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Reaching Out
ALL ACCESS Fran Rush has a simple philosophy when it comes to keeping the students at Alfred Bonnabel High School in class: “If they’re not here, we can’t teach them.” That’s why Fran, Assistant Principal at Bonnabel for the 2008–09 school year, is so pleased with the new partnership between Jefferson Parish School System and Ochsner Health System, which provides comprehensive health and wellness services at the school. The cornerstone of the partnership is a four-exam-room clinic that provides preventive care to keep kids healthy and takes care of students’ health problems, whether they’re emergent problems such as colds, headaches, sports injuries or sore throats or chronic problems such as diabetes and mental illness. The site is staffed full-time by Ochsner Nurse Practitioner Nancy Tigert and a social worker provided by Jefferson Parish schools. Ochsner pediatrician Dr. Samira Brown is on site one half-day per week. Clinic services are offered at no charge to the students or their families. The center treats all students whose parents have consented for them to be treated at the clinic regardless of their insurance status. “The reason this works is about accessibility,” says Angie Ruiz, Director of School Based Health Centers at Jefferson Parish Public School System. “Ochsner is committed to finding the care and resources we need.” Because students can visit the center during the school day, health needs can be taken care of without the student needing to miss school or a parent needing to miss work. If a student’s needs go beyond what the clinic can provide, the right care is arranged through Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner or other community providers. Ochsner’s commitment to Bonnabel goes well beyond the walls of the clinic to focus on the overall health and fitness of the students, staff and parents of the school. “We treat the whole child,” says Angie. “And Ochsner is also adopting the whole school.” Current school-wide initiatives include anti-obesity programs for students and staff and integration with existing physical education and culinary vocation classes.
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BOOK SMARTS
Your young child’s library can grow as he or she does. Through the national Reach Out and Read program, children from 6 months to 5 years will receive a book at each well child visit at some Ochsner Children's Health Centers, totaling nine books in all. “Reading aloud is the single best intervention to ensure your child's school success,” says Dr. Michelle Payette, who was instrumental in bringing the program to Ochsner. “Through this literacy program, physicians can also diagnose and treat possible developmental delays earlier.”
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CELEBRATE To celebrate the kickoff of the Reach Out and Read Program on May 29, 2009,Louisiana’s First Lady Supriya Jindal read stories to pediatric patients at Ochsner for Children. |
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Twelve academically talented local high school students attended Ochsner’s 2009 Science Technology Academics and Research (STAR) program. STAR is a free summer camp that provides qualified high school students with a unique opportunity to:
Students also learned stress management, obtained CPR certification and participated in debates on current social issues affected by science and medicine. “STAR’s mission is to inspire, educate and prepare students for the future,” says Allison Fischtziur, Senior Administrator/Project Coordinator of Academic Community Outreach at Ochsner’s Center for Knowledge Management. “The knowledge and skills acquired in the program will provide students with a solid foundation on which to build an advanced education and a successful career in science, medicine or healthcare.” |
STAR 2009 STUDENTS Sarah Bienes Alton Denson Elizabeth Holzenthal Piper Jacocks Shahed Mahmud Andrew Mauroner Emily Moskau Rachel Mudge Amnah Rahman Crystal Rathore Tamara Soublet Taylor Wyble Also shown: Senior Team Leader Caroline Reed and Junior Team Leader Feyi Aworunse |
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 The content of this Web site is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice of a physician.All material is the property of Oschner. All rights reserved. Please see our disclaimer for more details. Ochsner accepts all major insurances. Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education. We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.. |
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