HJNO May/Jun 2020

36 MAY / JUN 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS   Healthcare Briefs individuals who fall through the cracks of the healthcare system.” DCHC employs usage of a Medical Home Model that aims to treat patients holistically. Upon the expansion of Medicaid by Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2016, more patients were able to visit DCHC’s health centers, and other centers. “Once patients become a part of our system, we’re able to address any of their healthcare needs, including medical, dental, vision, behav- ioral health, podiatry, and pharmaceutical,” said Griffin. “The fight against COVID-19 is far from over. Thankfully, due to the expansion of Med- icaid in Louisiana, thousands of individuals who previously didn’t visit a healthcare provider were able to, and learned of health conditions that they were previously unaware they had.” The COVID-19 virus prompted DCHC to change much of its delivery of services via tele- health. However, eight of its 10 health centers remain open to take care of basic healthcare needs. “Now, more than ever, is a great time for the healthcare industry to assist persons with uncov- ering any underlying health conditions given the severity with which COVID-19 continues to rav- age our community,” said Griffin. “More sup- port is needed for community healthcare cen- ters because of our unique mission to deliver healthcare to underserved populations.” LSUHealth NewOrleans Medical Grads Support COVID-19 Response Forty-six percent, or 86 of 186 LSU Health New Orleans graduating medical students partici- pating in the National Resident Match Program this year, chose to remain in Louisiana to com- plete their medical training. Eighty-one percent of those staying in-state will enter an LSU Health residency program. The LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine residency programs in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Bogalusa will accept 229 new residents. “The current public health crisis emphasizes the critical value of medical and graduate medical education and training,” noted Dr. Larry Hollier, chancellor of LSU Health New Orleans. “These soon-to-be physicians will play a large role in the delivery of medical care here in Louisiana. Since we had to suspend their clinical duties to con- serve personal protective equipment and reduce their chances or being exposed to the virus, we are working to organize other ways for them to contribute to the response to the pandemic. These include telephone screening of patients and providing support to our faculty physicians and residents on duty working long hours in our partner hospitals.” “Match Day this year was an entirely different experience for our fourth-year medical students and their families,” added Dr. Steve Nelson, dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans. “The excitement of reaching this milestone has been tempered by this unprece- dented health crisis. We could not hold a cer- emony, so our medical graduates received their letters electronically. They privately celebrated the news of where they will go to complete their medical training, and we are pleased that about half of them will stay right here at home.” LSU Health New Orleans medical graduates who matched training programs in other states will be going to such highly regarded programs as Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Emory University, the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Washing- ton University in St. Louis, University of Michigan, and Duke, among others. DePaul Community Health Centers Offer Diabetes Prevention Program DePaul Community Health Centers (DCHC, for- merly known as Daughters of Charity Health Cen- ters), for nearly five years, has offered a diabe- tes prevention program to its patients who are deemed diabetics and pre-diabetics. Participants aim to reduce their body weight by seven percent and increase physical activity to at least 150 min- utes per week, and participate in educational ses- sions on diabetes, nutrition, stress management, and techniques for overcoming barriers. “As the saying goes—when people know bet- ter, they do better,” said Michael G. Griffin, pres- ident/CEO of DCHC and Ascension DePaul Services. “African Americans comprise a large percentage of the program’s participants. Dia- betes adversely impacts many people in New Orleans, and ranks as a major contributor of kid- ney failure, limb amputations, and new cases of blindness.” Initiatives like DCHC’s Diabetes Prevention Pro- gram represent only one of the keys to improving health outcomes for African Americans in Louisi- ana and nationwide, who are dying at an alarming rate from the COVID-19 virus. Many of these indi- viduals suffered from various underlying health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, The CIS Virtual Care Center offers 24/7 cardiovascular care for CIS patients using telemedicine and virtual visits via phone and video calls.