Doctors' Hospital of Opelousas was recently the site of a clinical anatomy course that focused on the pathology and treatment of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. Organized by the Louisiana Occupational Therapy Association, 50 therapists from Louisiana and neighboring states attended the two-day course. Now retired orthopedic hand surgeon and one of the founding physicians of Doctors' Hospital, Dr. Ladislas "Butch" Lazaro, along with Susan Lafleur, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, helped organize the first of these courses in 1991. The course has grown from an initial two teaching physicians to the current nine teaching orthopedic surgeons. Dr. Gary Porubsky of the Opelousas Orthopedic Clinic took over as director of the education course series following Lazaro's retirement. The course involves the study of the human upper extremities using specimens provided by the LSU Medical Center in New Orleans. Each of the participating orthopedic surgeons teaches the anatomy of the arm including the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand to break-out groups of five to six therapists followed by lectures on medical and surgical management and the latest in treatment therapies. In addition to Porubsky, the 2007 participating physicians included Drs. Thomas Butaud and Malcolm Stubbs of the Opelousas Orthopedic Clinic; Drs. Robert Morrow and Angela Mayeux-Hebert of the Lafayette Orthopedic Clinic; Dr. Phillip Bacilla of Alexandria; Dr. Joe Morgan of Baton Rouge Bone and Joint; and Drs. Michael Robichaux and Rick Ahmad of Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic. All physicians provide their teaching services in a volunteer capacity.

 

Lafayette-based LHC Group, a provider of post-acute health care services in rural markets, entered into a partnership with two HealthGroup of Alabama hospitals, Huntsville Hospital, an 881-bed facility, and Decatur General, which has 237 beds. LHC Group acquired a controlling interest in the assets of HGA HomeCare-Huntsville and HGA HomeCare-Decatur, which serve 16 counties in the state — six not previously covered by an existing LHC Group agency. The acquisition brings LHC Group's total service area in Alabama to 39 counties. The combined primary service area has an estimated total population of 1.1 million, with almost 14 percent over age 65. Total combined Medicare revenue for 12 months for these locations is approximately $3.2 million.

 

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center held a grand opening Nov. 20 for the Scott Family Clinic, one of the hospital's outreach centers that specializes in providing comprehensive family health care services to the community. The center is located at 5935 Cameron St. across from the U.S. Post Office. One of four clinics designed to provide health care to those most in need in the Acadiana community, the Scott Family Clinic is administered through Lourdes' Community Services department. The clinic provides comprehensive family care to patients of all ages and is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon. Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance are accepted. KIDMED services are available to Medicaid recipients for children from birth to age 21 with membership in the KIDMED program. Lourdes hospital also recently hosted the annual meeting for the Louisiana Association of Revenue Cycle Management. This organization is the first affiliation of its kind specifically focused on current issues facing health care accounts receivable management. Brickey Dore and Linda Peters, who work in the patient financial services department of Lourdes, coordinated the event, including two Web-based seminars with national speakers. The 2007 gathering had the largest member participation since its beginning. Dore was installed as 2008 president of the chapter for the second term.