Category Archives: Ascension

Trends come and trends go and the medical field is no exception. As we start a new year, many health providers expect technology will play a larger role in healthcare throughout 2020 and the next decade.

A big reason for this is the amount of technology-driven tools that put patient care in their own hands. Devices like Fitbit, Apple Watch and Garmin watches can help with numerous health tasks from tracking your blood pressure and monitoring your heart rate to measuring your sleep quality and counting the number of calories in your meals.

Jason Whateley, D.O., physician, Ascension Medical Group has noticed how more patients are wearing technology gadgets as they engage in healthy activities. This allows them to see their progress and track results, making it easier for them to stay focused on achieving their goals, he said.

Wearable technology was number one under the American College of Sports Medicine Worldwide survey of fitness trends for 2020, he said in an email. The convenience and ease of these devices is what attracts patients.

However, while these devices have made great strides in patients health, Whateley explained that they still have their limitations.

Patients need to realize results they are obtaining from these devices are much more limited compared to what a complete diagnostic test can provide. Working with a health care provider fills in the gaps that these home gadgets and applications are lacking, he said.

Beyond exercise-specific technology, people need to be aware of the role technology plays in their everyday lives, said Dr. Kurtis Kieleszewski, family medicine physicians, McLaren Macomb.

Technology in general has a detrimental impact on many of American's health because by being plugged in and staring at a screen, we're likely less active and engaging with one another less and less, he said.

Technology can also change the way patients interact with medical providers. Ascension Online Care is designed for patients in need of after-hours care. This service is much like a virtual urgent care clinic where patients receive one-on-one care using their smartphone, tablet or laptop to video chat with a physician who reviews their symptoms and provides the care they need in real time. A summary of their visit is also sent to their Ascension primary care doctor.

So as they track their progress, what activities are people choosing to participate in? There is definitely a trend toward High intensity interval training (HIIT), which is now listed second under the American College of Sports Medicine Worldwide survey of fitness trends for 2020, said Whateley.

These programs focus on short bursts of high-intensity exercise followed by a short rest period. The big appeal of these exercises is that they can be done at home with little or no equipment, he said.

Kieleszewski said he encourages his patients to move most days of the week.

However they can fit that in their busy schedules and whichever method(s) fit their budget, he said in an email. A blend of cardiovascular and resistance training is usually ideal for everyone to optimize their physical and mental health.

Despite the popularity of home gyms, dont expect joining a gym to fall out of favor. Whateley said those looking for access to more equipment, group sessions and strength training will continue their gym memberships.

For years, those struggling with mental health issues have faced an unwelcome stigma and an uphill road. New trends show that attitudes toward mental health continue to evolve, making it easier for people to seek out care if they need it.

Hopefully all matters relating to mental health will be valued and emphasized as they rightfully should be, said Kieleszewski.

He said the delay in patients seeking assistance and the sometimes limited resources for mental health patients to be evaluated and treated by specialists are challenges for many.

Mental health affects every facet of our daily lives and we as a society need to be more compassionate to those it affects, said Whateley. I believe this trend will continue to be a major focus in 2020 along with aiding those with addiction.

Failing to get a good nights rest may be depriving you of more than you think.

Not getting enough sleep has been attributed not only to our mood and focus but also to many chronic conditions such as diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease, said Whateley. As physicians we place a lot of focus on preventive medicine. Improving your sleep quality can aid in avoiding these diseases.

He shared these strategies from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that can help you improve the quality of your sleep starting tonight:

Be consistent. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, including on weekends

Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing and at a comfortable temperature

Remove electronic devices, such as TVs, computers and smartphones, from the bedroom

Avoid large meals, caffeine and alcohol before bedtime

Get some exercise. Being physically active during the day can help you fall asleep more easily at night

Consult your health care provider to rule out other underlying diseases that may be affecting your sleep

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Professionals share a roundup of what they expect to be 2020's top health trends - The Oakland Press

Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive Officer of Alphabet, gestures as he speaks during a session of the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc and its Google subsidiary, said on Wednesday that healthcare offers the biggest potential over the next five to 10 years for using artificial intelligence to improve outcomes, and vowed that the technology giant will heed privacy concerns.

U.S. lawmakers have raised questions about Googles access to the health records of tens of millions of Americans. Ascension, which operates 150 hospitals and more than 50 senior living facilities across the United States, is one of Googles biggest cloud computing customers in healthcare.

When we work with hospitals, the data belongs to the hospitals, Pichai told a conference panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

But look at the potential here. Cancer if often missed and the difference in outcome is profound. In lung cancer, for example, five experts agree this way and five agree the other way. We know we can use artificial intelligence to make it better, Pichai added.

Google has spent several years developing artificial intelligence to automatically analyze MRI scans and other patient data to identify diseases and make predictions aimed at improving outcomes and reducing cost.

The U.S. lawmakers asked the company in November to provide information about other health systems that provide information to Google, whether Ascension clients will be allowed to opt out of the project, and whether the data be used for advertising.

Pichai said there was already strong privacy protecting regulations in place that provide a framework for Google to operate.

Google clinched a deal in November to acquire Fitbit Inc for $2.1 billion, aiming to enter the wearables segment and invest in digital health. The acquisition is expected to be scrutinized closely by regulators before it is allowed to close.

(This story corrects reference to Ascension from biggest to one of the biggest cloud computing customers in healthcare in 2nd paragraph)

Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in Davos, Switzerland; Editing by Alex Richardson

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Google CEO eyes major opportunity in healthcare, says will protect privacy - Reuters

A strategic alliance announced Thursday between UAB Health System and Ascension St. Vincents cleared a hurdle Friday as the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the alliance at a special meeting.

But the exact details of how the alliance will work are still somewhat of a mystery.

The move, while not a merger, means that UABHS facilities will retain the UABHS or UAB Medicine brands, and Ascension St. Vincents facilities will be Ascension St. Vincents.

In announcing the alliance, the two entities said they will be able to address multiple health issues, including diabetes, mental and behavioral health, and expand access to healthcare for Alabamas poor and rural residents. Among the documents creating the alliance is an acknowledgement of now being a period of profound and unprecedented change in the health care industry, when providers create health care affiliations in order to preserve and enhance their ability to fulfill their missions.

However, the alliance will not change physicians or insurance coverage for patients, organizers say, and medical records are still accessible through existing patient portals. How certain factors will affect individual patients, such as insurance coverage and available networks, are still being considered. The alliance also calls for the formation of a joint operating company.

Nick Ragone, an executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for Ascension, said the company has no further comment at this time beyond its initial release and a website which answers some questions and gives details of the agreement. The site says more information will be shared there as it becomes available.

One point in the information available is that both organizations mean to maintain their corporate personalities. Ascension St. Vincents remains a ministry of the Catholic Church, and will continue to follow the churchs "Ethical and Religious Directives. UABHS is still an academic medical center with public, charitable and research functions.

The president of the joint operating company will be UAB Health System CEO Will Ferniany. Jason Alexander, who is senior vice president of Ascension Health and the CEO of St. Vincents Health System and Providence Health System, will serve as executive vice president of the joint operating company.

However, according to the agreement, after the closing of the joint operating companys creation, a board vote will be required to appoint a new CEO or executive vice president of the joint operating company. Whoever that president is, it will be a senior executive at UAB Health System, while the executive vice president will be a senior executive at Ascension St. Vincents.

And its clear from the affiliation agreement paperwork that this is a major commitment. Both parties are required to maintain the alliance until its 30-year anniversary, unless they can show cause.

UAB spokesman Bob Shepard said the alliance will allow the health systems to provide the right care at the right place and right time for each individual.

This may include developing programs at the facility that best meets the needs of patients and communities, Shepard said. Both health systems will be able to provide better access for patients through working together. For example, patients will also have more accessible locations for UABHS specialty services, such as UABHS doing surgery at Ascension St. Vincents One Nineteen. We will be evaluating the best means of coordinating psychiatric, rehabilitation, and other services across our facilities.

Shepard said details will still have to be worked out, but the alliance will allow for better coordination of programs and increase patient access to diabetes and mental health care services.

For instance, Ascension St. Vincents and UABHS have an aligned vision for the support of health care in rural Alabama, and this alliance will allow us to leverage our collaborative network and a combined Community Needs Assessment to enhance services in rural areas, he said. Other entities could be involved in these efforts as well.

The UA System Trustees at their meeting Friday also approved incorporating a seven-member UAB Health System Authority to work with the alliance. The authority will have the power to appoint the majority of the members to the joint operating companys board.

The alliance includes for Ascension:

And for UAB:

While the Cooper Green Authority initiative is not part of the alliance, organizers say, operations will be coordinated to enhance services for Cooper Green patients.

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What will UAB-Ascension alliance mean? - AL.com

GONZALESCorey Orgeron, one of six new Ascension Parish Council members, recently suggested the parish take two more months for negotiating and allowing more public input on a proposed 30-year sewer concession.

After considerable debate and public pressure last fall over the proposed deal with Ascension Sewer LLC, the consortium proposing to remake the parish's private and public sewer systems, outgoing Parish Council members deferred a vote and passed the matter to the incoming council.

GONZALES With more than 35 people speaking against a major sewer services contract, and over 100 people packing the Ascension Parish Council

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The old council also scheduled the new council to vote on Ascension Sewer's plan Thursday night.

Instead, the new council took up Orgeron on at least the first part of his proposal, deciding Thursday to wait a little longer before a vote and send the proposal back to his committee,the parish's utilities panel, for further negotiation and public input.

New Parish President Clint Cointment also delivered a presentation about the parish's Hillaryville sewer plant. He noted its existing excess capacity that could be further expanded, an existing discharge pipe to the Mississippi River and the available land that could be used to build a much larger regional treatment plant.

"From day one, the administration has been reviewing all options as relates to sewer and what options are available to control costs and keep rates low for the citizens of our parish," Cointment told the council.

He added he plans to provide more details on the opportunities for the system in a future meeting.

DARROW A new $2.1 million sewer pipeline in southeastern Ascension Parish thats sending treated wastewater over the levee and into the Miss

Under the proposed concession, Ascension Sewer would consolidate more than 19,000 parish government and private customers in Prairieville, Dutchtown and the Gonzales area that now use an array of neighborhood sewage treatment systems and tie them to a new regional sewer system in the Geismar area that would discharge into the Mississippi.

State regulators have long pushed the parish to establish a regional system that discharges into the Mississippi to lessen the environmental impact on smaller, slower flowing bayous that now receive treated wastewater.

But, under the deal, the customers would also see an immediate rate increase. Rates would start at $57.90 per month for residential customers and more for commercial customers, and the rates would increase by 4% per year for the first 10 years.

Ascension Sewer's partners include Bernhard Capital Partners and Ascension Wastewater Treatment, the largest private sewer provider in the parish.

Cointment, who had tried to negotiate what he said would be a better deal with Ascension Sewer while still president-elect and fought approval of the deal as originally proposed, repeatedly stated he plans to resume negotiations with Ascension Sewer once in office.

When asked later about Cointment's presentation on the parish-owned Hillaryville system, John Diez, who is Cointment's new chief administrative officer, said the presentation wasn't a sign the administration was pursuing a wholly parish-run system for regional sewer service.

Diez said the administration was simply taking stock of the parish's resources, in part, so it is better informed for any negotiations it undertakes. He said the parish is looking for the best possible sewer deal for parish residents.

Not long after the old Parish Council punted on the sewer deal, Bernhard Capital announced it had made a"very significant investment" in its concession partner, Ascension Wastewater Treatment. The terms of the investment were not disclosed, but it bound the two partners even closer together for the future.

GONZALES Baton Rouge private equity firm Bernhard Capital Partners has closed on a "very significant investment" in Louisiana's largest priv

In an interview earlier on Thursday, Jeff Jenkins,co-founder and partner in Bernhard Capital, said the consortium remains interested in negotiating a deal with parish government and has received interest from some Parish Council members in recent weeks but had not yet heard from the new administration.

He added the state Department of Environmental Quality has also shown some interest in the idea of Bernhard Capital and Ascension Wastewater Treatment of building their own regional system privately. He added that he is also taking Cointment at his word that the parish will resume negotiations.

One of Orgeron's concerns about making sure to continue negotiations with Ascension Sewer is that the prior council had reached an exclusive agreement to negotiate a deal with the consortium.

In a publicized electronic letter about his plan to hold off on a vote, Orgeron wrote the parish could risk litigation if it didn't continue to negotiate in good faith with the Ascension Sewer consortium.

"I appreciate that there are those in our parish government that desire we look at other options; however, any effort by the council or the administration to do so could seriously compromise the Parish," Orgeron wrote.

He reiterated that concern to Cointment, who said the administration is working on a legal opinion about the exclusive negotiation agreement.

Orgeron, in his letter, also proposes having the Utilities Committee schedule a public input meeting next month to hear the concerns of residents and then restart negotiations with Ascension Sewer ahead of final vote no later than March 19.

The council didn't get into that level of specifics Thursday, but, under an amendment from Councilman Aaron Lawler, directed in the unanimous vote that the administration take the lead in setting input meetings with the public and council.

Residents of southeastern East Baton Rouge and in the Zachary area at risk of higher sewer bills under a proposed consolidation of Ascension P

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Ascension Council takes another pause to vet, negotiate major sewer deal - The Advocate

Drivers along Airline Highway in Ascension and St. James parishes should prepare for major traffic delays caused by road closures for routine railroad track maintenance.

"It'll be bumper to bumper, crawling again," saidAscension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre.

At least eight more additional daylong road closures are planned between Thursday and Saturday. Anearlier round of closures snarled traffic on four Ascension Parish roads Wednesday.

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One of those closures, at La. 73 and Airline in Prairieville, will last longer than expected. The road had been set reopen 5 p.m. Wednesday but now isn't expected to reopen until 2 p.m. Thursday due to unspecified "mechanical issues," state highway officials Wednesday afternoon.

With the continued closure of La. 73, Webre advised commuters to leave early Thursday and have patience for expected traffic in the morning. He said he will have extra motorcycle patrol officers out early to help monitor and direct traffic, if needed.

The eight new closures follow six that already took place. All are on roads that cross Airline and a Kansas City Southern railroad, according to the state Department of Transportation and Development and Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office.

Doniele Carlson, spokeswoman for KCS,said Wednesday that DOTD approved the closures and their timing in advance but added that KCS and DOTD "are reviewing closure plans in detail for the remainder of the work."

With the exception of the La. 73 work, the closures have been expected to last from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., DOTD said.

In addition to the extended work on La. 73 on Thursday, the upcoming closures along Airline Highway are on the following days:

Carlson said the railroad's workers are conducting routine maintenance that includes the resurfacing of at-grade highway crossings and railroad tie work.

DOTD officials had warned Ascension Parish drivers about traffic delays from the earlier round of track-related closures along Airline on Wednesday that included not only La. 73 in Prairieville but also La. 74 near Gonzales, East Ascension Street in Gonzales and New River Street in Gonzales.

Webre said any time the major state highways in the parish are closed, like La. 73 or La. 621, traffic can be expected because it limits ways to get in and out of the parish and to Interstate 10.

Earlier closures also happened on Post Office and Duplessis roads in Prairieville on Tuesday, the Sheriff's Office said.

All of the planned closures affected small sections of road that fall between Airline Highway and the KCS tracks.

Airline runs parallel to the railroad line, which crosses through the east banks of the two parishes.

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Stuck on Airline in Ascension? More closures planned along highway; La. 73 work behind schedule - The Advocate

Ascension Catholic held the lead the rest of the way, eventually claiming a 77-60 win over the Eagles.

After battling to a 30-30 tie at halftime, Ascension Catholic came out of the locker room determined in the second half Tuesday night at St. John.

Ascension Catholic's J'Mond Tapp snagged a steal, then coasted for a wide-open dunk to open the scoring in the third quarter. He then followed with a three-point play, giving the Bulldogs the spark they needed.

Ascension Catholic held the lead the rest of the way, eventually claiming a 77-60 win over the Eagles.

Bulldogs head coach Kylon Green said his team came out flat, but was able to gel after the half.

"We had two emotional games back to back," he said. "They were kind of on a high horse after the Donaldsonville game. Coming back, we're in another heated rivalry in a hostile environment. We showed our youth at times, but we were able to turn it on in the second half."

Eagles head coach Franky Hebert said his team gave the visiting Bulldogs a window of opportunity to separate themselves.

"I thought we started out really well," he said. "I thought we were executing the game plan well. We kind of became a little too relaxed defensively toward the end of the first quarter and into the second. As soon as we picked it up, we went into halftime tied. Defensively, we kind of lost it for a two-minute period in the third. Against a good program, a good team like that, you can't lose it for two minutes."

St. John led through the first quarter. Connor Barbee, who led the Eagles with 22 points, hit two 3-pointers in the first. His second shot fell at the buzzer from beyond half court.

In the second quarter, Ascension Catholic's Demarco Harry, who finished with a game-high 28 points, began to heat up. He opened the second with a 3-pointer, then gave the Bulldogs their first lead by completing a three-point play.

The Eagles took back the lead later in the second, and went to the break tied after a pair of free throws by Galvin Martin.

The Bulldogs built their lead through the third quarter. Dorian Barber, who finished with 13 points, hit three of his four 3-pointers in the third. Jack Abadie also contributed a 3-pointer during the quarter. At the buzzer, Demarco Harry tacked on a three, giving the Bulldogs a 56-43 lead going into the fourth.

The final quarter started with more of the same as Barber sank a three, prompting a timeout.

Demontray Harry, who finished with 12 points, followed by adding three free throws after getting fouled while attempting a three.

The Eagles hit four 3-pointers of their own in the fourth quarter, as they tried to battle back into the game.

Ascension Catholic's Khai Prean scored ten points for the Bulldogs, while Tapp finished with nine. Abadie recorded five.

"We had a lot of depth tonight," Green said. We practice hard. I was happy to see some aggressiveness on defense from guys who came off the bench. They came in and took some shots we like them to take. We always have faith in those guys making those shots."

Martin finished with 15 for St. John. Chris Holmes scored ten, while Cobie Lockett had six. Jacob Schlatre added four, Isaiah Jones two, and Joseph Schlatre one.

"We're playing hard right now," Hebert said. "I think we're finally putting the pieces together. Last year I think we peaked kind of early. This year, I think we're peaking at the right time. I know this game doesn't show it, but we're playing better as a team. We're coming together, and I think this is the right time to do it."

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Second half surge lifts Ascension Catholic over St. John - Weekly Citizen

Deanna Watson, Wichita Falls Times Record News Published 6:26 a.m. CT Jan. 25, 2020

According to tradition, Jesus went "up" to heaven which may not be up, exactly, as much as it's beyond and what he went there to do was to finish what he had begun with us here on earth.

The Very Rev. John D. Payne: By ascending bodily into heaven, Christ showed us that our human nature is good, not bad.(Photo: Contributed)

It was not enough that through Jesus God was born into the body of this world; that was just his Christmas gift to us. His ascension gift was that through him the body of the world was borne back to God.

By presenting his own crucified, risen body to be seated at the right hand of God, Jesus imported human nature into those holy precincts for the first time. He paved the way for us, so that when we arrive there later everyone will not be quite so shocked by us.

The ascended Christ restored the goodness of creation, and ours in particular. By ascending bodily into heaven, he showed us that our human nature is good, not bad; that it's good enough for Jesus, good enough for heaven, good enough for God. By putting on human nature and keeping it on through the resurrection, Jesus has not only brought God to us; he has also brought us to God!

There is another way to look at Acts 1:1-11. The ascension of Christ is the day the present Lord became absent, which may be one reason why Ascension Day is the most neglected feast. Who wants to celebrate being left behind? Who wants to mark the day that Jesus went out of this world, never to be seen again?

This may be, however, the one compelling reason why we do go to church. Because we have sensed God's absence in that hollow, empty place in our hearts and because this thing has not discouraged us from coming. We come to seek the presence we have been missing.

Absence is an entirely underrated thing. Absence is not nothing, after all. something: a heightened awareness, a sharpened appetite, a finer perception. When someone important to me is absent from me, I become clearer than ever what that person means to me. Details that get lost in our togetherness are recalled in our apartness, and their sudden clarity has the power to pry my heart open.

There's something else that happens during an absence. If the relationship is strong and true, the absent one has a way of becoming present. There can be no sense of absence where there has been no sense of presence. You can't miss what you have never known, which makes our sense of God's absence the very best proof that we knew God once, and that we may know him again. It is our sense of God's absence, after all, that brings us to church in search of God's presence.

The angels in the ascension story remind Jesus' friends that if they want to see him again, it's no use looking up. Better that they should look around, at each other, at the world, at ordinary people in their ordinary lives, because this is where they are most likely to find him.

We also hear the angels' admonishment to stop looking up and to start looking around. Don't feast your eyes on some romanticized version of the church in the past, or on some idealized vision of a perfect church in the future.

What we must do is look around us at the church as it is, a company of saints and sinners who hold out empty cups to be filled with bread, with wine, with the abiding presence of the absent Lord.

The Very Rev. John D. Payne is the Rector Emeritus of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Wichita Falls.

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Going to church fills an empty place in our hearts - Times Record News

"Out of an abundance of caution, we have an increased law enforcement presence on campus today . . . "

UPDATE: 4 p.m. Arrest made. The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office has issued a follow-up statement regarding this morning's police presence at G.W. Carver in Gonzales, La.

The latest official press release stated: "APSO arrest St. Amant man for verbal threat to school.

"The Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office was made aware of a verbal threat to school employees of G.W. Carver Primary School late yesterday evening, January 21.

"Throughout the investigation 26-year-old Brandon Henry was identified as the suspect who made the verbal threat.

"Out of abundance of caution, we increased our presence on campus today and a warrant was issued for Henry.

"He was located Wednesday afternoon, January 22, in Bay County, Florida and was arrested on charges for terrorizing, reckless operation, and improper telephone communication.

"He will be transported to the Ascension Parish Jail upon extradition."

We have included a police photo of26-year-old Brandon Henry.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office emailed the media this morning to let people know the reason for an increased police presence at G.W. Carver Primary School.

The letter, sent by Public Information Officer Allison B. Hudson read: "The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office was made aware of a verbal threat that was made towards G.W. Carver Primary School yesterday evening.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we have an increased law enforcement presence on campus today, as is best practice whenever a threat is made.

"We can assure you that the school is safe and secure at this time."

No other information is available at this time.G.W. Carver Primary School is part of the Ascension Public Schools system, located in Gonzales, Louisiana.

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Police beef up security at G.W. Carver due to verbal threat - Weekly Citizen

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. A woman in Chicago is currently fighting the coronavirus in the hospital after traveling from Wuhan, China.

This is the second confirmed case in the states and in both instances, the infected patients had traveled from China.

So far, more than 800 cases of the coronavirus have been reported and at least 26 people have died in China.

According to the CDC, a man in his 30's fell ill after returning home to Washington State following a trip to Wuhan, China.

The second case is out of Chicago and is a woman in her 60s

The CDC says she had traveled to Wuhan in December and flew home on January 13th.

Both are being treated at their local hospitals.

"Coronaviruses arent new to us. Theyve been around for a long time and in fact, they are so common people get them and animals," Infection Control Director at St. Vincent Ascension Christopher Belcher said.

Infection Control Director at St. Vincent Ascension Christopher Belcher says theres no need to panic, but you should be aware.

"If youve come back from China or you have had close contact with someone who came back from China with respiratory systems they should get checked out. They should see if they meet the criteria to be considered a case or suspected case," Belcher said.

Several major airports have set up screenings for people traveling into the states.

"In the past, they have checked temperatures often departing from China. They will check through a camera or directly before you leave the country and on this end, its usually a list of questions," Belcher said.

Common symptoms include a runny nose and a headache. The CDC says it could lead to pneumonia or bronchitis.

"We dont have treatment for any of these and again its been over a decade since we had a few outbreaks of coronaviruses in the world," Belcher said.

St. Vincent Ascension and area hospitals are prepared if someone falls ill with the virus.

"Weve been prepared for it and were always prepared for new viruses," Belcher said.

A spokesperson for Franciscan Health released the following statement about the virus:

In response to recent reports of coronavirus in China and at least two confirmed cases in the United States, Franciscan Health physicians, nurses and other clinicians have taken proactive measures should we receive patients suspected of having contracted the virus. Stringent measures have been taken to monitor and screen patients who might have recently traveled outside of the country and potentially were exposed to the recently discovered virus.

Infection Control teams at Franciscan Health hospitals have implemented procedures with staff and have the necessary equipment to care for any patient with this illness or any other flu strains. This includes having protective barriers and isolation areas to protect staff and others from airborne exposure to the coronavirus. Further, our clinicians train year-round to respond to any potential outbreaks of infectious diseases.

As the Wuhan coronavirus is an evolving situation, Franciscan Health will continue to work with local and state public health agencies should additional measures need to be taken. Patient safety is always paramount in the protection of our patients, visitors and staff.

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Local infection doctor explains the coronavirus - CBS 4 Indianapolis

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Ascension Episcopal's Matt Remondet named Male Athlete of the Week.

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Lafayette Daily Advertiser Published 7:00 a.m. CT Jan. 23, 2020

Matt Remondet(Photo: Submitted Photo)

Ascension Episcopal split their two district games last week, with a loss to Delcambre and a win against Houma Christian.

In both of those games, one player who turned in consistent performances was Matt Remondet. Remondet a junior, scored 25 points and pulled in seven rebounds against Delcambreand finished with 15 points and nine rebounds against Houma Christian.

For his efforts Remondet has been named the Male Athlete of the Week.

After a successful sophomore season that saw him lead the Blue Gators in scoring and rebounding at 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game en route to garnering All-District honorable mention honors,Remondet has picked up right where he left off last season.

This year, Remondet is on par with what he did a year ago, averaging 14.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for a Blue Gators team that is 12-10 overall.

Remondet, who was an All-District football player at tight end, has a 3.7 GPA.

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Ascension Episcopal's Matt Remondet named Male Athlete of the Week - Daily Advertiser