Health care/Hospitals

Conservative groups sue over diversity rules in Louisiana medical board selection process

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Jan 6, 2024

A nonprofit that challenges diversity goals in medicine and has been active in efforts to ban gender-affirming health care for transgender youth has sued Louisiana over the selection process f…

Louisiana is having its worst flu and COVID season in years, health officials say

By MARIE FAZIO | Staff writer
Jan 6, 2024

Just as the 2024 Carnival season is getting started, Louisiana hospitals are overwhelmed with flu and COVID-19 patients and cases are still rising, health officials say.

Louisiana sends millions to crisis pregnancy centers. Here's why that could soon change.

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Jan 6, 2024

For years, Louisiana officials have funneled millions in federal cash meant for poor families to controversial anti-abortion counseling centers that offer services like pregnancy tests, ultras…

Salmonella causes recall of charcuterie samplers that went to Sam’s Club distributors

By DAVID J. NEAL | MIAMI HERALD
Jan 5, 2024

One lot of Busseto charcuterie samplers that went to Sam’s Club distribution centers in eight states has been recalled after one of the states found salmonella.

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Matthew Block, John Bel Edwards' former right-hand man, joins Ochsner as CAO

By STEPHANIE RIEGEL | Staff writer
Jan 3, 2024

Matthew Block, who was Gov. John Bel Edwards’ right-hand man and top lawyer until 15 months ago, has joined Ochsner Health in the newly created position of executive vice president and chief a…

Louisiana insurance regulators set date for hearing on Blue Cross sale to Elevance

By STEPHANIE RIEGEL | Staff writer
Dec 28, 2023

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has set a hearing for February to consider the proposed reorganization and sale of Baton Rouge-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana to Elevance H…

Children’s Hospital plans for child abuse, human trafficking center with gift from Jessica Brandt

By EMILY WOODRUFF | Staff writer
Dec 26, 2023

Not long after completing a multi-year, $300 million expansion, Children’s Hospital is again adding to its Uptown campus with plans for a child abuse and human trafficking center funded by Jes…

Louisiana needs nurses. Tulane's new nursing school hopes to help bolster the ranks.

By EMILY WOODRUFF | Staff writer
Dec 25, 2023

Aiming to increase the pipeline of new nurses to bolster a strained workforce, Tulane University is launching a nursing program in fall 2024 that plans to enroll more than 200 students yearly.

Child dies from flu in Louisiana, health officials confirm

By EMILY WOODRUFF | Staff writer
Dec 22, 2023

Louisiana has led the nation for flu activity this season.

Calling all Swifties: This Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour ticket raffle will help children with cancer

By CHRIS GRANGER | Staff photographer
Dec 21, 2023

Children’s Hospital New Orleans announced a ticket raffle to raise funds for a new Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Unit that will help children with cancer and blood disorders. Twenty-eight sui…

Nurse visits for newborns are proven to reduce infant mortality. Why doesn't Louisiana do more?

BY ANDREA GALLO | Staff writer
Dec 19, 2023

Knee replacements come with more instructions than newborns.

Federal reports describe dire conditions at psychiatric hospital in Mandeville

By ALEX LUBBEN | Staff writer
Dec 15, 2023

It had been less than three years since the teenager from Jefferson Parish was charged with murdering his father. The killing was brutal — he used a spear and a baseball bat — and the boy said…

Deal to sell Blue Cross Blue Shield, one of Louisiana's biggest companies, is back on

By STEPHANIE RIEGEL | Staff writer
Dec 14, 2023

Two months after health insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana tabled a plan to sell itself to one of the nation’s largest insurance companies, the proposed deal that faced opposition…

Ochsner to build new children's hospital in New Orleans area thanks to Gayle Benson's big gift

By EMILY WOODRUFF | Staff writer
Dec 13, 2023

New Orleans will get a second standalone children’s hospital as Ochsner Health expands its pediatric footprint with a large donation from Gayle Benson, the health system announced on Wednesday.

Just 6% of Louisiana newborns get home visits. Here's how the state can expand their reach.

BY ANDREA GALLO | Staff writer
Dec 13, 2023

Louisiana should strongly consider expanding voluntary home-visiting programs for families with newborns, according to a new report released Wednesday that said just 6% of all families with ne…

The Supreme Court will rule on limits on a commonly used abortion medication

By MARK SHERMAN | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dec 13, 2023

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed on Wednesday to take up a dispute over a medication used in the most common method of abortion in the United States, its first abortion case since it over…

Friends and family gather for the Angels of Light tree ceremony at St. Tammany Hospital

Dec 12, 2023

The Angels of Light Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony was held at the St. Tammany Health System Main Campus Lobby on Dec. 7. This year's tree was dedicated to the memory and hard work of healing …

Louisiana flu cases among the highest in the U.S.

By EMILY WOODRUFF | Staff writer
Dec 12, 2023

As flu cases and hospitalizations ramp up across the country, Louisiana is experiencing some of the highest levels of activity in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre…

Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards reflects on anti-abortion legacy: 'No regrets'

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Dec 11, 2023

John Bel Edwards owes his status as the Deep South’s only Democratic governor at least in part to his deeply held conviction that abortion is wrong.

Nurses at University Medical Center vote to unionize, a Louisiana first

By EMILY WOODRUFF | Staff writer
Dec 10, 2023

LCMC Health’s University Medical Center nurses voted to join National Nurses United, the largest U.S. union for registered nurses, after a three-day vote that ended Saturday night.

Photos: Jon Batiste brings music and love to patients at Children's Hospital New Orleans

By CHRIS GRANGER | Staff photographer
Dec 7, 2023

Read more: Jon Batiste lifts spirits with music in his visit to Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Jon Batiste joins a 'band,' sparks joy and happy tears in visit to Children's Hospital

By EMILY WOODRUFF | Staff writer
Dec 7, 2023

On the fourth floor of Children’s Hospital, kids attached to IV bags rolled into a corner of the hematology oncology unit. On the window hung a sign: Children’s Hospital New Orleans welcomes J…

Five Louisiana teen moms explain how they overcame struggle: 'I’ve been a mother my whole life'

BY ANDREA GALLO | Staff writer
Dec 7, 2023

Louisiana has one of the nation’s highest rates of teen pregnancy, with teen birthrates nearly double the national average. Those rates affect the state’s infant mortality crisis as well: Stat…

Louisiana’s rates of teen pregnancy, STDs among nation's highest. Why isn't sex ed mandatory?

BY ANDREA GALLO | Staff writer
Dec 7, 2023

Ashton Galbo couldn’t believe she was pregnant at 17.

Suit seeks to block possible sale of Blue Cross to Elevance

By STEPHANIE RIEGEL | Staff writer
Dec 5, 2023

A lawsuit filed Monday in Baton Rouge state court is seeking to effectively block the potential sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana to national insurer Elevance Health.

Talking Business: Joe Ramos is on a mission to make New Orleans an NCI Cancer Center

By STEPHANIE RIEGEL | Staff writer
Dec 4, 2023

Earlier this fall, Gov. John Bel Edwards and officials from LSU Health, LCMC Health, Tulane and the Louisiana Cancer Research Center announced a new agreement between the four local health car…

Meet the rare Louisiana doctor helping moms breastfeed when care, policies fall short

By EMILY WOODRUFF | Staff writer
Nov 26, 2023

In an unmarked building on Metairie Road, new parents lug cushioned car seats cradling newborns down the hall and into a one-room office.

Louisiana is one of worst states in US for pre-term births. Why is it so dire here?

By EMILY WOODRUFF | Staff writer
Nov 22, 2023

For her newborn’s one-month photo shoot, Kheri Monks went shopping in the Barbie section at the toy store.