brhd1

Enhancing Health District Infrastructure--RFP for Project Management

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:57:10 GMT

RFP Amended November 2025

The Baton Rouge Health District is seeking an agency or vendor(s) to perform the post approval project/grant administration services and construction management services for a newly awarded federal construction project through the Economic Development Administration. R.E.A.C.H. (Regional Economic Acceleration through Coordinated Health Infrastructure) Gateway Infrastructure Enhancement Project is a $3.4 million federal construction grant aimed at infrastructure upgrades in the Health District such as improved signage, intersection enhancements, and monument gateways.

To achieve the objectives of this project, BRHD is seeking a firm(s) or vendor(s) with experience in federal construction grants and compliance to manage the project/grant administration services and/or A/E services for R.E.A.C.H . The firm(s) or companies will be competitively procured and selected in accordance with the procurement standards set forth in 2 CFR Part 200, and according to the EDA publication "Summary of Construction Standards". Additional characteristics include:

Familiar with federal compliance, standards, limitations
Knowledgeable in Economic Development Administration requirements and practices
Competent in federal procurement practices
Experienced in federal reports, project management and construction management
Must be collaborative in nature.

RFP Details

Click here to view the full RFP, timeline, and submission details. The RFP will be opened on October 1, 2025 . The RFP was amended November 2025. We invite qualified consultants and firms to submit proposals by the new deadline of November 21, 2025 . We anticipate awarding a Program/Grant Administration contract and/or and an Architect/Engineer contract to a selected vendor no later than December 19, 2025. A reference packet with additional terms and conditions and supporting materials is available upon request. For more information, contact Katie Pritchett at katie.pritchett@brhealthdistrict.com .

Baton Rouge Health District Awarded $2 Million to Strengthen Local Healthcare Workforce

Steven.Ceulemans@brhealthdistrict.com (Steven Ceulemans) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 15:01:36 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA – The Baton Rouge Health District has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Health's Health Care Employment Reinvestment Opportunity (H.E.R.O.) Fund, along with $1 million in matching contributions from local partners, to expand its BRHireD regional workforce initiative, focused on addressing critical healthcare staffing shortages in the Capital Region. This combined $2 million investment is the largest state-funded project for the Baton Rouge Health District to date, supporting an unprecedented regional coalition of 14 partners including 5 regional health systems, 2 community colleges, and 6 community organizations. It marks a significant step forward in strengthening the region's healthcare talent ecosystem and economic future.

According to the most recent 2024 Louisiana Workforce Development Report by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the healthcare sector remains the largest employer in Louisiana – employing 319,549 people, with an expected growth rate of over 8% in the next decade. Employment projections from the same report predict one of the largest numbers of 15,818 job openings will be for medical assistants, the occupation primarily targeted by the BRHireD Program. Over the next 24 months, BRHireD will recruit, train, and place 100 new nursing support professionals into jobs at Baton Rouge's leading hospitals—addressing one of the community's most pressing needs: the shortage of qualified healthcare professionals.

Health Education and Workforce is one of the primary focus areas for the Baton Rouge Health District. The BRHireD H.E.R.O. project will build on an ongoing employer-driven health workforce coalition developed by the Health District, as well as ongoing shared workforce recruitment efforts between area health institutions. "This investment is about more than job training; it is about building a stronger, healthier Baton Rouge through collaboration and synergy," said Steven Ceulemans, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Health District. "We are working as a regional coalition of 14 H.E.R.O. partners to take action on one of the most prominent challenges faced by our area hospitals: the need for human capital."

"This investment is about more than job training; it is about building a stronger, healthier Baton Rouge through collaboration and synergy. We are working as a regional coalition of 14 H.E.R.O. partners to take action on one of the most prominent challenges faced by our area hospitals: the need for human capital."

Steven Ceulemans

President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Health District

How the BRHireD Program Works:

Free Education and Training: The program will fund tuition for 100 local residents to complete Medical Assistant programs at Baton Rouge Community College and River Parishes Community College.
Support Services for Student Success: In partnership with community-based organizations including Capital Area United Way 2-1-1, case management will be provided to help participants overcome common barriers like childcare, transportation, and financial hardship.
Stipends and Incentives: Financial support will be provided throughout the program to help participants stay enrolled and transition successfully into the workforce.
Committed Employer Partners: Five major hospitals—Bato n Rouge General, Our Lady of the Lake, Ochsner Baton Rouge, Woman's Hospital, and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center—have committed to hiring and supporting program graduates.

Community funding partners include Louisiana Blue Foundation, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation, Capital Area United Way, and the City of Baton Rouge, along with matching contributions and support from the Baton Rouge Health District and its hospital members.

"This initiative gives Baton Rouge area residents a clear path to enter successful careers in healthcare," said Chris Meyer, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Chair of the Baton Rouge Health District Board. "It also helps streamline the pipeline for local hospitals to hire the talent they need to continue delivering quality care to the community."

By expanding the pipeline of trained healthcare workers, BRHireD will reduce pressure on overburdened hospital staff, improve patient care, and build long-term capacity for Baton Rouge's healthcare system. The program also lays the foundation for future expansion into healthcare career ladder opportunities, as well as other high-need healthcare roles. “This initiative tackles today’s urgent staffing shortages while creating a long-term framework for collaboration with our region’s leading healthcare providers,” said Michael Tipton, President of the Louisiana Blue Foundation. “It’s a smart, strategic investment that supports both our clinical partners and the future of healthcare in Baton Rouge.”

BRHireD is actively recruiting talent. In addition to completing a two-semester training program, ideal candidates are willing to work on-site in healthcare settings, perform both administrative and clinical tasks, and take pride in caring for and helping others. If you would like to learn more, please complete the interest form at https://www.brhealthdistrict.com/brhired-interest-form .

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a place-based health collaborative that delivers health and economic development benefits to its partners, community, and beyond. This nonprofit coalition includes healthcare providers, government agencies, educational institutions, and research centers working together towards a shared vision of a high-performing destination for healthcare at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. The District leads regional initiatives like BRHireD to align community efforts, improve access to care, and build a more sustainable healthcare workforce for the Capital Region. To learn more about the Baton Rouge Health District, visit the website at https://www.brhealthdistrict.com/

About the H.E.R.O. Fund

Established in 2021 and updated with Louisiana State HB 329 (Act 607) in 2024, the Healthcare Employment Reinvestment Opportunity (H.E.R.O.) Fund provides matching grants to universities, technical colleges, healthcare systems, hospitals, agencies and associations working to grow the healthcare pipeline in Louisiana. The H.E.R.O. Fund is currently administered by the Louisiana Department of Health, it recently awarded $7 million in matching grants to 22 projects across the state of Louisiana. BRHireD is the largest of four awards in the Baton Rouge Region.

###

$3.4 Million Investment in Baton Rouge Health District Gateway Enhancements

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 22:14:29 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA — The U.S. Department of Commerce, via its Economic Development Administration (E.D.A.), announced a significant $4.4 million investment in Louisiana's infrastructure. This allocation is geared towards strengthening the areas recently affected by disasters. A significant portion will be directed to the Baton Rouge Health District, in collaboration with Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, for vital enhancements.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo confirmed awarding a $2.72 million E.D.A. grant to the Baton Rouge Health District. The Baton Rouge Health District will direct this funding towards crucial infrastructure upgrades as part of the R.E.A.C.H. Gateway Infrastructure Enhancement Project (Regional Economic Acceleration through Coordinated Health Infrastructure). These upgrades, including improved signage and intersection enhancements, are essential for supporting business growth. Along with an additional $680,000 in local funds, provided in-part by both the City-Parish and the Health District, the total investment in the project reaches $3.4 million.

Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director of the Baton Rouge Health District, highlighted the project's significance: “The R.E.A.C.H. project is not just an investment in infrastructure, it's about creating a welcoming gateway to our district, enhancing its visual identity and resilience. This initiative is our largest federally funded project to date and is a key component in realizing our vision of Baton Rouge as a world-class health destination at the heart of a vibrant community.”

The Baton Rouge Health District, comprising a coalition of prominent health-related institutions, is at the forefront of the R.E.A.C.H. initiative within a significant 1,200-acre area in the heart of Baton Rouge. This initiative is focused on augmenting the healthcare district into a destination that is not only resilient to future challenges but also inclusive and conducive to economic growth and vitality.

Some illustrations of the envisioned types of streetscaping and wayfinding enhancements are provided. Primary gateway junctions to receive enhancement treatments include the I-10 interstate approach to Essen Blvd; I- 10 interstate approach to Bluebonnet Blvd; I-10 interstate approach to Ochsner-The Grove; Perkins Rd/Quail Dr; and Perkins Rd/Essen Blvd.

Mayor Broome expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration: “In partnership with the Baton Rouge Health District, my administration has allocated $350,000 of MOVEBR funds to the R.E.A.C.H. project. This strategic investment will not only beautify intersections but also prioritize pedestrian and bicycle safety. It’s a crucial step in fortifying the economic impact and resilience of the Health District,” said Mayor Broome.

Funded by the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023, these projects benefit from the E.D.A.'s additional $483 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance Program funds. These funds address recovery in areas declared major disaster zones in 2021 and 2022 due to events like Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo remarked, "E.D.A.'s role is pivotal in aiding communities to recover from natural disasters and adapt to climate changes. We're committed to supporting Baton Rouge and West Monroe in their mission to provide growth-supporting infrastructure."

NIH Grant for Baton Rouge Health District Research Data Collaborative

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:20:39 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA — A recent $1.3 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be used in-part to establish a Baton Rouge Health District Research Data Collaborative, to support the efforts of regional healthcare institutions to share health data for research purposes across a common structure.

“Coalition building among our regional health and life science institutions for the betterment of community health is central to the Baton Rouge Health District,” said Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director of the Baton Rouge Health District. “I can think of no better example of this synergy than by uniting Pennington Biomedical’s world-class research strengths with the clinical expertise and information within our regional medical centers through this data collaborative.”

Created in conjunction with the Baton Rouge Health District, the new network of data warehouses will be called the Baton Rouge Health District Research Data Collaborative. It will provide secure and anonymous linkage of data from multiple sources, to enable novel research and population health insights. It will include new data resources at four Health District institutions including Our Lady of the Lake Health, Woman’s Hospital, Baton Rouge General, and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. It will also work actively with Ochsner Health, which has its own clinical data warehouse, already on a compatible framework. Built with a common structure using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources, or FHIR, standards, these warehouses will enable Baton Rouge providers and researchers to efficiently assemble data required for large-scale data projects, as well as for projects toward rare conditions.

“This grant to LA CaTS [The Louisiana Clinical & Translational Science Center] will enhance our ability to pursue research requiring large clinical databases,” said Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical and Director for LA CaTS. “This Baton Rouge area collaboration will result in Louisiana-based researchers generating new studies to pursue improved health outcomes for our residents.”

“Pennington Biomedical researchers actively collaborate with Baton Rouge area providers. This network of data warehouses is intended to make such collaborations more numerous and enable more projects directed toward specific Baton Rouge health issues. Using such a network to achieve depth of coverage across a large geographic area is innovative,” said Dr. Ronald Horswell, Associate Professor of Research - Population and Public Health at Pennington Biomedical. “Pennington Biomedical investigators have collaborated with researchers from these Baton Rouge-based healthcare partners for years, and this collaborative strengthens our ability to solve even more complex health problems.”

For the Baton Rouge Health District, this new Data Collaborative is a result from data sharing challenge goals set under the Baton Rouge Health District-- Health-Tech Catalyst program. The Health-Tech Catalyst is a regional health and life science innovation cluster initiative led by the Baton Rouge Health District in collaboration with Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, with federal support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“On behalf of Our Lady of the Lake, we are excited about what this partnership and collaboration can foster,” said Charles Spicer, president of Our Lady of the Lake Health. “We believe that the Data Collaborative will foster research motivated by and directly relevant to the needs of Louisiana itself and the Baton Rouge area. This unique opportunity for collaboration among researchers is a tremendous win for patients in South Louisiana.”

“At Woman’s Hospital, we are proud of the exceptional care we deliver to the women of Baton Rouge, and we are proud to be among America’s best maternity hospitals,” Rene Ragas, president and CEO of Woman’s Hospital. “We cannot fulfill these goals without taking an innovative approach to women’s health, and so I’m proud that Woman’s Hospital is a partner in the new data collaborative. We are committed to growing this important collaboration among the leading health providers in South Louisiana.”

“As one of the first projects linking data between healthcare providers and the Louisiana Tumor Registry, I am thrilled to think of the possibilities that this collaboration can generate, especially in the potential development of cancer treatments,” Jonas Fontenot, president and CEO of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “On behalf of the entire Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center team, we are proud to play a key role in bringing this innovative technology to Baton Rouge.”

“Since its inception, I’ve thought of the health district not as just a geographical location, but as a data sharing structure that I believe can improve healthcare in our community,” said Edgardo Tenreiro, president and CEO of Baton Rouge General. “This collaborative is the first substantiative step towards that infrastructure and I’m immensely proud of the work that’s got us to this point and of the work we’ll do together in the future.”

“Creation of the Baton Rouge Health District Data Collaborative is made possible through the work of several key, local healthcare providers,” said Eric McMillen, CEO of Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge. “With our extensive database, Ochsner has experience providing information for collaborative research, and we are proud contributors to a project of this scale. This data collaborative aligns with the mission of Ochsner and all collaborators to provide the best in health solutions for our patients.”

For more information, please see a related announcement by Pennington Biomedical at https://www.pbrc.edu/news/media/2023/lacatsgrant.aspx

Baton Rouge Health District Participates in International Life Sciences Trade Mission to Belgium

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 18:39:18 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA – This week, Baton Rouge Health District is participating in an international economic growth and diversification mission in Belgium. This exchange is part of the BIO Day, a gathering of Louisiana and Belgian bioscience business and research leaders, co-hosted by Gov. John Bel Edwards and Louisiana Economic Development (LED) officials. The delegation includes LED Secretary Don Pierson, leaders from LED’s Office of International Commerce, LED’s Office of Business Development, the LED FastStart workforce development team, and members of the governor’s staff. Among the state entities represented will be Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge Health District, New Orleans BioInnovation Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Tulane University, Tulane University Medical Center, University of Louisiana Monroe, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and the Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy in Shreveport. The Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Shreveport Next will also be represented.

In addition to the statewide “BIO Day,” which will bring together an array of Louisiana and Belgian bioscience business and research leaders at Corda Campus, a business park in Hasselt, Belgium, that is recognized internationally as a major hub of biotech innovation, Baton Rouge Health District organized extension meetings for the Baton Rouge delegation to explore international partnership in health and life sciences that would directly benefit the capital region. These meetings are a result of existing relationships and interest developed out of the Health District’s economic development work with Baton Rouge Area Chamber and research priorities with Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a member of the Baton Rouge Health District.

“Collaboration and partnership are at the core of the Baton Rouge Health District and our HealthTech Catalyst regional innovation program. The great representation of health and life science institutions from both our region and across the state of Louisiana are a testament to this spirit,” says Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director of the Health District. “We look forward to the chance of connecting with Belgian biotech leaders, ranked among the top of their field in Europe and across the world.”

Baton Rouge focused meetings will include international leaders in health and life sciences with a presence in both Europe and the United States. Partners include the Antwerp Science Park, University Hospital Leuven Medical Center home to the Belgian Association for the Study of Obesity (BASO), Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, and BlueChem Incubator for Sustainable Chemistry. Following the mission, Baton Rouge Health District will continue to foster these relationships in the hopes of strengthening synergies and solidifying collaborative partnerships for future economic growth and research opportunities in health and life sciences.

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a coalition of patient-focused, innovative healthcare organizations committed to the vision of a world-class, high performing health destination at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. As a non-profit organization, the Health District promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, payors, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Founding members of the Baton Rouge Health District include Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Ochsner Health, Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University and Woman’s Hospital.

Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst Awards Three Projects During Launchpad Pitch Night

Tue, 16 May 2023 18:56:24 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA — The Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst, a regional health and life science innovation cluster initiative led by the Baton Rouge Health District and funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Build to Scale Program, recently awarded $60,000 in pilot funding to three highly innovative and competitive projects designed to advance research and innovation across area health institutions.

Launchpad Pitch Night represents the culmination of the Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst pilot grant funding opportunity. At this year’s pitch night, a total of five applicant finalists presented a range of ideas in a pitch-style competition, and three projects were selected for funding (award winners listed below). Tuesday’s event represents the second round of Launchpad funding, which now cumulatively supports six total pilot projects across its 2 funding cycles for a total investment of $150,000.

Congratulations to the 2023 Launchpad Innovation Grant Winners

Developing Multicellular Organoid for Precision Therapy – Dr. Beverly Ogden, Woman’s Hospital and Dr. Joseph Francis, Louisiana State University – School of Veterinary Medicine
Non-Invasive Treatment of Uterine Fibroids – Dr. Frank Greenway, Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Dr. Beverly Ogden, Woman’s Hospital in partnership with Louisiana State University, and University of Louisiana Lafayette
Reconceptualizing How the Most Seriously Ill Patients Experience the ED – Dr. Mark Kantrow, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Dr. Nathan Freeman, Ochsner Health System in partnership with Baton Rouge General

“With the generous support of the EDA and in conjunction with our partners at Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, we are excited to offer this opportunity for our Baton Rouge Health District member institutions,” said Dr. Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director at the Baton Rouge Health District. “This initiative will create a launchpad to strengthen innovation, increase a culture of health, and continue to make Baton Rouge a destination for healthcare at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition in the coming months.”

The Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards are designed to promote and support collaboration across Baton Rouge Health District Member Institutions, while sparking and strengthening innovative networks that allow institutions, technology, industry, and community partners to work together and increase their impact. Launchpad projects also look to identify and advance novel approaches that further the Health District priorities of:

Healthy Place - to be a vibrant and accessible destination that promotes healthy living beyond the hospital walls.
Health Education and Workforce - to be a center for advanced education, clinical practice, and workforce development in healthcare.
Health Innovation and Research - provide a platform for innovation and research partnerships that improve health outcomes and contribute to care advancement through technology adoption and development.
Healthcare Coalition - to be a model for resource coordination to facilitate patient-centric, value-driven care.

“The Health District Launchpad Project encourages health care providers and scientists in our community to come together and join their unique perspectives to create relevant and innovative research studies. These studies not only provide benefit to our patients but promote exciting business opportunities for our region,” said Dr. Beverly Ogden, Chair of Cancer Clinical Service & Medical Director of Research at Woman’s Hospital. “We, at Woman’s Hospital, are honored to have two studies selected this year, one which may be groundbreaking in the field of cancer research and the other may show us that natural supplements may have a direct impact on the health of women. We are looking forward to working with Dr Joseph Francis at LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and Dr Frank Greenway at Pennington Biomedical Research Center.”

This year’s Launchpad awards join a portfolio of active, previously funded innovation pilot projects which include:

BRG Fit! Total Health and Wellbeing - Baton Rouge General, in partnership with East Baton Rouge School System
Increasing Endometrial Cancer Awareness and Cure for Louisiana Women - Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Woman's Hospital & LSU Health Science Center - New Orleans
Palliative Care Program for Persons Living with Dementia - Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst Announces 2023 Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 19:59:43 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA — The Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst, a Baton Rouge Health District project funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Build to Scale Program, announces the 2023 Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards.

The goal of the project is to promote and support collaboration between Health District member institutions, while sparking innovation between Baton Rouge Health District anchor institutions, technology and community innovators, and industry leaders. 2023 Launchpad Pilot Awards will provide up to $30,000 for Health District member institution investigators, providers, and employees.

“With the generous support of the EDA and in conjunction with our partners at BRAC and Pennington, we are excited to offer this opportunity for our Baton Rouge Health District member institutions,” said Dr. Steven Ceulemans, Baton Rouge Health District Executive Director. “This initiative will create a launchpad to strengthen innovation, increase a culture of health, and make Baton Rouge a destination for healthcare at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community.”

With funding from the EDA – Build to Scale Program, the Baton Rouge Health District established the Baton Rogue Health-Tech Catalyst in collaboration with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) and Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

The Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards support collaborative proposals for novel approaches that further the Health District priorities of:

Healthy Place - to be a vibrant and accessible destination that promotes health living beyond the hospital walls.
Health Education and Workforce - to be a center for advanced education, clinical practice, and workforce development in healthcare.
Health Innovation and Research - provide a platform for innovation and research partnerships that improve health outcomes and contribute to care advancement through technology adoption and development.
Healthcare Coalition - to be a model for resource coordination to facilitate patient-centric, value-driven care.

The 2023 Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards succeed a successful inaugural funding cycle which awarded three innovative projects with $30,000 each in May 2022 (May award winners listed below).

BRG Fit! Total Health and Wellbeing - Baton Rouge General, in partnership with EBR School System
Increasing Endometrial Cancer Awareness and Cure for Louisiana Women - Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, Woman's & LSU Health Science Center - New Orleans
Palliative Care Program for Persons Living with Dementia - Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Hospital

The 2023 Launchpad Request for Proposal will open on March 1, 2023, and will remain open until March 31, 2023, at 12:00 noon. A virtual information session is scheduled for March 1 at 10:00 a.m. Registration is required and can be completed here . For more information and to access Launchpad materials, visit www.brhealthdistrict.com/launchpad .

Baton Rouge Health District to Launch $500,000+ New Workforce Initiative Following Multiple Grant Awards

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 20:03:20 GMT

Baton Rouge, LA—The Baton Rouge Health District (BRHD) recently secured over $500,000 in anticipated workforce development funding from the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation, Health District member institutions (including local hospitals and health affiliated organizations), and the federal Economic Development Administration to launch a new healthcare-focused workforce strategy aimed at addressing the expanding workforce talent gap in healthcare. Over the next three years, BRHD will utilize these funds to establish an employer-driven regional health workforce framework that will encompass new recruitment, retention, and development initiatives to raise awareness of the Health District as a prime destination to pursue a health career, receive training, or advance career opportunities. Some of the anticipated new programming will uniquely focus on offering individuals, living at or under the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold, the opportunity for healthcare career training and placement.

“Health education and workforce are a key Health District priority” says Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director of the Health District. “Our goal is for the Health District to be a center for advanced education, clinical practice, and workforce development in healthcare; and for our organization to serve as a nationally competitive workforce intermediary by creating alignment and synergy between our partners”, Ceulemans added. “The heart of a healthy and vibrant community is a strong, inspired healthcare workforce. This initiative will enhance the talent-base we currently have employed and create more opportunities to attract and develop new talent to pursue career pathways in healthcare within our community.”

BRHD will pilot this programming under its master plan focus area of Health Education and Workforce, leveraging its Workforce Committee and partnerships to drive collaboration and alignment with local partners already active in workforce and career pipeline programming. The Health District was founded as a coalition of patient-focused, innovative healthcare organizations committed to the vision of a world-class, high-performing health destination at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. Collectively, BRHD members employ close to 20,000 workers, representing almost 15% of all new regional jobs being created and a collective annual payroll of $1.8 billion. These new initiatives will advance a coordinated approach to health workforce recruitment, development and retention that meets the needs of local hospitals and job seekers.

“High quality healthcare, supported by accessible and skilled workers is essential to our community and region,” states Paul Douglas with Baton Rouge General and chair of the BRHD workforce committee. “We are confident that this initiative will accelerate our leadership in providing meaningful career opportunities that address critical workforce needs and set the standard for equitable industry growth.”

The new workforce initiative, called BRHireD, will focus on recruitment, training, placement, and retention across high demand healthcare positions within our local healthcare market. Numerous healthcare providers, education partners, and nonprofit organizations will engage in BRHireD over the next three years.

For more information or if your organization is interested in partnering with BRHD in workforce or other areas, please contact Katie Pritchett, Operations Director at katie.pritchett@brhealthdistrict.com .

About the Baton Rouge Health District

Baton Rouge Health District Adds new Operations Director to the team

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 19:09:57 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. – Today, the Baton Rouge Health District announces a new addition to the team. Katie Pritchett will be joining as the new Operations Director.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the Baton Rouge Health District.” Said Katie Pritchett. “My entire career has been dedicated to improving the community, and I look forward to continuing that practice through the Health District with our collaborative partners and innovative projects.”

In her new role, Katie will manage the Health District’s organizational operations with a focus on staff and project management. She will also be involved in strategic projects, especially those involving external partners and funding sources.

"Katie is a great addition to our team” said Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director of the Health District. “Her experience in organizational management and as a trusted community leader with a strong collaborative track record will be invaluable to the Health District.”

About Katie Pritchett

In her previous role, Katie served as the Senior Vice President for the Impact and Operations for Capital Area United Way. She was responsible for the development, execution and implementation of organizational strategies focused on community impact, community investments, partnerships and collaborations. She was also instrumental in the revamping of the organization’s grant and funding model resulting in competitive funding processes aligned to the needs of the communities. Katie has experience in management, program design, grant administration and facilitation and she recently received her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification through Baton Rouge General.

Katie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Master of Social Work degree from University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work where she concentrated on Leadership, Administration and Advocacy.

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a nonprofit organization that promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Health District Members: include the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Ochsner Health, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and Woman's Hospital.

Recognizing the significant impact health issues have on the Baton Rouge community, the Health District collaborates with hospital administrators, government agencies, community leaders and medical staff on various projects, from establishing the Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst as the first federally recognized and funded innovation hub of its kind in Baton Rouge, to coordinating vital healthcare recovery initiatives in response to the COVID pandemic and recent hurricanes.

Baton Rouge Health District Expands Team

Mon, 16 May 2022 19:19:43 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. – Today, the Baton Rouge Health District announced 2 new team members, Korey Patty and Myrthe Maes.

About Korey Patty

Korey Patty will serve as the Regional Economic Competitiveness Officer for the Gulf Coast Health Science Corridor. In this new role, his focus will lie on coordinating resources and facilitating collaboration within the south Louisiana health and life sciences industry, through collaboration with numerous coalition partners including the Baton Rouge Health District, Pennington Biomedical, Xavier University, Tulane University, LSU Health Sciences Center, GNO Inc., Louisiana Economic Development, the Greater New Orleans and Baton Rouge Area Foundations, and the New Orleans BioInnovation Center – among others.

“Korey is a great addition to the team and we are excited about his leadership on the portfolio of projects across our Corridor, especially our planned Health District gateway enhancements and the development of the new Center for Innovation & Commercialization in Implementation Science at Pennington Biomedical.“ said Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director of the Health District. “His strategic presence in both the Baton Rouge and New Orleans hubs of the GCHSC will be instrumental for the advancement of our collaborative goals."

The Baton Rouge Health District, as a leading coalition member in the GCHSC, is currently a finalist in the $1B Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build Back Better Regional Challenge. This grant is designed to assist communities in accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. It is also designed to build local communities that will be resilient to future economic shocks. The Regional Competitiveness Officer position was called into life to lead this effort.

“The future of the biosciences industry in south Louisiana is bright,” said Patty. “I look forward to working with public, private, academic and civic leaders to accelerate the collaboration necessary for expansion of this industry through the opportunity with the EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge.”

Prior to his new role, Korey served as the Executive Director of Feeding Louisiana, the state’s association of Louisiana’s 5 Feeding America food Banks. He is experienced in business and economic development for the state of Louisiana, as well as in management, public policy and advocacy across various industries.

About Myrthe Maes

Myrthe recently joined the Health District team as an Innovation Analyst - Intern. In her new position, she will focus on innovation-related project coordination, research, engagement, and outreach, with a particular emphasis on supporting the Baton Rouge HealthTech Catalyst, a regional healthcare technology innovation program led by the Baton Rouge Health District. Her main activities will include providing technical assistance through program support, outreach and economic development marketing initiatives. She will also conduct market and partnering research.

Ms. Maes is originally from Belgium but has moved to Baton Rouge to fulfill her internship. She is currently finalizing a Bachelors degree in International Business Management, with a focus on international business and trade. Ms. Maes held a previous administrative position at PMC Global Engineering, a specialized Engineering firm serving the pharmaceutical and petrochemical industry in Europe.

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a nonprofit organization that promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Health District Members include the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Ochsner Health System, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and Woman's Hospital. For more information, visit brhealthdistrict.com.

About the Gulf Coast Health Sciences Corridor (GCHSC)

The Gulf Coast Health Sciences Corridor is a coalition of health and life science leaders from government, business, nonprofits and academia across the South Louisiana – Gulf Coast region. The GCHSC was recently awarded a $500,000 Phase I grant from EDA to develop a plan to transform the region into a national leader in health sciences with a focus on addressing obesity and chronic diseases and are currently a finalist for a Phase II implementation grant. The coalition is currently a finalist in the $1B EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge for a phase 2 funding award to implement this plan. For more information, visit https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/558555243/baton-rouge-healthdistrict-selected-as-eda-build-back-better-finalist-partner-in-gulf-coast-health-sciences-corridor

Baton Rouge Health District Awards Three Projects at the Inaugural Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards

Wed, 04 May 2022 19:34:49 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA (May 4, 2022) – The Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst, a Baton Rouge Health District project funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Build to Scale Program, held its inaugural Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards on Tuesday, May 3 at the C. B. Pennington Jr. Conference Center at Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

A total of five finalists presented a range of ideas in a pitch-style competition, and three projects were selected for funding of $30,000 each (award winners listed below). While yesterday’s event was the inaugural pilot awards, another round of funding is tentatively planned for this fall.

● BRG Fit! Total Health and Wellbeing - Baton Rouge General, in partnership with EBR School System ● Increasing Endometrial Cancer Awareness and Cure for Louisiana Women - Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, Woman's & LSU Health Science Center - New Orleans ● Palliative Care Program for Persons Living with Dementia - Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Hospital

The goal of the Launchpad project is to promote and support collaboration between Health District member institutions, while sparking innovation between Baton Rouge Health District anchor institutions, technology and community innovators, and industry leaders. Awards will provide up to $30,000 for Health District member institution investigators, providers, and employees.

With funding from the EDA – Build to Scale Program, the Baton Rouge Health District recently established the Baton Rogue Health-Tech Catalyst in collaboration with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) and Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

The Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards support collaborative proposals for novel approaches to further the Health District priorities of:

● Healthy Place - to be a vibrant and accessible destination that promotes health living beyond the hospital walls.

● Health Education and Workforce - to be a center for advanced education, clinical practice, and workforce development in healthcare.

● Health Innovation and Research - provide a platform for innovation and research partnerships that improve health outcomes and contribute to care advancement through technology adoption and development.

● Healthcare Coalition - to be a model for resource coordination to facilitate patient-centric, value-driven care.

About the Baton Rouge Health District

Founding members of the Baton Rouge Health District include Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Ochsner Health Systems, Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University and Woman’s Hospital.

More information is available at http://brhealthdistrict.com.

Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst Announces Inaugural Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 20:37:55 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA. (February 2, 2022) — The Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst, a Baton Rouge Health District project funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Build to Scale Program, announced its inaugural Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards.

The goal of the project is to promote and support collaboration between Health District member institutions, while sparking innovation between Baton Rouge Health District anchor institutions, technology and community innovators, and industry leaders. Awards will provide up to $30,000 for Health District member institution investigators, providers, and employees.

The Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards will support collaborative proposals for novel approaches to further the Health District priorities of:

• Healthy Place - to be a vibrant and accessible destination that promotes health living beyond the hospital walls.

• Health Education and Workforce - to be a center for advanced education, clinical practice, and workforce development in healthcare.

• Health Innovation and Research - provide a platform for innovation and research partnerships that improve health outcomes and contribute to care advancement through technology adoption and development.

• Healthcare Coalition - to be a model for resource coordination to facilitate patient-centric, valuedriven care.

An informational webinar will be held February 23 at 9 a.m. and the initial letter of intent is due March 12 at 5 p.m. For more information and to access application materials, visit www.brhealthdistrict.com/launchpad.

Baton Rouge Health District selected as EDA Build Back Better finalist

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 20:42:19 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA - The Baton Rouge Health District, as a lead partner in the Gulf Coast Health Sciences Corridor, is one of 60 coalitions selected as a finalist for the EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge. This $1 billion challenge, the marquee of EDA’s American Rescue Plan programs, is a once-in-ageneration funding opportunity aimed at strengthening growth in communities nationwide by leveraging local assets and encouraging collaboration.

EDA recently announced 60 finalists out of a pool of over 500 applications. The Gulf Coast Health Sciences Corridor, a unique collaboration between hub cities Baton Rouge and New Orleans and led by the New Orleans BioInnovation Center in partnership with the Baton Rouge Health District, will receive a $500,000 phase I award and will advance to Phase 2 and compete for up to $100 million in American Rescue Plan funding to develop and scale the health sciences industry in Southeast Louisiana.

“The Baton Rouge Health District has demonstrated strong recent growth across all its dimensions as a physical healthcare destination, a coalition of health-related stakeholders, and as an anchor district organization,” said Steven Ceulemans, Baton Rouge Health District Executive Director. “The continued federal support for our initiatives strengthens the value-proposition of our work and allows us to advance exciting and unique new initiatives for the betterment of our community and region.”

The Baton Rouge Health District will serve as a lead partner in a regional Gulf Coast Health Sciences coalition of stakeholders from government, business, nonprofits, and academia. This coalition was awarded $500,000 to develop a plan to transform the region into a national leader in health sciences with a focus on addressing obesity and chronic disease by: 1) creating economic opportunity through specialized workforce development with a focus on women, residents in rural areas and people of color, and 2) strengthening the region’s research development and commercialization pipeline through infrastructure and collaboration to leverage industry expertise and promote startup creation and investment.

“This Phase I award is a tremendous milestone in the expansion of key infrastructure developments in South Louisiana. These projects are intended to tackle some of our community’s toughest problems through innovation and economic expansion, while driving growth in the BR/NO Super Region,” stated Kris Khalil, Executive Director of the New Orleans BioInnovation Center. “Louisiana has a legacy of a strong healthcare sector combined with cutting-edge academic research. We look forward to the opportunity to accelerate our momentum through healthcare innovation.”

The Gulf Coast Health Sciences Corridor is advancing a portfolio of projects aimed at new business growth, creating a robust job training pipeline, and retaining the small businesses and talent we need to transform our economic and health outcomes through the health sciences. These projects address facility and infrastructure needs, supercharge an equitable workforce pipeline, and achieve greater health and economic equity while growing our start-up ecosystem.

Key Baton Rouge initiatives will include:

• A new Center for Innovation in Implementation Science , to be planned and developed on the Pennington Biomedical Research Center campus. This Center will supercharge health innovation by accelerating adoption of scientific solutions by healthcare practitioners to commercialize and implement new research on how to effectively prevent, treat, and cure obesity, diabetes, cancer, and dementia more rapidly.

“Being a finalist for the Build Back Better Regional Challenge is an incredible achievement for the coalition, the Baton Rouge Health District, and an exciting opportunity for the region and the state. The potential award – up to $100 million – could turbocharge efforts to turn the Baton Rouge/New Orleans corridor into a national leader in health sciences. By focusing on the disease of obesity and other chronic illnesses, the coalition can make an enormous difference in the health of Louisiana’s people while creating economic opportunities for them,” said John Kirwan, PhD, Executive Director, Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

• A gateway infrastructure enhancement initiative to transform the primary interstate entry points to the Baton Rouge Health District into signature gateways by enhancing the sense of arrival into a distinctive healthcare district and a major urban center. Planning, design, and engineering studies will be completed to upgrade the streetscape character to suitably match and support the quality of the existing healthcare facilities.

“The Health District is thrilled to receive this planning grant from the EDA. This grant can be transformational in our community while we work on infrastructure and healthcare innovation both locally and across the region,” said John Spain, Chair of the Baton Rouge Health District Board and Executive Vice President of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a coalition of patient-focused, innovative healthcare organizations committed to the vision of a world-class, high performing health destination at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. As a non-profit organization, the Health District promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, payors, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Founding members of the Baton Rouge Health District include Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Ochsner Health Systems, Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University and Woman’s Hospital. More information is available at http://brhealthdistrict.com/ .

About the American Rescue Plan Programs

The Build Back Better Regional Challenge is one of many EDA programs aimed at building strong regional economies and supporting community-led economic development. Under the American Rescue Plan, EDA was allocated $3 billion in supplemental funding to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks.

American Rescue Plan funding enables EDA to provide larger, transformational investments across the nation while utilizing its greatest strengths, including flexible funding to support community-led economic development. With an emphasis on equity, EDA investments made under the American Rescue Plan will directly benefit previously underserved communities impacted by COVID-19. For more information, visit www.eda.gov/ARPA .

Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Cleveland Clinic’s 15th Annual Diabetes, Obesity, and Cardiovascular Disease Virtual Summit September 9-11, 2021

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 13:24:30 GMT

15th Annual Diabetes, Obesity, and Cardiovascular Disease Virtual Summit

September 9-11, 2021 | Live Stream

Smarter Safer Schools

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 19:56:52 GMT

Dear Parents and Community Leaders in East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Ascension Parishes,

The Delta variant is causing skyrocketing cases of COVID-19 among children in Louisiana. As a healthcare coalition united with physicians who treat children and families from neighborhoods and communities across our region, we unite in a common voice to gain greater control over COVID-19 and the Delta variant so we can send our children and teachers back to safe school environments. We support the current back-to-school guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the recommendation that all children from kindergarten to grade 12 wear masks and social distance when indoors regardless of vaccination status.

The purpose of this guidance is to continue to support local leaders in education and public health, as they create policies for safe schools to foster the overall health of children, adolescents, educators, staff, and communities.

Schools and school-supported programs are fundamental to child and adolescent development and well-being and provide our children and adolescents with academic instruction, social and emotional skills, safety, reliable nutrition, physical/occupational/speech therapy, mental health services, health services, and opportunities for physical activity, among other benefits.

Our schools must continue to take a multi-pronged, layered approach to protect students, teachers, and staff (i.e., vaccinations, universal mask use, hand washing, ventilation, high-quality COVID-19 testing resources that are routinely available and accessible, quarantining, cleaning, and disinfecting). Combining these layers of protection will make in-person learning as safe as possible.

Students, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any infectious illness and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care. If a parent or student does not wish to comply with their school’s guidelines, they should consider online learning options. We hope that medical exceptions will be minimal so that all of our students and staff can return to school safely.

Everything possible must be done to keep students in schools for in-person learning. Many families do not have adequate support to care for their children if they return home and employers in our region are counting on their employees to return to work to keep our businesses open and successful.

Sincerely,

Alston E. Dunbar III MD, President, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health

Aldo Russo, MD, Regional Medical Director, Ochsner Hospital for Children

Shavaun Cotton, MD, Family Medicine, Baton Rouge General

Daniel Hsia, MD, Associate Professor, Clinical Trials Unit, Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Robert “Cliff” Moore, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Woman’s Hospital

Baton Rouge Health District Boosts Team with New Hire

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 19:59:36 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. – Today, the Baton Rouge Health District announced a new hire. Davina Cherian will, serve as an Innovation Analyst Intern.

In her new role, Davina will focus on grant program related coordination, research, engagement and outreach, with a particular emphasis on supporting the Baton Rouge HealthTech Catalyst, a regional healthcare technology innovation program. Her main activities will include providing technical assistance through the production of workshops, clinics, and educational seminars to support program activities including innovation challenges, launchpad proof-of-concept awards, and economic development initiatives.

Ms. Cherian is originally from Chicago and moved to Texas to attend Texas Tech University. She is currently enrolled in a Healthcare Administration graduate program and expected to graduate in May 2022. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball and hanging out with family and friends. Most recently she served as an administrative assistant and patient service specialist at a Rehabilitation facility.

Davina is a wonderful addition to the Health District team,” said Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director of the Health District. She will bring a tremendous amount of determination and a well-rounded motivation, and she will be instrumental in advancing the ambitious Health District vision for Baton Rouge as a high-performing destination for healthcare at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community.”

Davina Cherian

Recognizing the significant impact health issues have on the Baton Rouge community, the Health District collaborates with hospital administrators, government agencies, community leaders and medical staff on various projects, from establishing best practices to combat the opioid epidemic to helping bring a crisis stabilization center to Baton Rouge.

For more information, visit brhealthdistrict.com .

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a nonprofit organization that promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Health District Members: Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Ochsner Health System, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and Woman's Hospital.

Baton Rouge Health District Boosts Team with New Hire

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 20:03:36 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. – Today, the Baton Rouge Health District announced a new hire. Alexis B. Foster, MHA, will manage the Health District organizational operations with a focus on (grant) program coordination, communications, engagement and outreach

In her new role, Alexis will focus on leading and implementing communication and awareness tactics for the Baton Rouge Health District; facilitating optimal program operations through partner and client stakeholder engagement; as well as managing and coordinating deliverables across program tracks and projects.

With many years of experience in program/ project management she will ensure execution and adherence to performance goals and assure standards are being met. Alexis will manage Health District operations through organization leadership in areas particularly aligned with program goals, especially communications and outreach.

Alexis Foster completed her Master’s in Health Administration at Louisiana State University-Shreveport in 2018 and attained her Bachelor’s from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University.

Most recently, she was a Program Manager for the Louisiana Department of Health in the State Office of Rural Health, where she provided direct technical assistance and support to rural and underserved areas in Louisiana. Additionally, she assisted with the expansion and sustainability of the rural health safety net across Louisiana and has successfully facilitated information sharing from the federal government to rural providers and communities.

Alexis will make a wonderful addition to the Health District team,” said Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director of the Health District. She will bring a wealth of expertise and a well-rounded perspective, and will be instrumental in advancing the ambitious Health District vision for Baton Rouge as a high-performing destination for healthcare at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community.”

Recognizing the significant impact health issues have on the Baton Rouge community, the Health District collaborates with hospital administrators, government agencies, community leaders and medical staff on various projects, from establishing best practices, to combating the opioid epidemic and establishing a crisis stabilization center in Baton Rouge.

For more information, visit brhealthdistrict.com .

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a nonprofit organization that promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Health District Members: Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Ochsner Health System, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and Woman's Hospital.

Baton Rouge Health District Awarded Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation Grant for #COVIDSAFE Campaign

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 21:09:30 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA – The Baton Rouge Health District received a $50,000 grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation - Community Crisis and Disaster Response Grant program. This funding will help expand the Health District’s recently announced #COVIDSAFE campaign to promote COVID vaccination among Baton Rouge area healthcare workers as well as associated community outreach.

“While the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines is hopeful, we know some people are hesitant,” said John Spain, Baton Rouge Health District board chair and executive vice president for the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. “That’s why our area healthcare workers are leading by example to roll up their sleeves and share their stories in this campaign. We are excited to partner with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation through this grant opportunity to help make our region and state #COVIDSAFE together.”

The #COVIDSAFE campaign, which launched earlier this month, is raising awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine. The campaign shares stories from front-line healthcare workers across the Baton Rouge Health District, who are among the first to receive the vaccine. A new brcovidsafe.com website and social media channels linked to the hashtag #COVIDSAFE have been established to share news and updates. The first major #COVIDSAFE article appeared in the Advocate newspaper across the State of Louisiana this past Sunday, with more outreach communication to follow over the next months.

“Vaccination is an essential part of the recovery of our people and our economy,” said Michael Tipton, president of the Blue Cross Foundation. “We are proud to support healthcare workers and their families, and grateful to them for sharing their experiences about the safety and efficacy of vaccination for all.”

#COVIDSAFE will provide T-shirt and sticker rewards to Health District healthcare heroes as they complete their COVID-19 vaccines. The campaign will collect and share vaccination experience photos and stories across the community. This coordinated initiative among Baton Rouge Health District member institutions promotes the COVID vaccine primarily through healthcare employees, who serve as role models and leaders for the general public. The media campaign recognizes healthcare heroes getting vaccinated so they can continue to protect and serve their patients. Their stories build public confidence in the effectiveness of this vaccine by providing accurate and relevant information.

COVID SAFE is an initiative of the Baton Rouge Health District, guided by communication leaders from its member institutions, which include Ochsner Health, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Woman’s Hospital, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

About the Baton Rouge Health District

About the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation works each day to improve the health and lives of Louisianians by empowering everyday people to do extraordinary good. By building and funding coalitions of friends, families and neighbors, the Foundation hopes to build a healthier Louisiana, particularly for its children. The Foundation is funded solely by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, but is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity. Together, Blue Cross and the Blue Cross Foundation invest $3.5 million each year into Louisiana’s communities and nonprofits.

Baton Rouge Health District pone en marcha la campaña para promocionar la vacunación COVID SAFE

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 22:32:36 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA – Baton Rouge Health District se complace en anunciar su campaña para promocionar la vacunación COVID SAFE. Este trabajo de divulgación coordinado entre las instituciones sanitarias de Baton Rouge Health District se dedicará a la promoción y colaboración entre todas las partes involucradas de la vacuna contra la COVID-19, haciendo que los proveedores de atención médica y el personal de asistencia sanitaria guíen a la comunidad a medida que se administran las vacunas.

“Como líderes de la salud en el área de Baton Rouge, estamos entusiasmados por el comienzo de la administración de las vacunas contra la enfermedad COVID-19 y que el fin de esta pandemia global se encuentre cada vez más cerca. Pero sabemos que llevará tiempo hacer que las vacunas para la COVID-19 estén a disposición del público en general. Queremos transmitir los mensajes de esperanza y aliento para mantener a todos informados, de manera que se sientan tranquilos, preparados y listos para recibir sus vacunas lo antes posible", dijo Steven Ceulemans, Director Ejecutivo de Baton Rouge Health District.

Como anunció recientemente Baton Rouge Health District (en inglés), todos los hospitales principales han empezado a vacunar con éxito a sus trabajadores de atención médica de primera línea contra la enfermedad COVID-19. Un video que recopila estas exitosas vacunaciones que siguen en curso en todos los hospitales de esta región ha sido difundido recientemente y está disponible en https://youtu.be/eiCPzkummXY .

Los trabajadores que recibieron la primera dosis de la vacuna, han empezado a recibir este mes la segunda y última dosis para conseguir la máxima protección contra la enfermedad COVID-19. A medida que los primeros trabajadores de atención médica completen sus vacunaciones y los programas de vacunación continúen expandiéndose por el área de la capital, los héroes de la salud que están liderando la protección de los pacientes, de ellos mismos y de su comunidad contra la propagación del virus, recibirán camisetas con el lema COVID SAFE para demostrar su apoyo a que la vacunación se administre al mayor número de personas posible.

"Me uno a mis colegas de la región de Baton Rouge para instar a todos a vacunarse contra la COVID-19 para ayudar a poner fin a esta pandemia mundial", dijo el Dr. Aldo Russo, director médico del Centro de Salud Ochsner de Baton Rouge. "Yo me vacuné contra la COVID-19 y sé que no presenta riesgos y es eficaz. Le animamos a que visite a su médico de cabecera o una clínica de salud cercana a usted y se informe de cómo le pueden administrar la vacuna".

Se informará mediante una campaña de apoyo en los medios de comunicación, incluyendo los medios impresos y sociales, así como el mercadeo digital, de cómo la vacunación está haciendo que los hospitales de la región sean seguros ante el COVID "COVID SAFE". La información actualizada está disponible en www.brcovidsafe.com (en inglés) y también usando el hashtag #COVIDSAFE de los medios de comunicación social.

La campaña COVID SAFE será puesta en marcha por Baton Rouge Health District y supervisada por un comité de líderes de comunicaciones de todas las instituciones miembros de Baton Rouge Health District, que incluyen: Ochsner Health System, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Woman’s Hospital, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, y Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

Baton Rouge Health District tiene un exitoso historial en la misión de involucrar a las partes implicadas en la atención médica de la región, que incluye las medidas de actuación ante la enfermedad COVID-19. Durante el último año, la organización ha sido un aliado fundamental para la creación de una serie de iniciativas como respuesta a la enfermedad COVID, entre las que se incluyen las pruebas moleculares rápidas de COVID en colaboración con la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria de la Universidad Estatal de Luisiana (LSU), una asociación de cuidado infantil contra la pandemia en toda la región para los trabajadores de primeros auxilios y de atención médica esencial en asociación con la YMCA del área de la capital, y un centro coordinado para recibir donaciones y suministros de equipo de protección personal (PPE, en inglés) a fin de ayudar a los hospitales de la región a ponerse en comunicación con proveedores alternativos de suministros.

Las herramientas y marcos de las comunicaciones para las redes sociales se encuentran disponibles en:

https://batonrougecovidsafe.squarespace.com/s/COVIDSAFE-Logos-and-Guidelines.zip
https://brcovidsafe.com/s/COVIDSAFE-Social-Media-Frames.zip

NOTA: Las organizaciones miembros de Baton Rouge Health District cuentan con proveedores médicos que hablan español y que están disponibles para hacer entrevistas a quien las solicite.

Acerca de Baton Rouge Health District

Baton Rouge Health District es una coalición de organizaciones de atención médica innovadoras y orientadas al paciente, comprometidas con la visión de un centro de salud de primera clase y de alto rendimiento en el corazón de una comunidad saludable y llena de vida. Como organización sin fines de lucro, Baton Rouge Health District promueve la colaboración entre los proveedores de atención médica, funcionarios gubernamentales, financiadores, instituciones de educación superior y muchos otros para poner en práctica un plan magistral que mejorará la atención médica y el desarrollo económico en Baton Rouge. Los miembros fundadores de Baton Rouge Health District son: Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Ochsner Health Systems, Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University y Woman’s Hospital. Puede obtener más información en http://brhealthdistrict.com/ (en inglés).

Baton Rouge Health District to Launch COVID SAFE Vaccination Promotion Campaign

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 21:12:59 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA – The Baton Rouge Health District is excited to announce its COVID SAFE vaccine promotion campaign. This coordinated outreach effort among Baton Rouge Health District member healthcare institutions will focus on COVID-19 vaccine promotion and engagement, with healthcare providers and caregivers showing leadership in the community as vaccines roll out.

“As healthcare leaders in the Baton Rouge area, we are excited that the COVID-19 vaccines are being given and an end to this global pandemic is within reach. That said, we know it will take time to make the COVID-19 vaccines available to the general public. We want to share messages of hope and encouragement to keep everyone informed so they feel safe, prepared and ready to get their vaccines as soon as they can.” said Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director for the Baton Rouge Health District.

As recently announced by the Health District , all major hospitals have successfully started vaccinating their front-line healthcare workers against COVID-19. A compilation video of these successful, ongoing vaccinations across area hospitals has recently been released and is available at https://youtu.be/WR3FzqS0Sgc .

Those who received their first vaccine dose will start returning for their second and final doses for maximum protection against COVID-19 this week. As the first healthcare workers complete their vaccinations and vaccination programs continue to expand across the Capital Region, those healthcare heroes who are taking the lead in protecting patients, themselves, and their community from the spread of the virus will get COVID SAFE T-shirts to show their support for getting as many people as possible vaccinated.

A supportive media campaign including print and social media as well as digital marketing will continue to share information on how vaccination is making area hospitals “COVID SAFE.” Information is available real-time at www.brcovidsafe.com and using the #COVIDSAFE social media hashtag.

The COVID SAFE campaign will be implemented by Baton Rouge Health District and overseen by a committee of communications leaders of all Health District member institutions, which include Ochsner Health System, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Woman’s Hospital, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

The Baton Rouge Health District has a successful record in regional healthcare stakeholder engagement, including COVID-19 response. Over the past year, the organization has been a key partner for a number of COVID response initiatives including rapid-turnaround molecular COVID testing in partnership with the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, a community-wide pandemic childcare partnership for first responders and essential healthcare workers in partnership with the Capital-area YMCA, and a coordinated personal protective equipment (PPE) donation and supply hub to assist area hospitals in connecting with alternative supply sources.

Media Toolbox and Social Media Frames available at:

https://batonrougecovidsafe.squarespace.com/s/COVIDSAFE-Logos-and-Guidelines.zip
https://brcovidsafe.com/s/COVIDSAFE-Social-Media-Frames.zip

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a coalition of patient-focused, innovative healthcare organizations committed to the vision of a world-class, high performing health destination at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. As a non-profit organization, the Health District promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, payors, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Founding members of the Baton Rouge Health District include Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Ochsner Health Systems, Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University and Woman’s Hospital. More information is available at http://brhealthdistrict.com/

COVID-19 Vaccination Launch for Healthcare Workers Across Baton Rouge Health District

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 20:49:22 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA – In an exciting development in the year-long fight against COVID-19, all major hospitals across the Baton Rouge Health District have successfully started vaccinating their healthcare providers and caregivers against COVID-19.

Over 125,000 frontline healthcare personnel will get vaccinated across Louisiana over the coming weeks and months in the first part of Louisiana’s three phase vaccine rollout plan. Vaccination will continue to expand into the Spring and Summer of 2021 to cover all of Louisiana. More information about Louisiana’s vaccine roll-out is available on the state health department’s website at www.ldh.la.gov.

“The healthcare community is leading the way in getting vaccinated and protecting both the public and themselves as they care for those stricken ill by the pandemic.” said Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director for the Baton Rouge Health District. “Our caregivers’ unified example and leadership will continue to be vital in fighting the deadly COVID-19 virus, in our community and across the country”.

“It’s more important than ever this holiday season that each of us takes an active role in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.” said Dr. Stephanie Mills, Executive Vice President-Health Services and Chief Medical Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. “Now is the time to keep up social distancing, avoid large gatherings, wear a face mask when around people who don’t live with us, wash our hands often, and isolate ourselves if we are having symptoms of COVID-19.

People have expressed some concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines and their possible safety. Medical leaders across the Health District are speaking up in support of the COVID-19 vaccines as a safe, effective, and essential tool in fighting the pandemic:

1. “This vaccine is one way that we can build herd immunity and get one step closer to ending this pandemic. These vaccines have been extensively tested using years of proven research to get them where they are today. If you have questions or concerns about this vaccine, speak with your healthcare provider on the best option for you, but I encourage everyone to strongly consider taking the vaccine,” said Catherine O'Neal, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Our Lady of the Lake.

2. “Getting both a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot isn’t a problem. Everyone should want both because preventing the combination of flu and COVID is very important. It’s not too late for the flu shot, just speak to your healthcare provider to ensure that you space out the vaccines," said Dr. Ralph Dauterive, Vice President of Medical Affairs for Ochsner Baton Rouge.

3. “It is not possible to get COVID-19 from the vaccine” said Dr. Andrew Olinde, Chief Medical Officer at Baton Rouge General. “The current vaccines require two doses, with full protection expected to start within a week after receiving the second dose”.

4. “Women in later stages of pregnancy are considered at higher risk for more severe COVID-19 complications. Woman’s supports the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in recommending that every pregnant and breastfeeding woman discuss with her OB-GYN to determine if she meets the criteria for vaccination,” said Dr. Barbara Griffith, Woman’s Hospital CEO/President. “Other ways for pregnant women to continue to remain healthy include getting a flu shot, practicing social distancing and wearing masks.”

5. “The COVID-19 vaccines are based on years of medical research and vaccine development. While the COVID-19 virus is new, the technology and science behind the breakthrough vaccines and their rapid development has been extensively proven.” added Dr. Frank Greenway, Chief Medical Officer at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. More vaccine science information is available in a video called "Tell Me More About Vaccines", made available here through U.S. Health and Human Services.

6. “In exclusively caring for patients with cancer, we are keenly aware of the importance of keeping those who have compromised immune systems safe,” said Dr. Charles Wood, medical director, radiation oncology, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “And with COVID19, taking the vaccine is best way to ensure we can do this. This is the start of the breakthrough we’ve been anticipating, but it’s important to remain vigilant in maskingup, washing our hands, social distancing and all of the other precautions we take as the vaccine makes it way throughout the community and country.”

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a coalition of patient-focused, innovative healthcare organizations committed to the vision of a world-class, high performing health destination at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. As a non-profit organization, the Health District promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, payors, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Founding members of the Baton Rouge Health District include Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Ochsner Health Systems, Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University and Woman’s Hospital. More information is available at http://brhealthdistrict.com/.

Baton Rouge Health District to Launch $1.2 Million Regional Innovation Program with Federal Economic Development Administration Grant Award

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 19:56:28 GMT

BATON ROUGE, LA - The Baton Rouge Health District recently received its first federal grant award, funded by the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Venture Challenge - Build to Scale Program. This new award will establish a $1.2 million dollar regional healthcare technology innovation program (Health-Tech Catalyst) supported by nearly $600,000 in EDA grant funding and equal matching support provided by grant partners Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), and the Baton Rouge Health District.

“Our first federal grant is a major milestone for our organization and a testament to the quality and national competitiveness of our work,” said Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director of the Baton Rouge Health District. “The award provides important new resources to promote and implement our regional healthcare excellence agenda and it enhances the strong working relationship with our grant partners Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.”

According to today’s national announcement, the EDA’s Build to Scale Program will support the efforts of 52 organizations in 36 states, which will receive grants totaling $35 million to support entrepreneurship, acceleration of company growth, and increased access to risk capital across regional economies.

“Grantees were selected from a competitive pool of more than 600 applications and represent exemplary innovation and entrepreneurship from rural and urban areas across America,” said Dana Gartzke, who is performing the delegated duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.

The newly funded three-year Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst initiative will establish three program tracks with unique resources and opportunities for healthcare organizations and innovators - all to the benefit of patients across the region:

A LAUNCHPAD to advance innovator-driven ideas to strengthen innovation networks and collaborations across the Health District, and promote the development of demo technologies that can bring new health solutions closer to real-life applications and patient benefits.

INNOVATION CHALLENGES in response to articulated innovation capacity building opportunities identified and shared across the Health District. A few examples of possible challenges that may be tackled include health information sharing between healthcare institutions to reduce duplication of care, increasing regional access to clinical trials and experimental therapies, and innovative patient mobility solutions to improve access to care. Challenge awards will fund collaborative initiatives and technology development efforts, resulting in shared resources that can benefit healthcare stakeholders and institutions across the region.

Collaborative and coordinated ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT initiatives to market regional healthcare excellence and capacity and increase industry investment, attract talent and promote future growth and vitality of the Baton Rouge Healthcare sector.

“This award represents an incredible opportunity to foster and further the innovations that will help us tackle the health challenges, such as the obesity epidemic, now ravaging our community, Louisiana, the United States, and the world. We’re excited about partnering with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and the Baton Rouge Health District on this effort,” said Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

As a next implementation step for the program, the Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst will establish its steering and advisory committees, and start recruitment for two new dedicated staff members to support the program.

The steering committee will include the Baton Rouge Health District, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The advisory committee will be represented by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Ochsner Health System, Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Woman’s Hospital. The first year of the program will include the start of inter-institutional innovation forum events and a first call for Launchpad and Innovation Challenge proposals, as well as the expansion of a number of economic development marketing and recruitment initiatives.

“The Baton Rouge Area has an incredible wealth of healthcare assets and the potential to grow into a hub of healthcare innovation,” said Adam Knapp, president and CEO of BRAC. “This funding award will rapidly advance efforts to leverage existing strengths and build a united, health-focused regional economic development engine. Our team is excited to partner on this initiative and support its goals through business development and recruitment, research, and media relations.”

About the EDA Venture Challenge

The EDA Venture Challenge funds regional initiatives that support entrepreneurship and accelerate company growth in addressing innovation system issues. In turn, they can strengthen economic competitiveness through new product innovation or new technology adoption, improve the commercialization of research, enhance the overall innovation capacity and resilience of a region, and/or leverage regional competitive strengths to stimulate innovation and job creation. The Venture Challenge recently awarded $35 million across the most competitive proposals nationwide. The program is administered by EDA’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, as part of its commitment to furthering technology-based economic development initiatives that accelerate high quality job growth, create more economic opportunities, and support the future of the next generation of industry leading companies. More information is available at https://www.eda.gov/oie/buildtoscale/ .

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a coalition of patient-focused, innovative healthcare organizations committed to the vision of a world-class, high performing health destination at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. As a non-profit organization, the Health District promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, payors, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Founding members of the Baton Rouge Health District include Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Ochsner Health Systems, Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University and Woman’s Hospital. More information is available at http://brhealthdistrict.com/ .

BRHD Encourages Compliance with Statewide Louisiana Mask Mandate

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 19:58:52 GMT

Wear a mask and do your part in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our communities

Following weeks of increases in COVID-19 cases, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a statewide mandate requiring nearly all residents to wear masks in public spaces. The mandate went into effect July 13.

The Baton Rouge Health District, which includes the major healthcare organizations in the capital city, urges residents to comply with this mandate and follow other medically inspired recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19. According to our health district partners, these other recommendations are:

Frequently washing your hands for 20 seconds or more
Sanitizing your hands
Social distance by maintaining a six-feet distance from others
Sneeze or cough into a tissue rather than into your mask or your hands
Self-quarantine if you have a fever of 100.4 >, sore throat or if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19.

The Baton Rouge Health District is a coalition of healthcare stakeholders made up of OLOL, BRG, Womans, Oschner, Mary Bird Perkins, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, BCBSLA and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. According to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Senior Medical Director, Dr. Dee Barfield, “The rise in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks has been alarming, but be assured that taking small steps like wearing a face mask, staying six feet apart from others and washing your hands frequently are effective at slowing the spread of novel coronavirus. Take these steps whenever you leave home to protect the health of those around you, and they should take the same steps to protect you.”

In addition to that, “Properly wearing a mask or face covering indoors protects others, protects you and, combined with hand hygiene and social distancing, slows down the spread of COVID-19,” said Edgardo Tenreiro, president and CEO of Baton Rouge General. “Our team members continue to put themselves at great risk to do their part to treat those who fall ill, and our hope is that you do your part too: mask up!”

Member of the health district have expressed support for Gov. John Bel Edwards mandate and have stated “We support the Governor’s mask mandate and strongly encourage residents to take steps every day to stop the spread,” said Catherine O’Neal, MD, chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake. “When we wear masks, practice social distancing, reduce the amount of people congregating in places such as restaurants, and reduce our socializing each week by 50 percent we each do our part to protect our family, friends and community.”

PPE Donation Initiative Reaches Milestone, Partners with National PPE Movement to Expand and Support All Area Medical Providers

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 20:07:48 GMT

The Baton Rouge Health District announced a major milestone in its PPE Donation Initiative. With a recent generous PPE donation by GoA Foundation and SLT Technologies, the PPE initiative has well exceeded 100,000 boxes of donated PPE items received for area healthcare workers. “Standing up a regional pandemic support distribution center was not without its challenges,” said Steven Ceulemans, Executive Director of the Baton Rouge Health District. “But with the help and guidance of our numerous partners at the local hospitals, regional chemical industry logistics experts, and a strong partnership with the Mayor’s office and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber; results are more than exceeding expectations.” A summary of received donations below, amounting to several metric tons of donated PPE supplies collected at the Plank Road warehouse and forwarded to our local hospitals and clinics:

"These are unprecedented times that call for unprecedented community support. We are glad to play a part in reducing the impacts of this outbreak by supporting those guarding our community. We are stronger together." said Junzi Tan, Executive Director of GoA Foundation. “When our city is in need, I’m happy to step up and do whatever is necessary for us to move forward. Being able to partner which great organization like GOA to make this happen is extremely important in this fight!” added Calvin Mills Jr., President and CEO of SLT Technologies. GoA was founded in early 2020 amid the global outbreak of COVID-19, with a mission to support the most vulnerable - healthcare professionals, first responders, and essential workers - all those safeguarding our community in combating the pandemic. SLT Technologies is a major full-service IT consulting firm located in Baton Rouge.

Mayor Broome and the Baton Rouge Health District first announced the initiative in March. The Plank Road donation site serves as a business-to-business interchange to intake, organize and distribute much-needed PPE to our area hospitals and clinics. The location is not a donation site for the general public.

To date, the initiative has supported healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients at over 20 regional hospitals, long-term acute care facilities, nursing homes, rehab facilities, home health agencies, and testing sites. “Our entire community is thankful for this incredible effort to secure the necessary PPE for our healthcare heroes,” said K. Scott Wester, President & CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Baton Rouge Health District Board Member. “These important resources are keeping our frontline teams safe as they continue to battle COVID-19 every day. We are thankful for everyone who donated and played a part.”

Building on its success, the PPE initiative is expanding and inviting all interested medical providers and practices across the Baton Rouge region that may be in need of protective equipment to sign up and receive donated PPE supplies. Register by emailing the name and description of the medical practice, point of contact name, address, phone number and email address where you can be reached to PPEDonations@brhealthdistrict.com . More information is available on the PPE Donation website at brhealthdistrict.com .

To support its forthcoming expansion, the Baton Rouge PPE initiative is partnering with MedSupplyDrive, a national PPE movement aimed at mobilizing supplies and getting them to hospitals in need. MedSupplyDrive will provide volunteers to support distribution center efforts to reach the entire Baton Rouge medical community. “Partnering with Baton Rouge Health District is a great way for our two organizations to work together in serving the common goal of getting PPE to the medical providers of our community,” said Elise Hernandez, Regional Coordinator for the Baton Rouge Area with MedSupplyDrive. More information at medsupplydrive.org .

Coordinated Personal Protective Equipment Donations Initiative to Support Medical Community

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 20:27:00 GMT

TO HELP PANDEMIC RESPONSE, BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO DONATE URGENTLY NEEDED PPE EQUIPMENT AT CENTRALIZED LOCATION

The Baton Rouge Health District, in partnership with area healthcare providers, the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (MOHSEP), and the Baton Rouge area Chamber (BRAC), is standing up a coordinated business to business donation initiative of personal protective equipment (PPE) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Health District has established a process to identify needs for protective equipment and collect the equipment at a centralized warehouse on Plank Road being made available through a partnership between the metro airport and the mayor’s office” said Steven Ceulemans, Health District executive director. “We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for area businesses to donate supplies to protect health care workers, and to distribute those supplies to area hospitals based on equitable, real-time need. Participating hospitals currently include the Baton Rouge Clinic, the Baton Rouge General, Lane Regional Medical Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Ochsner Baton Rouge, Our Lady of the Lake and Woman’s Hospital.”

More information is available on the brhealthdistrict.com website. Area businesses interested in sharing available PPE in clean, sealed, originally boxed and unused condition are encouraged to reach out between 9am and 11am Monday through Friday and call 225-763-4240 , e-mail PPEDonations@brhealthdistrict.com , or drop off items at 9455 Plank Rd, 70811 Baton Rouge, LA . For large quantities pickup arrangements can be made, please contact in advance.

In collaboration with the hospital materials departments, the items currently identified to be of the highest need include germicidal wipes, hand sanitizer, surgical masks, procedure masks, N95 masks, gowns / protective drapes, goggles, and non-latex gloves. We will keep this list updated as needs evolve.

More information about the Health District response is at BRHealhtDistrict.com .

About the Baton Rouge Health District : The Baton Rouge Health District is a nonprofit organization that promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Health District Members: Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Ochsner Health System, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and Woman's Hospital.

Three New Health District Hospital Partnerships Bring Innovation through Collaboration

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 21:34:39 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. – Three recently announced partnerships among hospitals in the Baton Rouge Health District are bringing innovation to the area through collaboration.

“Our goal at the Baton Rouge Health District is to foster and promote healthcare synergies and partnerships,” said Baton Rouge Health District Executive Director Steven Ceulemans. “Seeing all of these new collaborations take shape is truly exciting for the Baton Rouge community.”

Baton Rouge General (BRG) and The Baton Rouge Clinic (the Clinic) announced they are the newest members of the Mayo Clinic Care Network , a group of independent health systems selected to work with Mayo Clinic to offer world-class care to patients and communities around the country. They are the first health care organizations in Louisiana to join the Network.

Patients, through their physician, will have access to the latest Mayo Clinic research and treatment recommendations at no additional cost and close to home. By combining their trusted local physicians’ understanding of their unique medical needs with Mayo Clinic expertise, patients can often avoid the expense and inconvenience of additional appointments and travel.

“We know that patients want more access and convenience, a shift that is fundamentally changing the way we provide care,” said Edgardo Tenreiro, CEO of Baton Rouge General. “This collaboration means our patients can work with their existing BRG physician to take advantage of Mayo Clinic’s research and resources, without leaving their homes and families.”

Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center announced it is launching a new cardio-oncology clinic , providing a focus on heart health. Through this initiative, Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center and Our Lady of the Lake Heart & Vascular Institute are combining their individualized, innovative approaches to form the cardio-oncology clinic.

“As the number of cancer patients and survivors continues to rise nationwide, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients who have received cancer therapies is also increasing,” said Leon Cannizzaro, MD, lead of the cardio-oncology clinic and cardiologist, Our Lady of the Lake Louisiana Cardiology Associates. “Cardiotoxicity is a potential side effect of many cancer therapies. Anticancer drugs and radiation are designed to target and eliminate tumor cells, but there can also be collateral injury to other healthy tissues, like the heart. Patients at risk can benefit greatly by having their cardiac health closely monitored before, during, and after treatment.”

Expanding on a 40-year partnership between Our Lady of the Lake and The NeuroMedical Center, the two healthcare organizations announced a new 20-bed Neuro Intensive Care Unit located on the ninth floor of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.

“Nowhere in Louisiana are there more cutting-edge devices and procedures to help physicians treat neurological emergencies better and faster than at Our Lady of the Lake,” said Steven Gremillion, MD, chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake. “Through our unique partnership with The NeuroMedical Center, we are doing things in Baton Rouge not seen in the entire southeastern United States.”

The new dedicated Neuro Intensive Care Unit brings Baton Rouge to the leading-edge of stroke care in Louisiana, and expands the footprint as a destination center for comprehensive stroke and neurological care in Baton Rouge, the State of Louisiana and Southern Mississippi.

These recent partnerships follow the announcement of the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute between Our Lady of the Lake and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, recruiting world-renowned bariatric surgeon Dr. Schauer to Baton Rouge.

For more information, visit brhealthdistrict.com .

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a nonprofit organization that promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Health District Members: Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Ochsner Health System, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and Woman's Hospital.

Major Transportation Upgrade for Baton Rouge Health District

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 20:41:59 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. – The first phase of a $21 million connector project for the Baton Rouge Health District has been completed. On Sept. 4, stakeholders participated in a ribbon cutting for Constantin Boulevard located off Essen Lane near I-10.

This project is a great example of how the private sector can partner with the city, state and federal governments to bring a vital infrastructure project to reality. When both phases are complete, the Constantin Boulevard project will deliver much needed traffic relief to the I-10/Essen/Bluebonnet region by providing a critical alternative east-west route for commuters and visitors to the Health District.

“This is an important transportation upgrade for our City-Parish and further demonstrates my commitment to enhancing connectivity in our community,” said Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome. “Along with this project, the $1 billion MovEBR program to expand roadways, add lighting, and build sidewalks and bike lanes is set to begin by the end of this year. I am committed to addressing the infrastructure needs of Baton Rouge.”

The completion of the first phase of the roadway is an important milestone in the vision for the Baton Rouge Health District. While on the surface it is a cement road, it represents part of the bigger picture – time. For example, minutes saved in patients accessing life-saving care and minutes saved during commutes, giving families more time together.

“Improving connectivity and circulation to reduce traffic congestion is a major area of focus for the Baton Rouge Health District,” said Baton Rouge Health District Executive Director Steven Ceulemans. “The Constantin Boulevard project is a major achievement, and we look forward to continued successful collaboration in implementing the Health District Master Plan in coordination with MovEBR.”

As part of MovEBR, phase 2 of the project is scheduled to begin next year, extending from Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital to Bluebonnet Boulevard.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development partnered with the City-Parish to make the Constantin Boulevard project a reality. Work was completed on schedule, lasting 13 months. After its opening, there will still be minor work lasting two to three months.

“This is an example of local, state and federal agencies working together to address important infrastructure needs,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. “As funding for new construction continues to become scarce for all levels of government, it is imperative that we all work together to address the needs of our state’s citizens. Having easy access to this state-of-the-art hospital will be beneficial for thousands of people daily.”

The completion of the first phase of Constantin Boulevard opens a new sector in the developing Baton Rouge Health District. In exactly one month, Our Lady of the Lake plans to open its state-of-the-art Children’s Hospital on Constantin Boulevard.

Our Lady of the Lake donated almost all of the land needed for the first phase, valued in excess of $12 million.

“We are incredibly thankful for the hard work of the Mayor and the Department of Transportation in making this project become a reality. This time next month, patients and guests from across Louisiana and the Gulf South will be traveling on Constantin Boulevard to seek the care they need from some of the best clinicians in the nation. Sr. Linda Constantin would be so proud of the collaboration that has gone into this project,” said K. Scott Wester, President and CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.

Constantin Boulevard will also be home to several other facilities in the Baton Rouge Health District. Baton Rouge General has agreed to donate the great majority of the property needed to complete the second phase of the project.

“Constantin and Midway Boulevards are great first steps in making the Health District a model of how commercial and residential boulevards ought to be designed in the City-Parish,” said Edgardo Tenreiro, CEO of Baton Rouge General. “Walking, biking, jogging or driving on these streets within a mixed use environment where residential, commercial, healthcare, research and educational facilities co-exist and support each other will make the Health District a unique experience for those who live, work and visit there.”

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a nonprofit organization that promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Health District Members: Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Ochsner Health System, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and Woman's Hospital.

Steven Ceulemans Named Executive Director of Baton Rouge Health District

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 20:50:05 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. - The Baton Rouge Health District has named Steven Ceulemans as its executive director.

In his role, Ceulemans will focus on economic development in recruiting new health care and biotech companies, clinical collaboration among Health District members and greater connectivity to the city’s Healthy BR initiative.

“Steven is going to be a great fit for the Health District,” said John Spain, executive vice president of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Health District board member. “His experience in healthcare innovation and development will help to expand existing programs at our health care providers and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.”

Ceulemans will lead the continued implementation of the Health District’s strategic plan, such as the construction of a key corridor that will provide access to local critical care facilities and mitigate traffic congestion in the area. The corridor, Constantine Boulevard, begins at Essen Lane following Ward’s Creek, and ends just beyond the new Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. Phase two of the project will extend the road along Ward’s Creek past Baton Rouge General to Bluebonnet Boulevard. He will work with local leaders on plans for road improvements, commercial projects like a five-story hotel under construction, and ideas for connecting parks and walking paths.

“We look forward to working with Steven in his new role as executive director as we continue to grow our health district and make Baton Rouge a destination city for exceptional health care,” said Scott Wester, CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.

Most recently, Ceulemans worked as Director of the Department of Laboratories for North Oaks Health System, a 350-bed hospital system and level 2 trauma center in Hammond, Louisiana, where he oversaw all laboratory services.

Prior to that, he served as Chief Business Officer for CytoBioscience, a San Antonio-based provider of biotechnology drug development and safety testing products and services, and Vice President of Technology and Innovation for the Birmingham Business Alliance, a regional economic and community development organization. He also worked as commercialization director for the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, a technology incubator serving growing life science technology companies in partnership with local universities and health systems.

“Steven’s experience in developing innovative biotech partnerships between industry and healthcare systems both nationally and internationally will bring a new energy to Baton Rouge,” said Edgardo Tenreiro, CEO of Baton Rouge General.

A native of Belgium, Ceulemans has a Doctor of Science degree from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and two Masters degrees – one in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from LSU Health Sciences Center and one in International Business and Management from VLEKHO Business School in Brussels. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Artesis University College of Antwerp, Belgium.

He has served as a science and technology policy fellow and consultant to the National Academies in Washington, D.C. and as a visiting analyst for the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Health Research Institute. Ceulemans will report to a joint operating board made up of leaders from healthcare organizations throughout Baton Rouge.

“Ochsner is excited to welcome Steven to Baton Rouge, and we look forward to continued collaboration with our health district partners to improve the health of our community,” said Aldo Russo, M.D., Regional Medical Director, Ochsner Baton Rouge. “We’d also like to thank Suzy Sonnier for her dedication to the Health District and wish her well in her future endeavors.”

Recognizing the significant impact health issues have on the Baton Rouge community, the Health District collaborates with hospital administrators, government agencies, community leaders and medical staff on various projects, from establishing best practices to combat the opioid epidemic to helping bring a crisis stabilization center to Baton Rouge.

Ceulemans was selected by Health District members after a regional search. Sonnier, who served as the executive director since 2016, moved out of state late last year.

About the Baton Rouge Health District

The Baton Rouge Health District is a nonprofit organization that promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge. Health District Members: Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Ochsner Health System, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and Woman's Hospital.

Baton Rouge Health District Announces Support for Mental Health Proposition

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 20:52:01 GMT

CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTER WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE RIGHT SERVICES AT THE RIGHT TIME

Baton Rouge, LA (October 24, 2018) - The Baton Rouge Health District today announced its support for the mental health proposition, a 1.5 millage property tax that will provide funding for a crisis stabilization center to assist people experiencing mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse crisis. The proposition will be on the ballot on December 8, 2018.

“Research demonstrates that far too often, individuals in mental health crisis end up in local jails and emergency rooms. Local public safety officers and emergency departments throughout the Parish are on the front lines of this critical community issue,” said Suzy Sonnier, health district executive director. “Over the last several years the number of people in mental health crisis continued to grow, especially as our community has experienced natural disasters like the flood of 2016 and advancement of the opioid epidemic. The stabilization center is a progressive solution that benefits everyone, especially individuals in crisis. Educating the public and raising awareness about alternative resources for crisis mental health services is vital.”

The proposed stabilization center will provide centralized access to crisis intervention services, stabilization and treatment initiation, ongoing care management and connections to care that could prevent or mitigate future crisis. “The Health District is committed to improving health outcomes and promoting a healthy and vibrant community and pleased to add our support with law enforcement and city officials,” Sonnier said. “We recognize that this initiative will target critical gaps in services, ensure greater access to appropriate services at the right time, better leverage limited resources and most importantly, save lives.”

Baton Rouge Health District Welcomes New Board Member

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 21:53:55 GMT

The Baton Rouge Health District recently welcomed Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, to its Board of Directors. Kirwan joined Pennington Biomedical on January 1, 2018, and has nearly 30 years of research, teaching and service experience in diabetes and obesity.

He most recently served as the Director of the Metabolic Translational Research Center and professor of molecular medicine at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. In addition, he is a professor of physiology and nutrition at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. Dr. Kirwan has won two National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards during his career, the National Research Training Award (1989) and the National Research Service FIRST Award (1995). He is an active member of the American Diabetes Association, the Obesity Society, and the American College of Sports Medicine.

Over its 30-year history, Pennington Biomedical’s central focus has been discovering the triggers of and new treatments for chronic diseases including diabetes, obesity, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. “We believe biomedical research will deliver the breakthrough answers needed to solve one of the biggest health care challenges of our time – the chronic disease epidemic,” Kirwan said.

“I look forward to working with the Baton Rouge Health District and its membership, and to sharing our scientific discoveries with the Board, so that together we can continue to build a healthier environment for the entire Baton Rouge community,” Kirwan added.

Other members of the Baton Rouge Health District Board of Directors include:

Teri Fontenot, Woman’s Hospital president and CEO
Eric McMillen, Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge CEO
John Spain, executive vice president of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation; Chair
Todd Stevens, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center CEO
Edgardo Tenreiro, General Health System president and CEO
Dr. I. Steve Udvarhelyi, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana president and CEO
Scott Wester, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center CEO; Secretary / Treasurer

For more information about the Baton Rouge Health District go to www.brhealthdistrict.com .

About the Baton Rouge Health District: The Baton Rouge Health District is a coalition of patient-focused, innovative healthcare organizations committed the vision of a world-class, high performing health destination at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. The district promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, payors, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge.

About Pennington Biomedical: The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. It is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes approximately 57 faculty and more than post-doctoral fellows who comprise a network of 40 laboratories supported by lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and support personnel, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical’s more than 450 employees perform research activities in state-of-the-art facilities on the 222-acre campus located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Capital Region to be home to newest, most advanced proton therapy center in the Gulf South

Wed, 10 May 2017 20:55:54 GMT

PROVIDENT RESOURCES GROUP, BATON ROUGE HEALTH INSTITUTIONS TO BUILD $85M LOUISIANA PROTONCARE CENTER

(Baton Rouge, La.) The Capital Region will soon be home to one of only a handful of proton therapy centers in the nation. Provident ProtonCare – a division of Provident Resources Group - announced today that it will open a proton therapy center in partnership with healthcare providers in greater Baton Rouge and the Baton Rouge Health District. The new facility will bring proton radiation therapy, one of the most sophisticated, breakthrough forms of cancer treatment, to the capital region through an $85 million combined investment.

“We are excited to add proton therapy to the services being offered by the Health District partners to enhance care for many types of cancers, allowing patients across the region to receive care closer to home,” said John Spain, executive vice president of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. “We are thankful so many players are coming to the table to help bring this breakthrough cancer treatment facility to the Gulf South.”

Projected to open in late 2019, the facility is expected to be located near the junction of Interstates 10 and 12 in Baton Rouge, and will be the latest addition to the Baton Rouge Health District. Provident ProtonCare will own and operate the Louisiana ProtonCare Center, and Provident’s long-term partner Ion Beam Applications SA will provide proton therapy technology – the Proteus® PLUS system – for the ProtonCare Center. A collaborative venture composed of Health District members including Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and Woman’s Hospital will serve as the ProtonCare Center’s clinical partners, acting as an extended regional network to provide patients access to treatment when proton therapy is appropriate.

“This innovation is a gleaming example of what can be accomplished when the talent, expertise and teamwork of local healthcare providers and businesses are marshaled for a higher purpose. The new center comes from a shared desire to do more for cancer patients and will expand the already significant cancer care capabilities in the region,” said Suzy Sonnier, executive director of the Baton Rouge Health District.

Todd Stevens, president and CEO of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, said the collaboration will provide for superior proton capabilities and a powerful new tool to treat cancer. “Through clinically-proven technology and a team of worldwide leaders in innovation and science located in Baton Rouge, bringing this lifesaving initiative to fruition is inevitable.”

Proton therapy is known for successfully destroying tumor cells through a targeted, high-energy dose of radiation that spares healthy tissues and organs and reduces side effects. The technology has been used to treat more than 75,000 patients worldwide, and has been shown to significantly improve outcomes for certain rare adult tumors. Proton therapy has also shown promise in treating more common cancers, such as brain, breast, GYN, head and neck, lung, pancreatic, prostate and soft tissue. The Louisiana ProtonCare Center will be a multi-room facility, allowing for a greater number of patients to be served.

Baton Rouge General President and CEO Edgardo Tenreiro said, “We are fortunate in Baton Rouge to have some of the most talented teams in the country working to treat cancer. This proton therapy center will be a great addition to the comprehensive programs in our community, allowing people all over Louisiana and the South to stay closer to home for this innovative treatment.”

Steve Hicks, Chairman and CEO of Provident Resources Group Inc., said, “It has been Provident’s vision over the past decade to bring this amazing technology to the Capital Region to serve the citizens of our region and treat cancer.” Provident has assembled a national team of experts in proton therapy projects for the development, financing, design and construction of the Louisiana ProtonCare Center that includes Gilbane Development Company, Gilbane Building Company, Stantec Architects (formerly VOA) and Citigroup Global Markets.

Adam Knapp, chief executive officer and president of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, said that this development will further position Baton Rouge as a healthcare industry leader. There are currently only six proton therapy centers in the Southeast, with the closest locations in Shreveport, LA, Jacksonville, FL and Houston, TX. The Baton Rouge facility will be one of approximately 25 such centers in the country. “This announcement confirms the Baton Rouge Area as a center for top-tier healthcare and specialized medicine,” said Knapp. “It will further cement the Baton Rouge Health District as a destination for new forms of cancer therapy that are truly cutting-edge."

For more information about the Baton Rouge Health District go to www.brhealthdistrict.com .

About the Baton Rouge Health District: The Baton Rouge Health District is a coalition of patient-focused, innovative healthcare organizations committed the vision of a world-class, high performing health destination at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. The district promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, payors, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge Health District Leadership Travels to Washington D.C. to Strengthen Federal Partnerships

Wed, 28 Sep 2016 20:57:23 GMT

(BATON ROUGE, LA) - Members of the Baton Rouge Health District are on their way to Washington D.C. this afternoon to introduce the Health District to federal partners and congressional staff while raising awareness of the many healthcare challenges and opportunities facing the area after recent flooding.

“The Baton Rouge Health District is a coalition of health leaders that represent the largest health providers, payors and research institutions in our area," said Health District Executive Director Suzy Sonnier. “Recent flooding and the anticipated impact on the health and wellness of our community elevated our urgency to work with federal partners to ensure we are leveraging resources and implementing best practices."

During the trip, the group will meet with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and Louisiana delegation staff as they seek additional collaboration, resources, funding and technical assistance to address Health District priorities. Current priorities include the implementation of a Diabetes and Obesity Center, strengthened access to integrated primary and preventive care through a strong network of community-based healthcare, resources to address escalating behavioral health needs, and a comprehensive assessment of access to healthcare throughout the community, with support to implement identified strategies.

In addition, the group will meet with MedStar Health Tuesday morning. MedStar has developed a robust diabetes and obesity program that may provide cutting edge strategies and lessons learned as the Health District continues its development of the Baton Rouge Diabetes and Obesity Center.

Baton Rouge Health District representatives traveling to D.C. are:

Coletta Barrett, RN, FACHE - Vice President, Mission, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
Mark Beckstrom, Governmental Affairs, Ochsner Health System
Michael Bertaut - Senior Healthcare Economist, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Lauren Crapenzano - Project Manager, Civic Leadership Initiative, Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Edgardo Tenriero - Acting President and CEO, Baton Rouge General
John Spain - Executive Vice President, Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Chair of the Baton Rouge Health District Board of Directors
Suzy Sonnier - Executive Director, Baton Rouge Health District
David Winnwood, PhD, RTTP - Associate Executive Director for Business Development, Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Baton Rouge Health District Names Board of Directors

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 21:39:17 GMT

NONPROFIT BUILDS UPON COLLECTIVE STRENGTHS TO ACHIEVE HEALTHCARE VISION FOR THE REGION

With aims of collaboratively improving health outcomes, increasing economic development and promoting Baton Rouge as a healthcare destination, the Baton Rouge Health District has enlisted Chief Executives from the area’s largest and most distinguished health and research institutions for its Board of Directors.

“The founding members of the Baton Rouge Health District Board of Directors are visionary CEOs whose organizations have a significant impact on healthcare throughout our community” said Suzy Sonnier, health district executive director. “With changes in healthcare continuing at an incredibly rapid pace, the Board of Directors is focused on where we want to be as a healthcare community both now and 20 years down the road. Working collectively, we can enhance our ability to provide high-quality, cost-effective and outcomes-driven healthcare in the Baton Rouge area.”

The founding members of the Baton Rouge Health District Board of Directors are:

Dr. William Cefalu, executive director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University
Teri Fontenot, Woman’s Hospital president and CEO
Eric McMillen, Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge CEO
Mark Slyter, General Health System president and CEO
Todd Stevens, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center CEO
Dr. I. Steve Udvarhelyi, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana president and CEO
Scott Wester, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center CEO
John Spain, executive vice president of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Spain was named Chair of the Board of Directors and Slyter was named Secretary/Treasurer.

First-year strategies identified by the new Board of Directors include establishing governance, increasing awareness, and developing a strategic plan. In May, the Health District released a Request for Proposals to create a Business and Implementation Plan for a world-class, highly innovative Diabetes and Obesity Center. The multi-disciplinary center of excellence, envisioned for the prevention, diagnosis and management of diabetes and obesity, will not only impact the trajectory of chronic disease in the Baton Rouge region, but have broader influence through world-renowned research currently happening in our area.

The Baton Rouge Health District will continue to promote improved infrastructure, access and transportation as recommended in the community-developed master plan that was funded by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation at the request of City-Parish government. The master plan, which serves as a foundation for Health District activities, calls for building new roads, sidewalks and paths to reduce traffic and offer transportation choices, while integrating parks to promote better health in the Bluebonnet, Essen Lane and Perkins Road area, where a number of health care assets are clustered.

Parish government has adopted the infrastructure plan under FuturEBR, which is the overarching growth strategy for the parish. And Mayor Kip Holden has pledged to build the first recommended infrastructure project, an extension of Dijon Avenue across Essen to Bluebonnet, a connector to provide traffic relief in the most congested part of the parish.

The master plan, developed by Perkins + Will, in collaboration with city-parish and healthcare leaders, recommends a number of additional strategies including expanding opportunities for increased medical education, development of a clinical trials consortium, and implementation of shared services that could eliminate duplication and reduce costs. For more information about the Baton Rouge Health District go to www.brhealthdistrict.com.

About the Baton Rouge Health District: The Baton Rouge Health District is a coalition of patient-focused, innovative healthcare organizations committed the vision of a world-class, high performing health destination at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. The district promotes collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials, payors, higher education institutions and others to implement a master plan that will enhance healthcare and economic development in Baton Rouge.