https://parasolnutrition.com/product/omega-3-fish-oil/  https://www.nordic.com/products/ultimate-omega-2x-sport/?variant=39472184754360  Ep 71 of the ISN Podcast where Bob and Dina talk about omega-3 fats and muscle function Research studies: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26765633/  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8477477/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15208005/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17324586/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35504165/  More about our guest:   Tavis Piattoly, MS, RD, LDN has been working in the field of high performance and Sports Nutrition for the past 22 years designing personalized nutrition programs for high school, college, and professional athletes.   He currently serves as the Dietitian/Healthcare Account Manager for OmegaQuant Labs, where their team works to provide Omega 3 Testing for healthcare practitioners, collegiate and professional teams, and supplement brands. At OmegaQuant, he oversees the sales for the US, Canadian, and South American markets.  Tavis was the Sports Dietitian for the New Orleans Saints from 2006-2013 and New Orleans Pelicans from 2008-2013. He also served as the Sports Dietitian for the Tulane Athletics from 2002-2014 and the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine's NFL Players Association Brain and Body program from 2013-2016. He's been fortunate to work with a long list of NFL and MLB players throughout his career.  He has an extensive background in dietary supplement product formulation and product development having launched a brand for Ochsner Health System in 2012. He has consulted with various supplement brands to assist with product formulation and ingredient sourcing along with a focus on 3rd party testing and certification.  He is an advisor to Examine.com and was on the scientific advisory board for Nordic Naturals and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Sports Medicine Advisory Board. --- This episode is brought to you by All Around Snack Co. which features tasty snacks that are low in added sugars, contain zero dyes, colorings or additives and help control blood sugar for steady energy levels throughout the day.  Use code ISNPODCAST23 to save 15% on your purchase. We'd love to connect with you on social! Follow the podcast on Instagram @isnpodcast, and you can follow Dina at @nutritionmechanic and Bob at @enrgperformance. You can learn more about Bob and Dina's nutrition and coaching services and programs at www.enrgperformance.com and www.nutritionmechanic.com. 

In this episode, host Dr. Chris Beck interviews Dr. Juan Gimenez and Dr. Tyler Sandow. Juan and Tyler are both interventional radiologists in New Orleans, Louisiana who practice at Ochsner Health System - one of the United States' leading transplant centers. As a result, both doctors have significant experience in Y-90 radiation segmentectomy and other complex procedures for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR Boston Scientific TheraSphere https://www.bostonscientific.com/therasphere --- SHOW NOTES Juan and Tyler start the episode by telling us about how their practice has evolved over the years, their experience on tumor boards, and advice for building strong relations with transplant surgeons. The doctors also tell us about their approach to working-up patients with HCC, the variety of treatment modalities, and overall timeline to transplant. Next we discuss considerations for building an effective interventional oncology service. Taking full ownership at every step of the way is critical to this goal. To conclude the episode, Juan and Tyler discuss the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging algorithm, their research, and other factors that guide their treatment plan. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this discussion, releasing later this week! --- RESOURCES Premiere and TRACE Trials: https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/medical-specialties/interventional-radiology/interventional-oncology/therasphere/clinical-data/premiere-trial-and-trace-trial.html

This episode features Beth Walker, Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner Baptist at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses her background & key insights into Ochsner Baptist, the organization's Administrative Fellowship program, advice for emerging leaders, and more.

ISPN Dubai 2023 David Rosenblum, MD interviews Reda Tolba, MD on the PainExam Podcast In this episode, we delve into the realm of Pain Management in the US and the Middle East. Our international pain experts discuss the upcoming ISPN (International Society for Pain and Neuroscience) meeting in Dubai this december.   Subscribe to the PainExam Newsletter to Receive Free Content, Discounts and Course Updates! Email Address *   Dr. Reda Tolba, MD, chairs the Pain Management Department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He's internationally recognized for his contributions to Pain Medicine, boasting a wealth of experience from institutions like Wake Forest University Medical Center and Ochsner Health System. Dr. David Rosenblum, MD, is the Director of Pain Management at Maimonides Medical Center and a driving force behind pain education platforms like PainExam.com and NRAP Academy. He's a pioneer in ultrasound-guided pain procedures, having trained thousands of physicians online and in person. Tune in to hear Dr. Tolba's journey to being named Chair of Pain at Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, and his impressive academic and clinical achievements.Dr. Rosenblum, on the other hand, is known through his contributions to safe pain management protocols, and his mission to spread knowledge through podcasts and educational events. Patients, interested he's scheduling an appointment with Dr. Rosenblum at his Long Island or Brooklyn Locations can go to AABPpain.com or call 718 436 7246 or 516 482 7246 To learn more about their work and educational initiatives, explore NRAPpain.org and PainExam.com/events. Join us in this episode to uncover insights from these leading figures in Pain Management. Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine NYC- August 19th, 2023 Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine- Sept 15, 2023, San Juan, PR For  up to date Calendar, Click Here!

ISPN Dubai 2023 David Rosenblum, MD interviews Reda Tolba, MD on the PainExam Podcast In this episode, we delve into the realm of Pain Management in the US and the Middle East. Our international pain experts discuss the upcoming ISPN (International Society for Pain and Neuroscience) meeting in Dubai this december.   Subscribe to the PainExam Newsletter to Receive Free Content, Discounts and Course Updates! Email Address *   Dr. Reda Tolba, MD, chairs the Pain Management Department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He's internationally recognized for his contributions to Pain Medicine, boasting a wealth of experience from institutions like Wake Forest University Medical Center and Ochsner Health System. Dr. David Rosenblum, MD, is the Director of Pain Management at Maimonides Medical Center and a driving force behind pain education platforms like PainExam.com and NRAP Academy. He's a pioneer in ultrasound-guided pain procedures, having trained thousands of physicians online and in person. Tune in to hear Dr. Tolba's journey to being named Chair of Pain at Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, and his impressive academic and clinical achievements.Dr. Rosenblum, on the other hand, is known through his contributions to safe pain management protocols, and his mission to spread knowledge through podcasts and educational events. Patients, interested he's scheduling an appointment with Dr. Rosenblum at his Long Island or Brooklyn Locations can go to AABPpain.com or call 718 436 7246 or 516 482 7246 To learn more about their work and educational initiatives, explore NRAPpain.org and PainExam.com/events. Join us in this episode to uncover insights from these leading figures in Pain Management. Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine NYC- August 19th, 2023 Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine- Sept 15, 2023, San Juan, PR For  up to date Calendar, Click Here!

ISPN Dubai 2023 David Rosenblum, MD interviews Reda Tolba, MD on the PainExam Podcast In this episode, we delve into the realm of Pain Management in the US and the Middle East. Our international pain experts discuss the upcoming ISPN (International Society for Pain and Neuroscience) meeting in Dubai this december.   Subscribe to the PainExam Newsletter to Receive Free Content, Discounts and Course Updates! Email Address *   Dr. Reda Tolba, MD, chairs the Pain Management Department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He's internationally recognized for his contributions to Pain Medicine, boasting a wealth of experience from institutions like Wake Forest University Medical Center and Ochsner Health System. Dr. David Rosenblum, MD, is the Director of Pain Management at Maimonides Medical Center and a driving force behind pain education platforms like PainExam.com and NRAP Academy. He's a pioneer in ultrasound-guided pain procedures, having trained thousands of physicians online and in person. Tune in to hear Dr. Tolba's journey to being named Chair of Pain at Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, and his impressive academic and clinical achievements.Dr. Rosenblum, on the other hand, is known through his contributions to safe pain management protocols, and his mission to spread knowledge through podcasts and educational events. Patients, interested he's scheduling an appointment with Dr. Rosenblum at his Long Island or Brooklyn Locations can go to AABPpain.com or call 718 436 7246 or 516 482 7246 To learn more about their work and educational initiatives, explore NRAPpain.org and PainExam.com/events. Join us in this episode to uncover insights from these leading figures in Pain Management. Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine NYC- August 19th, 2023 Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine- Sept 15, 2023, San Juan, PR For  up to date Calendar, Click Here!

In today's episode of Franchise U!, Kathy sits down with Julie Canseco with Main Squeeze Juice Bar. Canseco's career history demonstrates her passion for health. Canseco currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Main Squeeze Juice Co., previously serving as the Vice President of Operations and In-House Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist. Canseco brings nutrition and operations experience from her previous position of Nutritionist and Marketing/Operations Dietitian with Eat Fit Nola, a non-profit restaurant-partnership program offered by Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, LA before joining Main Squeeze Juice Co.® in August 2017. Canseco worked with Eat Fit Nola from April 2016 to August 2017 and during her tenure increased participating restaurant partners from 45 to over 150 partners, and secured over 1 million dollars in grant funding to expand Eat Fit programs throughout the state of Louisiana, in partnership with Ochsner Health System and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Prior to Eat Fit Nola, Canseco worked at East Jefferson Family Practice, as their Nutrition Program Manager from August 2014 to April 2016. Before East Jefferson Family Practice, Canseco attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA from August 2009 to May 2013, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics. After LSU, Canseco attended the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine's Dietetic Internship Program in New Orleans, LA, and obtained her Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist license in August 2014.

Louisiana currently ranks 49 out of the 50 states when it comes to health outcomes. Despite that disturbing fact, there are amazing healthcare teams and organizations working tirelessly to elevate the health of the communities they serve, one patient at a time.Régine Villain is the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Ochsner Health System, a Louisiana-based organization that was recently recognized with a fifth-place ranking in the Gartner Healthcare supply chain Top 25. Ochsner Health is a not-for-profit health system comprised of 47 hospitals and 370 health and urgent care centers across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Gulf South. Their more than 37,000 employees worked together to serve over 1.4 million patients in 2022 alone.In this episode, Régine speaks with host Scott Luton about:- How working in a New York City hospital on September 11, 2001 affected her perspective on and response to later crises- Working to ensure security of operating room supplies in the months leading up to the COVID outbreak and after- The spirit of innovation that sets Ochsner apart, and how it allows them to manage their supply chain outside the boxAdditional Links & Resources:Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comCheck out our new Supply Chain Now Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3emdLcKSubscribe to Supply Chain Now and all other Supply Chain Now programs: https://supplychainnow.com/subscribeJoin the NOW Community: http://bit.ly/41kpUSO2023 Q1 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index: https://bit.ly/3VuwnIkWEBINAR- “Decoding Digital Transformation” – Charting a path forward: https://bit.ly/3VvVc6VWEBINAR- The Power of Spend Visibility: A Roadmap for Success: https://bit.ly/3WToUU5WEBINAR- 5 Ways the Right TMS & ERP Integrations Streamline & Simplify Shipping: https://bit.ly/3CjWWYaWEBINAR- Unbreakable: Unlocking Resilience in the Face of Disruptions: https://bit.ly/42VHGM3WEBINAR- Better Demand Planning with Supply Chain Visibility: https://bit.ly/3NpgQpGThis episode is hosted by Scott Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/patient-care-supply-chain-true-north-1139

SPECIAL GUEST George Webb Follow George Webb on his Substack Follow George Webb on Twitter - Jeffrey Epstein - he was a CIA plant, his sole purpose was to record elite officials doing sexual things w/ young people to blackmail them after the fact. HEADLINE: Was Remdesivir A By Product Of HIV Research At Gilead? by George Webb Former Gilead CEO John C Martin A key part of my research into how military solutions for mRNA and Remdesivir have been thrust upon the American people has been to look at the wars and bioweapons programs these products were born from. I have looked extensively into the BioPreparat program of Ken Alibek of the Soviet Union and his close collaboration with Michael Callahan of UAB and Southern Research. The battlefield countermeasures for bioagents have a way of showing up as “entities of excitement” that usher in experimental technologies like mRNA vaccines. HEADLINE: Remdesivir Links Anthrax 9/11 Players To Corona 9/11 Gang by George Webb Remember Debra Birx = Scarf Vader Dr Fauci all of these folks go back to PEPFAR back in 1983. PEPFAR = President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Celia Farber is writing about PEPFAR too so you two are the only ones writing about this stuff. President Ronald Reagan's Special Envoy to the Middle East, Rumsfeld met w/ Saddam Hussein during a visit to Baghdad in December 1983, during the Iran-Iraq War. George Webb wrote about Dr. Michael Callahan's extensive work in the Soviet Union bioweapons program in my book, “BioAgent UTMB”. Callahan was decommissioning bioweapons there, and then moving them to labs controlled by the DoD all around the old Soviet Union including Odessa, Ukraine. I have written that I believed Southern Research here in Birmingham, Alabama, was involved in the development of military countermeasures against this old Soviet arsenal. Miltary countermeasures, as we have seen recently, make very profitable billion-dollar cash cows for certain Gilead executives connected to the Department of Defense. Ochsner Health System - right there across the lake in New Orleans. Chad Roy - Southern Research - Remdesivir = Run Death Is Near RFID - you have already seen this at work. The little thing stores put in merchandise to keep you from stealing.

Ochsener Digital medicine is on mic to talk about remote patient management. They offer solutions for chronic disease management that will make proactive differences in your health. This means even when you're at home, and trying to manage your Type II diabetes, you have a personal care team and chronic illness management plan just a click away. With real time communication and health coaches as well as clinicians, you can manage your chronic illness with both technological support and a team of experts. MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS:David Houghton, MD System Chair, Telehealth & Digital Medicine Ochsner HealthDavid J. Houghton, M.D., M.P.H. earned his Medical Degree from the Medical College of Georgia and his Master's in Public Health in epidemiology at Emory University. He completed his internship, neurology residency, and movement disorders fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.   After then serving as Assistant Professor and Neurology Residency Program Director at the University of Louisville, Dr. Houghton joined the staff at Ochsner Health System in 2012 as Section Head of Movement & Memory Disorders and Vice-Chair of the Department of Neurology. Since 2016, he has also served as the Medical Director of Telehealth - harnessing technology to create unique virtual forward-facing clinical connections between Ochsner's providers and patients across the Gulf South. His role expanded to include growth of Digital Medicine for chronic disease management in 2019.  At Ochsner, Dr. Houghton has been awarded System Physician of the Month, Ochsner “Top 75” Physician, and Neurology Teaching Faculty of the Year, and he completed The Health Management Academy Physician Leadership Program in 2018.  Dr. Houghton is board-certified in neurology and his publications have appeared in peer-reviewed journals, an online medical text, a patient resource from the National Parkinson's Foundation, and a textbook on deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease.Rachel MontalbanoRegional Account Director, Digital Medicine Ochsner HealthOver the last 20+ years, Rachel Montalbano has worked in several roles within the employee benefits industry.  With an extensive knowledge from the consulting perspective, to bringing benefit solutions from the insurance carrier, Rachel has worked with Employers and Consultants alike in bringing value and cost containment solutions to their benefits programs.  In 2021, Rachel joined Ochsner's national team to offer clinical solutions and population health strategies to Employer groups throughout the country.

Most of us measure our health inversely - by how infrequently we have to see a doctor. If we never have to go to the doctor, we must be super-healthy. But, if our only contact with the healthcare system is when something is wrong with us, can we really call that healthcare? Isn't it really ill-health care? That's the perspective that has led a recent generation of practitioners in the healthcare industry to focus on what they call “wellness.” At its most basic, wellness is an awareness of the power of prevention. It's an attempt to shift healthcare from doctor-and-drug-driven repair, to self-motivated care. “Self-motivated” doesn't mean going it alone. It means seeking out care from professionals who are not necessarily MD's but who provide you with methods and techniques to stay healthy. That might include Yoga, meditation, massage, nutrition advice, mental health therapy, and what's called Integrative Medicine, which incorporates both Western and Eastern medical philosophies. If you were going to seek out these professionals yourself, first you'd have to know a lot about wellness to even know who you're looking for. Then you'd have to drive all over town, or possibly all over the state, or even the country, to find skilled people working in these fields. Which is why a local wellness center has brought these practitioners together and put them in offices under one roof, on Prytania Street in the Lower Garden District - in the space that used to be the Norwegian Seamen's Church.  This integrative medicine clinic is called Spyre and its co-founder is Diana Fisher. Even if you take amazingly great care of yourself, you're not going to be able to prevent yourself from ever getting sick. Unfortunately, even people in the greatest  physical and mental shape can find themselves with a cancer diagnosis. But if that happens, you don't have to rely solely on drug-driven medicine to cope with, and help cure yourself, of cancer. In the Ochsner Health System there's a specialist cancer division situated in a building on Jefferson Highway, called The Gayle & Tom Benson Cancer Center. Within that specialized cancer center patients have an opportunity to complement their traditional healthcare with Therapeutic Yoga and Meditation. Therapeutic Yoga is not the same as the yoga you do to stay in shape. And in this case, meditation is focused on training yourself to concentrate your mental strength to help cancer cure and recovery. The founder and Coordinator of Therapeutic Yoga and Meditation at the Gayle & Tom Benson Cancer Center is Tamarin Hennebury. Despite our best intentions - like new years resolutions to go to the gym, convincing ourselves that buying new running shoes will make us start running, or swearing we're going to cut out carbs - it's hard to make and maintain big lifestyle changes. What would be more effective is implementing smaller, simpler changes. So that, instead of thinking of efforts to stay healthy as bursts of unpleasant hardship shoe-horned into a foundationally unhealthy lifestyle, wellness becomes a series of commonplace pleasures that integrate into our everyday lives. You might think that's easier said than done, but now that we have an integrative health facility like Spyre, it's easier to actually achieve than it ever has been in New Orleans.  And although there's very little more daunting in the world than getting a cancer diagnosis, having access to therapeutic yoga and meditation within the course of Western medicine makes the treatment more bearable and ultimately the cure more possible. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at NOLA Pizza in the NOLA Brewing Taproom. You can see photos from this show by Jill Lafleur at itsneworleans.com      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The Future of Pain Medicine, Is It Surgical?" by “Sisi” Siyun Xie, MD, Anesthesiology Resident, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Taif Mukhdomi, MD, Tri-Institutional Pain Fellow, New York, New York; and Yashar Eshraghi, MD, Pain Research Medical Director, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, Louisiana. From ASRA Pain Medicine News, May 2022. See original article at www.asra.com/asra-news for figures and references. This material is copyrighted.          

This episode features Warner Thomas, President and CEO at Ochsner Health System. Here, he expands on the history and growth of Ochsner Health System, technological innovations in digital health, Ochsner's continued health equity research, and more.

As we gear up for May's Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Nigel Girgrah, Chief Wellness Officer at Ochsner Health System, discusses strategies for creating a culture of well-being at your health care organization – including addressing mental health stigma, building a strong EAP program, employing an opt out vs opt in approach, and encouraging leadership to be vulnerable about their own burnout struggles.

This episode features Warner Thomas, President and CEO at Ochsner Health System. Here, he expands on the history and growth of Ochsner Health System, technological innovations in digital health, Ochsner's continued health equity research, and more.

"Find a Whole New World at the Golden Gates" by Maged Guirguis, System Chair, Department of Interventional Pain Management, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, Louisiana. From ASRA News, November 2021. See original article at www.asra.com/asra-news for figures and references. This material is copyrighted.   

Marketing and communications executives from leading health care systems across the country have been working together to compare their resource allocation to true peers. With a steering committee including Cleveland Clinic, Ochsner Health System, Intermountain Healthcare and SHSMD, benchmarking data has been gathered through the use of a tool that allows participants to compare themselves to similar organizations of all types and sizes. Aggregate benchmarking results of over 50 participants across 3 years of the study will be shared.SHSMD Connections 2021 Virtual runs October 19-21. Register today!

"Regenerative Therapies for Arthritis: Mechanisms of Analgesia," by Thomas Buchheit, MD, Director of Regenerative Pain Therapies, Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University and Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina; and Yashar Eshraghi, MD, Medical Director of Pain Research, Ochsner Health System, University of Queensland Ochsner Medical School, New Orleans, Louisiana. From ASRA News, August 2021. See original article at www.asra.com/asra-news for figures and references. This material is copyrighted.   

This episode features Regine Villain, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Network & Chief Supply Chain Officer at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses bringing manufacturing closer to home, their plan to become more vertically integrated as a supply chain, and more.

Nadia de la Houssaye, partner at the Jones Walker law firm, joined us to discuss her career journey in law and telemedicine. Nadia chairs the firm's telemedicine team and is co-leader of their healthcare litigation team. She works with hospitals, health systems, providers, and start-up companies to structure and integrate telemedicine, telehealth, and digital health platforms. Her passion for the expansion and growth of telemedicine began in 1997 when she and Dr. Tom Vreeland launched one of Louisiana's first teleradiology networks. At that time, internet access was offered mainly through analog services which were incredibly slow by today's standards; she had to get a high-speed T1 line installed to be able to offer the technology. Her interest in telemedicine predated teleradiology, and in fact, her fascination with technology began when she was a young girl and watched the Apollo 11 moon landing. And then, she happened to marry a radiologist (Dr. Tom Vreeland) who wanted to start a teleradiology practice. He was the first person she met who also had the same interests as she did. Nadia recalled how back when Dr. Vreeland worked at UMC (now UHC), "there were boxes and boxes of x-rays sitting at all hospitals, not just UHC. There was a shortage of radiologists, and back then people didn't read films 24/7. There was no sense of urgency even if the patient being treated had cancer or a stroke. Today, everyone wants things done in “real-time” and people expect quick results from tests. The standard of care has evolved with the evolution of technological advances. Their teleradiology company, Nighthawk, had offices in Australia and Germany as well as the U. S., all with American trained physicians who were licensed in every state in the U. S. The company could provide 24 hour a day readings with radiologists working throughout different time zones. By the time the company went public in 2004, technology had advanced to where the transmission was almost instantaneous. Everyone recognized that with technology, better care was becoming available to patients. Nadia believes that Tom Vreeland became a spearhead in the way medicine should be practiced. They were both visionaries in the field. Technology has outpaced the regulatory climate for telemedicine. Active for the past 28 years in the American Telemedicine Association which has thousands of members, Nadia was one of about 50 original members in the group. Very few people understood what they were trying to accomplish and they were called “dreamers “  The goal was to get telemedicine accepted and thereby get providers fairly reimbursed for services rendered virtually. Nadia de la Houssaye was an original member of the American Telemedicine Association. She is still active with ATA, whose mission is to work to "advance industry adoption of telehealth and virtual care, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models." With COVID, telemedicine became necessary for the masses and has become much more widely accepted. But even prior to the pandemic, advancements in telehealth, telestroke, teleICU, and telecardiology transformed the ability for rural hospitals to have access to specialists they would not otherwise have. As an example, rural patients can now get a teleneurologist online with a software app that allows the doctor to treat as if he had the ability to put his hands on the patient. CT scans are taken at the hospital and uploaded to the teleneurologist offsite. Critical time is thereby saved for the patient. The doctors can work simultaneously and effectively while treating the patient. In Louisiana, Ochsner Health System has a tremendous telehealth platform that was implemented over 15 years ago. Today, telehealth has evolved from a rare occurrence to an accepted practice that allows ...

Most women have heard of fibroids—and most women will have them—so let's talk about Fibroid Facts!  Fibroids are the most common type of non-cancerous tumors in women.  But just because they aren't cancer doesn't mean they are “benign”: they can be asymptomatic, but more often, they can cause a wide range of physical symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding and an overall reduced quality of life.     Uterine fibroids occur in more than 80% of African American women and nearly 70% of Caucasian women by the time they are 50 years old.  Fibroids are also the leading reason for hysterectomies performed in the U.S.   My guest today, Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell knows a lot about fibroids, both personally & professionally.  She is a practicing, Board-certified ob-gyn and section head of women's services at Ochsner Kenner in New Orleans. She is the Medical Director of programs with the LA Department of Health as well as an associate professor and director of the Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Uterine Fibroids.   She earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical College and completed her residency training at Ochsner Health System. She also earned a Master of Applied Science in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Additionally, she has received certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.

As the most common type of non-cancerous tumors in women of reproductive age, uterine fibroids can cause physical symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding. Additionally, uterine fibroids can take a significant toll on quality of life, relationships and intimacy, employment, and create an overall reduced quality of well-being in a patient's health. Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, Senior Site Lead and Section Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ochsner Kenner in New Orleans discusses heavy menstrual bleeding as a symptom of uterine fibroids, options in the treatment landscape, including ORIAHNN™, the first, non-surgical, oral medication developed specifically to treat heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids in premenopausal patients. She also shares how HCPs can open a dialogue with patients about their individual symptoms, lifestyle and treatment goals, and to address their concerns sooner rather than later. #UterineFibroids #ORIAHNN Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MD, MS, is a practicing ob-gyn and section head of women's services at Ochsner Kenner in New Orleans. She is the Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC) and Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review with the LA Department of Health. She is an associate professor and director of the Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Uterine Fibroids. Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell is a Board-Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and Associate Professor for Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana. She serves as the Senior Site Lead and Section Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ochsner Kenner. Additionally, she serves as the Director of Quality for Women's Services for the Ochsner Health System and is an associate professor and director of the Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Uterine Fibroids. Dr. Gillispie-Bell is also the Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative and Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review for the Louisiana Department of Health. She earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical College and completed her residency training at Ochsner Health System. She also earned a Master of Applied Science in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Additionally, she has received certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University

This episode features Kim Keene, CEO of St. Bernard Parish Hospital at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses her career journey, her thoughts on strategy, and more.

  This episode features Beth Walker, CEO of Ochsner Baptist at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses how her strategies are evolving, trends she is seeing, her top priorities, and more.

This episode features Kim Keene, CEO of St. Bernard Parish Hospital at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses her career journey, her thoughts on strategy, and more.

Sixty years ago, May 1961, President John F. Kennedy challenged the American nation in a speech to Congress, asking them to commit to “landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” Eight years later, that bold goal was realized – in July 1969 Apollo 11 landed and returned safely with a crew. President Kennedy's moonshot goal is an important reminder of courageous leadership that sets an inspiring goal that pushes us to think and achieve boldly.  That is not unlike the 10-year vision of Ochsner Health to transform the health of Louisiana, taking it from 49th out of 50 in America's Health Rankings to a ranking of 40 by 2030. As a native Louisianan, Dr. David Carmouche is committed to transforming the health outcomes of his state.  Dr. Carmouche serves as President of the Ochsner Health Network, the accountable care network of the massive Ochsner Health System. The health system is committed to a value-based strategy and its CIN has generated returns north of $100M in its value-based contract portfolio over the last few years.  In this episode, Dr. Carmouche shares meaningful lessons from his value journey covering such topics as physician leadership in the value movement, partnerships with employers, community resilience, precision medicine and social determinants of health, and Ochsner's 40 by 30 vision to transform health in the state. Episode Bookmarks: 04:00 Dr. Carmouche's leadership purview (and reflections from his glory days on the gridiron???) 07:20 Dr. Carmouche speaks to the national pursuit to value-based payment and looming Medicare insolvency 09:10 The experimentation phase of value-based care and the next-level commitment to pursue the most viable APMs 10:10 Subsidizing government contracts (Medicare, Medicaid) with commercial payers to spot margin and why that is no longer tenable 12:00 Dr. Carmouche discusses the financial results of Ochsner's value-based contract portfolio 13:00 Board-level and CEO commitment to value as a strategy for population health and long-term economic success 13:25 Investment in care capabilities and realignment of incentives within large employed physician group as keys to success 14:10 The ‘muscle memory' of owning a health plan and how that created orientation to risk at Ochsner 14:40 The importance of leadership in driving success in value-based payment with improved outcomes in patient communities 15:45 The three verticals of Ochsner Health's business:  Care Delivery, Risk Operations and Insurance, and Digital Services 16:30 How Ochsner Health manages fee-for-service dependency in its legacy business model with its commitment to value 19:10 Building partnerships with insurance brokers and fully-insured employers to support appropriate steerage and drive cost savings 21:15 Creating economic alignment with self-funded employers and the challenges of creating meaning gainshare opportunities 22:50 Negotiating care management fees with self-funded employers as in interim step to full-risk 23:30 Dr. Carmouche discusses the network agreement they reached with Wal-Mart to provide high value care for employees across Louisiana. 26:45 “From Competition to Collaboration” – Dr. Carmouche's contribution to a book that outlines the Health Ecosystem Leadership Model (HELM) 27:00 Dr. Carmouche reflects on the diverse experiences in his career that allowed him to learn about the different sectors of the healthcare ecosystem 28:15 “No one sector of the healthcare ecosystem can create significant value alone” 29:15 How an interaction with Dr. Paul Grundy inspired Dr. Carmouche to make the biggest impact possible in improving the health of Louisianans 31:00 Blending physician leadership with the business understanding of different sectors in the healthcare economy to drive value creation 34:00 How Ochsner worked to ameliorate the scourge of COVID-19 in New Orleans and lessons of community resilience from Hurric...

This episode features Beth Walker, CEO of Ochsner Baptist at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses how her strategies are evolving, trends she is seeing, her top priorities, and more.

Nigel Girgrah is the Chief Wellness Officer at Ochsner Health System where he strives to illustrate vulnerability and destigmatize mental health in the workplace. During the pandemic, there was an increase in mental health needs. While mental health isn’t anything new, leaders are constantly having to adapt to new situations and environments.  In this episode, listen as Nigel shares how he and his team prioritize mental health awareness, destigmatization, and develop resources to help their employees perform at their best.  Book Recommendations:    The Cider House Rules by John Irving 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand   Sponsor Resources Lead Authentically: Cultivate Trust Among Patients and Staff - As we begin to shift gears toward a post-pandemic world, how do we, as leaders, secure healthy solutions that strengthen healthcare workers’ resiliency? Here are five learnings from patient experience experts to support more authentic leadership in cultivating trust and improving patient experience outcomes: https://wambi.org/blog/lead-authentically-cultivate-trust-among-patients-and-staff/ Interested in continuing the discussion? Sign up to receive Wambi's newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/wambi/mailinglist-signup

This episode of Ellevate Louisiana's Engage Videocast features a panel discussion on how women's career paths have been impacted and how COVID might still have an effect on women in the workplace several years down the road. Our panelists include Libbie Sonnier, Executive Director of Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, Ava DeJoie Cates, Secretary of Louisiana Workforce Commission, and Missy Sparks, VP of Talent Management at Ochsner Health System. A special thank you to the National Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah and the Jewish Endowment of Louisiana for putting on this presentation along with Ellevate Louisiana.

Yvette Quantz, Ochsner Health System's Eat Fit Acadiana Operations and Marketing Dietitian, joined Discover Lafayette to talk about her lifelong commitment to helping others live in a state of health. Her philosophy is pretty simple: when people feel well on the inside, they can live and work well in their community. Eat Fit is a statewide, nonprofit initiative of Ochsner designed to help the community live their healthiest, strongest lives possible that started with Molly Kimball, a registered dietitian with Ochsner Fitness Center, who set out to take the guesswork out of dining out healthfully, to make the healthy choice the easy choice. In 2013, Kimball and her team collaborated with some of the most iconic restaurants in the New Orleans region to create Ochsner Eat Fit, a program that encourages chefs to offer nutritious, delicious meals for those who want to eat clean, watch their weight, and manage diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol. In a land of "decadent food," there is a great need to provide diners with information that allows them to eat delicious food with a better idea of what they are actually consuming. With the support of funding in 2018 by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, Eat Fit has expanded throughout Louisiana and Yvette Quantz serves as a proud member of the Acadiana team. Eat Fit is now operating in New Orleans, Northshore, Baton Rouge, Acadiana, Monroe, and Shreveport. Over 500 Eat Fit partners exist statewide and the numbers are growing. Anyone can download the Eat Fit App for free at https://www.ochsner.org/eat-fit The team of Eat Fit collaborates as a free service with local chefs and community leaders to increase awareness and improve access to healthy food options in Acadiana that meet the Eat Fit nutritional criteria. Eat Fit doesn't promote "diets" per se with strict management of calories but instead encourages people to make choices that are essential for a healthy life. So don't look for guidance on the latest fad diets; the nutritionists are more focused on how to assist restaurants in bringing food to the table that are healthy for you, without overloading patrons with foods that are high in sodium, animal fats, or added sugars. Rather than following a restrictive regimen, Eat Fit encourages a way to fuel your body with delicious foods that are prepared in a way to sustain good health. The Eat Fit App provides resources for local, locally-owned restaurants based upon zip code that offer healthy choices, as well as recipes, events in the community, and downloadable grocery guides to help you as you shop. At the start of LENT, Eat Fit launched an Alcohol-Free for 40 challenge that is inspiring people across the region to give up libations for 40 or so days and see firsthand the amazing health benefits they will experience. The challenge presented by Ochsner General Healths Eat Fit: Give up alcohol completely from Ash Wednesday through Easter. Participants paid $25 to receive in-depth pre- and post-challenge metrics including labs, body composition analysis, weight, blood pressure, and before-and-after photos to get a better idea of the impacts of alcohol on their wellness. This is the sixth year of the annual challenge to encourage people to make healthy choices during Lent and be inspired to make lifelong better choices. Ochsner General Health Systems Eat Fit - Acadiana is a supporting member of Healthy Acadiana. So many of our young people test as overweight or obese and the coalition works to change the mindset of food choices made by our local population. It brings together businesses and individuals to get out awareness of best practices in diet and exercise. Getting outside of our own food needs, we can also be more mindful when we make choices on what to donate to local food pantries. Rather than feeling good about donating from the back of your pantry while cleaning out expired canned goods,

This episode features Régine Villain, Vhief Supply Chain Officer and Senior Vice President at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses supply chain strategies for the COVID-19 vaccine, her career journey, and more.

This episode features Régine Villain, Chief Supply Chain Officer and Senior Vice President at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses supply chain strategies for the COVID-19 vaccine, her career journey, and more.

In this episode of Fireside Chat, we sit down with Warner Thomas, President and CEO, Ochsner Health System to discuss how a greater organizational scale allowed a more efficient response to COVID and the continued growth and development of regional health systems. We also talked about key issues in healthcare like affordability, the next generation leaders of health systems, and the importance of digitization and scientific innovation for the future.

This episode features Kim Keene, CEO of St. Bernard Parish Hospital at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses her best advice for other leaders, the impact the recent hurricanes have had on their operations, and more.

This episode features Kim Keene, CEO of St. Bernard Parish Hospital at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses her best advice for other leaders, the impact the recent hurricanes have had on their operations, and more.

This episode features John Herman, CEO of the Northshore Region at Ochsner Health System. Here, he discusses his best advice for other leaders, his top priorities in the coming months, and more.

What’s it like on the inside? Carlos Calix is the Assistant Vice President of Business Development at Ochsner Health System. After spending many years on the commercial side of the device world, his current role from inside the hospital has given him a whole new perspective. Hear how his sales style has changed and find out how you can overcome the obstacles of dealing with committees, purchasing agents, and professional buyers.  In this episode, you’ll learn: How understanding the hospital’s process can increase your sales success The importance of aligning with the hospital’s departmental goals Why approaching an integrated health network today is different than several months ago Ways to avoid adversarial sales by sitting on the same side of the table as your customer How working with the supply chain can bring in the next generation of product Plus, find out how you can take advantage of a free predictive index behavior assessment of your sales style to see where you might be misaligned. Resources and links from the show: Connect with Carlos Calix on LinkedIn Connect with Zed Williamson on LinkedIn Connect with Clark Weiderhold on LinkedIn The Behavior Change Blueprint Socialize with Ochsner Health System LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

This episode features Beth Walker, CEO of Ochsner Baptist at Ochsner Health System. Here, she discusses her best advice for emerging leaders, what she’s seeing in Louisiana regarding COVID-19, and more.

It's not surprising that the advent of a rampant, contagious, deadly virus is changing the way we live. What perhaps is surprising, is the speed with which we've adapted to our new way of life. And the way we've put technology to work for us. One of the most surprising of these changes has been the almost overnight embrace of telemedicine. If you haven't already experienced it, telemedicine is where you have a virtual visit with your doctor. You're at home, your doctor is at the clinic, and you're having a video conference, on an app on your phone. Telemedicine has been around for a while, but the Covid 19 pandemic has seen it ramp way up. For example, on Ochsner Health System's telemedicine app, on March 2nd they had 39 visits. A month later, on April 2nd, they had 2,700. The System Chair of Telemedicine and Digital Health at Ochsner Health System is Dr David Houghton. The other major technological adoption during the Covid era has been our newfound love of delivery. Before Covid, you might not have gotten food delivered from a restaurant. But there's a good chance you do now. If you own a restaurant, and you always thought delivery was just for second-rate fast food, well, there's a good chance you don't think that way anymore. Delivery has been a lifesaver for restaurants during the pandemic. From the first days when they had to close completely, through the 25% and 50% occupancy restrictions, delivery has been another revenue stream for everybody, including the most unlikely, like Dickie Brennan's and Sylvain in the French Quarter. These kinds of restaurants don't want to mess with Uber Eats, or even Waitr. Instead a lot of local restaurants – over 250 – prefer a specialized local delivery service, called d'Livery NOLA.  The owner of d'Livery NOLA is Drew Herrington. Photos from this show by Jill Lafleur are at our website. Here's some more conversation about food delivery and telemedicine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch a recording of our webinar with Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Shaun Setty. After studying for many years at schools such as the Medical College of Ohio, the Oregon Health and Science University, and the University of Minnesota Medical School, Dr. Setty quickly landed a job at Ochsner Health System as a Congenital Heart surgeon for both […] The post Virtual Student Experiences Podcast Episode #12 – Medical Spotlight with Shaun Setty appeared first on Virtual Student Experiences.

Wherever you live in Louisiana, or anywhere in the US for that matter, you might have noticed something has changed in your local supermarket, in offices, and even in airports and hotels. That something is, Plexiglass. Those giant sheets of plexiglass that now stand between you and the person on the other side of a counter are called Sneeze Guards. Have you wondered where they suddenly all came from? Peter Seltzer has laser cutters that he uses to make paper products at his company, Pete's Papercrafts. When Covid came along, Peter switched from paper to plexiglass, and started making face shields and sneeze guards. Peter started out by making over 13,000 face shields for members of the Ochsner Health System. That alone would be an extraordinary accomplishment, if it was the whole story. But it's barely the beginning. Peter has gone on to make thousands of plexiglass sneeze guards. And the reason that Peter knew about the initial PPE shortage is because, as well as being a successful entrepreneur, he's also a paramedic, and founder and Director of a paramedic training program for high school kids, called Gateway EMS Training. Hotel One of the local business sectors that has been hardest hit by the pandemic is tourism. Jim Cook is uniquely familiar with all aspects of the leisure and convention tourist industry. Jim is General Manager of the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans. He's also a commissioner of the Downtown Development District in New Orleans, a past Chairman of the Board of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, and past President of the Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association. When the tourist and convention business came to a sudden halt in March, it brought into stark relief just how dependent New Orleans has become on tourism. At some point the city seems to have crossed an unseen boundary. New Orleans used to be a place that people came to, just to experience everyday life. For a few days a person from somewhere else could eat, shop, drink, and listen to music like a New Orleanian. Now we discover that some of New Orleans most revered institutions – from famous restaurants to the French Quarter itself – can't survive without a steady stream of tourists. There are, apparently, other tourism business models that target specific types of tourists, not just high volume. The question New Orleans faces now is, Is there a way to retain a tourist and convention sector that doesn't rely on 19 million tourists a year? Photos from this by Jill Lafleur are on our website. There's more conversation about tourism here.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wherever you live in Louisiana, or anywhere in the US for that matter, you might have noticed something has changed in your local supermarket, in offices, and even in airports and hotels. That something is, plexiglass. Those giant sheets of plexiglass that now stand between you and the person on the other side of a counter are called Sneeze Guards. Have you wondered where they suddenly all came from? Peter Seltzer has laser cutters that he uses to make paper products at his company, Pete's Papercrafts. When Covid came along, Peter switched from paper to plexiglass, and started making face shields and sneeze guards. Peter started out by making over 13,000 face shields for members of the Ochsner Health System. That alone would be an extraordinary accomplishment, if it was the whole story. But it's barely the beginning. Peter has gone on to make thousands of plexiglass sneeze guards. And the reason that Peter knew about the initial PPE shortage is because, as well as being a successful entrepreneur, he's also a paramedic, and founder and Director of a paramedic training program for high school kids, called Gateway EMS Training. Hotel One of the local business sectors that has been hardest hit by the pandemic is tourism. Jim Cook is uniquely familiar with all aspects of the leisure and convention tourist industry. Jim is General Manager of the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans. He's also a commissioner of the Downtown Development District in New Orleans, a past Chairman of the Board of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, and past President of the Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association. When the tourist and convention business came to a sudden halt in March, it brought into stark relief just how dependent New Orleans has become on tourism. At some point the city seems to have crossed an unseen boundary. New Orleans used to be a place that people came to, just to experience everyday life. For a few days a person from somewhere else could eat, shop, drink, and listen to music like a New Orleanian. Now we discover that some of New Orleans most revered institutions – from famous restaurants to the French Quarter itself – can't survive without a steady stream of tourists. There are, apparently, other tourism business models that target specific types of tourists, not just high volume. The question New Orleans faces now is, Is there a way to retain a tourist and convention sector that doesn't rely on 19 million tourists a year? Photos from this by Jill Lafleur are on our website. There's more conversation about tourism here.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wherever you live in Louisiana, or anywhere in the US for that matter, you might have noticed something has changed in your local supermarket, in offices, and even in airports and hotels. That something is, Plexiglass. Those giant sheets of plexiglass that now stand between you and the person on the other side of a counter are called Sneeze Guards. Have you wondered where they suddenly all came from? Peter Seltzer has laser cutters that he uses to make paper products at his company, Pete's Papercrafts. When Covid came along, Peter switched from paper to plexiglass, and started making face shields and sneeze guards. Peter started out by making over 13,000 face shields for members of the Ochsner Health System. That alone would be an extraordinary accomplishment, if it was the whole story. But it's barely the beginning. Peter has gone on to make thousands of plexiglass sneeze guards. And the reason that Peter knew about the initial PPE shortage is because, as well as being a successful entrepreneur, he's also a paramedic, and founder and Director of a paramedic training program for high school kids, called Gateway EMS Training. Hotel One of the local business sectors that has been hardest hit by the pandemic is tourism. Jim Cook is uniquely familiar with all aspects of the leisure and convention tourist industry. Jim is General Manager of the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans. He's also a commissioner of the Downtown Development District in New Orleans, a past Chairman of the Board of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, and past President of the Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association. When the tourist and convention business came to a sudden halt in March, it brought into stark relief just how dependent New Orleans has become on tourism. At some point the city seems to have crossed an unseen boundary. New Orleans used to be a place that people came to, just to experience everyday life. For a few days a person from somewhere else could eat, shop, drink, and listen to music like a New Orleanian. Now we discover that some of New Orleans most revered institutions – from famous restaurants to the French Quarter itself – can't survive without a steady stream of tourists. There are, apparently, other tourism business models that target specific types of tourists, not just high volume. The question New Orleans faces now is, Is there a way to retain a tourist and convention sector that doesn't rely on 19 million tourists a year? Photos from this by Jill Lafleur are on our website. There's more conversation about tourism here.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back when we first started making Out to Lunch in New Orleans, one of our earliest guests was a young woman by the name of Amy Chenevert. Amy had gone to a football game and realized that all the guys were wearing fan fashion, but there was nothing fashionable for women to wear on game day. So Amy started up a company that made gameday apparel for women sports fans. That was back in 2007. During the 2019 football season, a new piece of women's sports apparel started popping up. If you don't have one yourself, you've probably seen someone wearing it. It's a sparkly, sequined sports jacket, in appropriate Saints, Tigers, and other team colors. That sparkly jacket marked Amy Chenevert's return to sports fashion. After taking some time away from her business, Amy is back at the head of her company, Tru Colors Gameday. The company makes fashion items specifically for women to wear and take to the game on game day, centered on a very specific NFL women's fashion accessory, the clear bag.  Game Day Every Day the New Orleans Saints, the LSU Tigers, and every other successful sports team know how to go out on the field and win. Everybody knows their position. Everybody knows the rules. Everybody on the team knows exactly what to do. But they still have a coach. You can't even imagine a football team without a coach. When an organization with a lot of moving parts is dependent on communication and on-the-fly decision making, it makes sense to have someone who can stand back and see the big picture. Which is why businesses have coaches too. Like Julie Couret. The companies Julie coaches are an impressive list that include GE, the Marriot, Sheraton, Entergy, Ochsner Health System, and many others. Recently the question for a lot of businesses has gone from, “When will things get back to normal?” to “How do we survive if things never go back to normal?” Julie imparts a great deal of wisdom for businesses coping with Covid in this conversation. Photos from this show by Jill Lafleur are at our website. More conversation about the future of the NFL season with Saints CFO Ed Lang is here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Kristal Walker, CPTM, director of organizational development at Guitar Center, and Alycia Angle, senior talent management consultant at Ochsner Health System, share their career journeys so far, with takeaways for training professionals.