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NOV / DEC 2013
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Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS
Dermatology Clinic, 11th floor, 1514 Jefferson
Highway, New Orleans and will be available for
same day appointments.
Dr. Ploch earned her Bachelor of Science and
Master of Education degrees at Vanderbilt Univer-
sity in Nashville, Tenn. She received her medical
degree and completed her residency inDermatol-
ogy at Tulane School of Medicine inNewOrleans.
She is board-eligible in dermatology.
St. Charles Surgical Hospital
Receives National Nod
The AmericanCollege of SurgeonsNational Surgi-
cal Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®)
has recognized St. Charles Surgical Hospital as
one of 37 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals that
have achieved meritorious outcomes for surgi-
cal patient care. As a participant in ACS NSQIP, St.
Charles Surgical Hospital is required to track the
outcomes of inpatient andoutpatient surgical pro-
cedures andcollect data that directs patient safety
and the quality of surgical care improvements.
The ACSNSQIP recognition programcommends
a select group of hospitals for achieving merito-
rious outcome performances related to patient
management in nine clinical areas: mortality,
unplanned intubation, ventilator > 48 hours,
renal failure, DVT (deep vein thrombosis, throm-
bophlebitis and pulmonary embolism); cardiac
incidents (cardiac arrest and myocardial infarc-
tion); respiratory (pneumonia); SSI (surgical site
infections-superficial and deep incisional and
organ-space SSIs); and urinary tract infection. St.
Charles Surgical Hospital achieved the distinc-
tion based on its outstanding composite quality
score in the nine areas listed above. Risk-adjusted
data from the July 2013 ACS NSQIP Semiannual
Report, which presents data from the 2012 calen-
dar year, were used to determinewhich hospitals
demonstrated meritorious outcomes
ACS NSQIP is the only nationally validated
quality improvement program that measures
and enhances the care of surgical patients. The
goal of ACS NSQIP is to reduce surgical morbidity
(infection or illness related to a surgical proce-
dure) and surgical mortality (death related to a
surgical procedure) and to provide a firm foun-
dation for surgeons to apply what is known as
the “best scientific evidence” to the practice of
surgery. Furthermore, when adverse effects from
surgical procedures are reduced and/or elimi-
nated, a reduction in healthcare costs follows.
ACS NSQIP is a major program of the American
College of Surgeons and is currently used in over
500 hospitals.
Ochsner Receives Highest
Nursing Credential
OchsnerMedical Center has attained its thirdMag-
net® recognition as part of the American Nurses
CredentialingCenter’s (ANCC)Magnet Recognition
Program®. This voluntary credentialing program
for hospitals recognizes excellence innursing. This
credential is thehighest honor anorganizationcan
receive for professional nursing practice.
Magnet recognition has become the gold stan-
dard for nursing excellence and is taken into con-
sideration when the public judges healthcare
organizations. In fact,
U.S. News &World Report’s
annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals”
includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria
for quality of inpatient care.
To achieve initial Magnet recognition, organiza-
tions must pass a rigorous and lengthy process
that demands widespread participation from
leadership and staff. The process begins with
the submission of an electronic application, fol-
lowed by written documentation demonstrat-
ing qualitative and quantitative evidence regard-
ing patient care and outcomes. If scores from
the written documentation fall within a range
of excellence, an on-site visit will occur to thor-
oughly assess the applicant. After this rigorous
onsite reviewprocess, the Commission onMagnet
will review the completed appraisal report and
vote to determine whether Magnet recognition
will be granted.
An organization seeking to reapply for Magnet
recognitionmust provide documented evidence
of howMagnet concepts, performance, and qual-
ity were sustained and improved over the four-
year period since the hospital received its most
recent recognition.
In particular, the Magnet model is designed
to provide a framework for nursing practice,
research, and measurement of outcomes.
Through this framework, ANCC can assess appli-
cants across a number of components and
dimensions to gauge an organization’s nursing
excellence. The foundation of this model is com-
posed of various elements deemed essential to
delivering superior patient care. These include
the quality of nursing leadership and coordina-
tion and collaboration across specialties, as well
as processes for measuring and improving the
quality and delivery of care.
Holtman Named HR VP at STPH
St. Tammany Parish Hospital announced that
Jean Holtman has been named the hospital’s
vice president of human resources.
Previously, Holtman was associate vice presi-
dent of workforce management at Tulane Uni-
versity. Her professional experience also includes
employment at Boston Children’s Hospital, Tufts-
NewEnglandMedical Center, and theMassachu-
setts Institute of Technology.
Holtman is an alumna of Emmanuel College in
Bostonwhere she received baccalaureate degree
in economics and mathematics. She received a
master of business administration from Pepper-
dine University (Houston).
North Oaks Helps Explore
Healthcare Careers
North Oaks Health Systemand the Boy Scouts of
America are offering students, ages 14-20, with an
interest in healthcare as a career, the opportunity
to join Medical Explorers Post 940.
Post 940 enables high school and college stu-
dents to “explore” at a career fair where many
types of medical professionals talk about what
their work is really like. In addition, Medical
Explorers have the opportunity to observe in
North Oaks facilities during school holidays.
From left
Lauren Ploch, MD, joins Ochsner Medical
Center staff. Jean Holtman named Vice President of
Human Resources at St. Tammany Parish Hospital.