St. Bernard Parish is no stranger to this problem. As the great Mississippi River’s natural flooding was contained by a levee system, the coastal wetlands carved up by the pursuit of oil and gas and the infamous MRGO was dug seem to be melting away rapidly. Other causes— subsidence and sea level rise— have contributed as well. Thousands upon thousands of acres of land have gone underwater and centuries old cypress swamps and oak tree laden chenieres have been destroyed. The large chain of barrier reefs the Chandeleur Islands formed thousands of years ago have rapidly disappeared since the 1980’s, diminishing near shore protection. Thus the shoreline of eastern St. Bernard has been under severe wave action erosion. The coastal wetlands are the natural protection from the storm surges of hurricanes. The question becomes what do we do to protect and build our shoreline from this loss.

New young oysters, one-year-old, 2-3 inches. Eventually the reef block will be completely
covered with multi-generations of oysters, shedding oysters and shell.
Photo by Jimmy Delery

 
As a young man growing up in New Orleans, Sherwood Gagliano developed a fascination for the Mississippi River. From his home in the Carrollton area, he could see the great might the river had as a source of freshwater and a land builder. Woody, as his friends call him, pursed his academic education and ended up teaching at LSU. His talent to understand the coast has earned him a reputation as the father of modern coastal science. His approach engages natural processes and manmade assistance when needed. Woody’s role as a scientist before and after Katrina was invaluable.

The shoreline is unprotected and prone to heavy wave action, vegetation loss,
and no shell armoring. Photos by Jimmy Delery

Defending the shorelines from wave action and erosion was the challenge Woody was to ponder. The question of how to mimic a natural barrier oyster protection system stirred. Having experimented along with his young son with some oyster spat, which is the young larval stage oyster, the design began. Oyster cultch beds, manmade oyster reefs with a standard height, were the answer. After much thought and many designs, the oyster reef system was ready to go.

Here is a side view of the oyster reef cages’ external
spat adhesion. Initially the cage is filled with oyster
shells recycled from restaurant consumption. This is
the surface for spat adhesion and new growth.

It would take time to get the first demo set out into the Louisiana coast in Lafourche Parish. An initial system was established along a western barrier island. Success was evident. Through a private grant the system would be placed along a shoreline in eastern St. Bernard, near Breton Sound shore. The project was completed in the summer of 2012 just before Hurricane Isaac. It would take an oyster spawning season in order for the spat to adhere to the suspended dead oyster shells contained in the triangular reef block. Employing nature was a critical factor. The oysters would not only help to protect from wave action but would also help to filter the water depositing nutrients and shells on the shoreline, helping to stabilize it.

On May 7, we traveled to the new reefs. The tide was a bit lower because of the northern front, exposing the top of the new reef line. We were surprised with the results of one year of growth, oysters attached all over the reef blocks. Nature had taken her role, setting the stage for the future. It was good as well to observe the wave energy attenuation that the system was accomplishing. This shoreline now has a positive potential to endure the wave action and continue a course of sustainability. The pocket of water behind the reef will perform as a habitat for smaller fish, small sea life and aquatic vegetation. Mission accomplished. A big thanks goes to a great inventor Woody Gagliano, a person who has always cared about the very land we live and survive by. Next year, we just need to remember to bring an oyster knife, a little cocktail sauce, and the fishing poles.

On May 11, Chalmette High School held their Junior/Senior Prom at the Hilton in New Orleans. Pictured above are the CHS School Prom King and Queen along with the Senior Prom Court. From left they are: Cody Estopinal, senior duke; Toni Chaupetta, senior maid; Sean Beckwith, King; Alana Rocha, Queen; Dane’sia Williams, senior maid; Baldwin Bioc, senior duke. The King, Queen and Court are chosen by a random drawing of members of the prom planning committee. Picture provided by Raymar Photography ….

The Medical Executive Committee is comprised of Chief of Staff Abdolreza Vadiee, M.D.;  Vice Chief of Staff Mace Scott, M.D.; Secretary/Treasurer Mark Jenkins II, M.D.;  Immediate Past Chief of Staff Bryan Bertucci, M.D.; Department Chairman of Medicine John Hamide, M.D.;  Department Chairman of Surgery Kelvin Contreary, M.D.; and Chief Medical Officer Paul Verrette, M.D.

The Medical Executive Committee acts as the organizational body that oversees the functions and duties of the medical staff.  It is empowered to act for the staff and to coordinate all activities and policies of the staff, its departments and committees.  The Medical Executive Committee represents the medical staff and acts on its behalf, as needed, under the limitations imposed by the medical staff bylaws.  The committee fulfills the medical staff’s accountability to the governing board for the medical care rendered to patients in the hospital by making recommendations directly to the governing board.

Dr. Abdolreza Vadiee, chief of staff, specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. A resident of New Orleans, Dr. Vadiee is medical director for Ochsner Medical Center North Shore Neuroscience Department for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and vice chief of staff for Ochsner Medical Center North Shore. He earned his doctorate of medicine from Louisiana State University’s Medical Center School of Medicine in 1996, and completed his residency with LSU’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department in 2000. Dr. Vadiee also operates Total Access Health, a general practice and urgent care facility in Chalmette.

Dr. Mace Scott, vice chief of staff, specializes in emergency medicine. A New Orleans native, Dr. Scott has most recently served as an emergency department physician at St. Tammany Parish and Terrebonne General Hospitals. He earned his doctorate of medicine from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in 2001, and completed his residency Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital in Baton Rouge. Dr. Scott became board certified in 2010 by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Mark Jenkins II, secretary/treasurer, specializes in radiology and nuclear medicine. A native of Eunice and a resident of New Orleans, Dr. Jenkins comes from Touro Infirmary in New Orleans where he served as a full-time staff radiologist. In 1965, Dr. Jenkins received a doctorate of medicine degree from Louisiana State University’s School of Medicine at New Orleans, and he completed his residency at Norfolk Regional Medical Center. He became board certified by the American Board of Radiology in 1972 and the American Board of Nuclear Medicine in 1974.

Dr. Bryan Bertucci, immediate past chief of staff, specializes in family medicine and has served as St. Bernard Parish coroner since 2002. A native of New Orleans and a long-time resident of St. Bernard, Dr. Bertucci earned his doctorate of medicine in 1980 from Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans. He completed his residency at Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital in Baton Rouge, and became board certified in family practice in 1983 by the American Academy of Family Practice. Dr. Bertucci, a former board member and chief of staff at Chalmette Medical Center, has worked as a physician with the St. Bernard Community Health Center since its inception. He also has served as a board member and an affiliate member in an advisory capacity for the St. Bernard Parish Hospital Service District.

Dr. John Hamide, department chairman of medicine, specializes in radiology and interventional radiology. A native New Orleanian, Dr. Hamide most recently served as a radiology department physician at Touro Infirmary and Children’s Hospital, both in New Orleans. He earned his doctorate of medicine in 2000 from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, and he completed his residency in 2005 at LSU’s School of Medicine in New Orleans.

Dr. Kelvin Contreary, department chairman of surgery, specializes in general and vascular surgery. A resident of New Orleans, Dr. Contreary has most recently worked at East Jefferson General Hospital. He received his doctorate of medicine in 1977 from Louisiana State University’s School of Medicine, where he completed his residency. He was board certified in 1984 by the American Board of Surgery.

Dr. Paul Verrette, chief medical officer, specializes in internal medicine. Dr. Verrette, of Chalmette, received his doctorate of medicine in 1983 from Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans. He completed his residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans in 1987, and became board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1988. Dr. Verrette served as a physician with Chalmette Medical Center and Lifecare Hospital prior to Hurricane Katrina, and has been on staff at the St. Bernard Community Health Center since its inception.

]]> http://thestbernardvoice.com/st-bernard-parish-hospital-service-district-appoints-medical-executive-committee/feed/ 0 http://thestbernardvoice.com/ordinances-introduced-that-could-increase-water-bill-fees-induce-parish-govt-layoffs/ http://thestbernardvoice.com/ordinances-introduced-that-could-increase-water-bill-fees-induce-parish-govt-layoffs/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:41:23 +0000 admin http://thestbernardvoice.com/?p=1944 Three ordinances were introduced during the August 7 council meeting that aim to close the parish’s $2 million 2012 budget gap and fix an anticipated $10 million gap for the 2013 fiscal year– all of which were tabled until the August 21 council meeting.

The parish’s budget woes are brought on by inaccurate sales tax projections, stemming from a 2010 – 2011 spike in revenue generated during the BP oil spill response. The inflated figure was $21 million in sales tax revenue, the actual sales tax revenue figures for 2012 are significantly lower.

Of the three ordinances introduced at the August 7 council meeting, one proposed a water and sewer bill increase of $55.03 per month, which would save the parish from laying off more employees. The second proposed a $27.51 water and sewer fee increase, as well as the layoffs of 92 parish employees. The third option calls solely for laying off 174 parish employees.

The parish workforce– nearly 460 employees– makes up around 65 percent of all parish expenditures. Nearly 60 employees were let go earlier in the year which saved the parish $1.6 million. However, the administration feels that layoffs could affect the quality of service residents are used to, as the parish employees are vital to keeping up the new infrastructure built since Hurricane Katrina.

Parish President Dave Peralta clarified during the August 7 meeting that no fees or layoffs have been decided yet. The ordinances are simply a starting point for the council and administration to move forward with the most realistic and least detrimential option for all citizens of St. Bernard.

“We gave three options, any of which is a base to start from,” Peralta explained exasperatedly during the August 7 meeting. “We’re not proposing one over the other.”

District D Councilman Casey Hunnicutt echoed those sentiments, and stated that “this item introduced is going to change drastically by Monday; a lot can change between now and two Tuesdays from now– these introductions are not the final product.”

In terms of the $10 million problem for 2013, Councilchair Guy McInnis stated that the parish could look at putting the fees for 2013 on the ballot in December in addition to “looking at things going forward that we can do this year that would save our employees.”

Section 2-17 of the parish charter states that “all proposals to levy a new or increase and existing sale and use tax, charge, or fee shall be submitted to the voters for approval in accordance with the laws of the state.”

All in all, the ordinances introduced are simply a starting point for the parish to tackle the short and long-term financial difficulties looming ahead, and the council and administration expect to make changes to whats o the table after the upcoming Executive Finance Committee and Town Hall meetings.

“We are all educating ourselves on the intimate details of this budget so that we have the least amount of impact on our community, which includes the people that work for this government and the people that pay for it,” Councilchair Guy McInnis affirmed.

The budget is to be further discussed at the August 13 Executive Finance Committee meeting. Councilchair Guy McInnis is also hosting a Town Hall meeting on August 15 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers to hear the public’s concerns and opinions about the proposed water and sewer fee increases.

The three ordinances are expected to be taken up again at the August 2 meeting.

Pictured holding the ribbon is Parish President Dave Peralta, District D Councilman Casey Hunnicutt, District 3 School Board member Darleen Asevedo, Hospital Service District Board Member Andrew Sercovich, Hospital Service District Treasurer Jim DiFatta, Hospital Service District Chairman Wayne Landry, Archbishop Gregory Aymond, St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman Jodie Lohfink, District C Councilman Ritchie Lewis, Chief of Staff for the Office of Community Development Stacy Bonnaffons, State Representative Ray Garofalo, and State Senator JP Morell.

After Hurricane Katrina’s destruction, Dr. Bryan Bartucci said he wouldn’t wear a white doctor’s coat until a hospital was built in St. Bernard Parish. At the July 31 ribbon cutting ceremony, Bartucci– a devout Catholic– was finally presented with a white coat by Archbishop Gregory Aymond.

***

After three years of planning and construction, the dust has finally settled and the new St. Bernard Parish Hospital was celebrated with an official ribbon cutting ceremony on July 31.

Before the big ribbon was cut, Hospital Service District Chairman Wayne Landry aptly compared the entire process of building the 113,000 sq. ft. hospital to delivering a baby:

“There’s a lot of kicking and screaming as you’re trying to get the baby delivered, and then you end up with a beautiful product and everyone forgets about the kicking and screaming,” Landry explained with a laugh.

Landry also took time to recognize the many individuals who have worked tirelessly, past and present, to see the project completed. He praised the 2005 – 2006 council and parish president for creating a Hospital Service District, which was the catalyst for the entire hospital project.

Landry also thanked immediate past council and Former Parish President Craig Taffaro for doing a lot of the “grunt work and heavy lifting as far as funding goes.”

The current entities of parish government including the council, parish president, school board and sheriff, were also commended for working together for the greater good seeing the hospital come to fruition.

Additionally, Landry thanked the citizens of St. Bernard Parish who voted for the ten-year the millage in 2010, which secured much of the funding needed for the startup of the hospital.

“Without the millage passing there would be no hospital,” Landry said frankly.

On the parish’s long road to recovery since Hurricane Katrina there have been a few bumps, said Hospital CEO Tim Burke, but the completion of the new hosptial paired with the its state-of-the-art schools and infrastructure, allow St. Bernard to close that painful chapter in its history and look forward to a bright future.

“This beacon of hope (SBPH) is the last piece of the puzzle we need to take that Katrina book, close it and move on,” said Burke.

Now that the physical construction process is over, the only big obstacle left to tackle is obtaining necessary licensing from the Department of Health & Hospitals (DHH) and the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, Landry said.

On September 5, The Joint Commission– a non-profit which accredits and certifies 19,000 healthcare facilities nationwide– will be coming to SBPH to officially accredit the hospital.

Until then, hospital officials are encouraging residents to be ambassadors of their new healthcare facility, by encouraging their employers or insurance providers to include the new hospital on their list of covered facilities.

With dramatic changes coming down the pipeline as a result of the Affordable Care Act and drastic Medicaid cuts, Landry says that it is very important for the profitability of the hospital that citizens use it to its fullest.

“We have the latest technology and a superbowl team of physicians to deliver the product,” said Landry. “Lets encourage our HMOs and other insurance plans to include the SBPH, so we have a fighting chance to overcome the obstacles that have come our way.”

The St. Bernard Art Guild has chosen Janice Hilborn as the artist of

the season for Summer of 2012. Janice started taking photos as a child

with a Kodak Brownie camera. After she met her husband Paul, the two

would go “Plantation Hopping” when he bought her first 35mm camera. In

the mid 80′s Janice joined the St. Bernard Photographic Society where

she served as secretary, vice president, and president. A long-time

member of the St. Bernard Art Guild, Janice has won numerous awards

with her photography skills.

The St. Bernard Art Guild meets the first Thursday of every month at

6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at the St. Bernard Parish Government

Complex, 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette.

Membership in the guild is open to veteran artists, as well as

beginners (18 years of age and older). For more information about the

St. Bernard Art Guild, contact Linda Lopez at 504-884-1843 or Dana

Sherlock at 985-643-9749

Ms. Carrie Martinez, a 2012 graduate of Chalmette High School, has been selected as the recipient of the Joseph C. Fecke Memorial Scholarship.  The St. Bernard Sportsman’s League annually awards the 4 year scholarship to a deserving student from St. Bernard.  Ms. Martinez will be attending Tulane University to pursue a degree in environmental science.

Jim Pittman, Jim Heyd, Rosemary Gioia, Jon Newman, George Magee, Kristi Andre, Eric Monson, Floyd Herty, Polly Campbell, and Lisa Ponce de Leon.
***

Members of the Kiwanis Club of St. Bernard-Arabi & Aktion Club of Chalmette toured the hospital Tuesday for a sneak peek at the new facility. Jim Pittman who serves as Marketing Director for the hospital provided the narrative tour. Of interest to tour members was the hospital cafe which will be open to the public for breakfast and lunch. One club member jokingly remarked, “I hope that’s all I need to come here for.”  Another member thanked Mr. Pittman for her first and last visit to the emergency room- as a tourist only.

Pictured is Director of Community Development Candace Watkins; Chief Administrative Officer Jerry Graves Jr.; Business Development Manager Paul Crain; Corporate Manager Rachael Theriot; Operations Manager Don Fontenot; Chamber Chairwoman Jodie Lohfink; District D Councilman Casey Hunnicutt; Chamber Director Stephen Reuther.

****

Prime Occupational Medicine, a Baton Rouge-based company specializing in heath care services, celebrated the opening of its new Chalmette location via a July 20 ribbon cutting ceremony.

The facility offers a wide range of medical testing and health screening programs that many refineries and plants may require of employees in order to start work. The new medical center is overseen by Dr. Luke Lee, an ABPM Board Certified physician.

How Prime Occupational Medicine differs from a standard primary care clinic is that its staff is trained in OSHA regulations and caters more to the working professional.

In addition to the standard workplace DISA drug and alcohol screening, Prime Occupational offers industry-specific exams such as respirator fit testing,  pulmonary function testing, and hearing conservation testing– many of which are basic OSHA compliance tests required of refinery and plant employees.

Being that St. Bernard Parish is home to several refineries and plants, Prime Occupational felt that it was only natural to expand their business to an industry-heavy parish.

“We have a prime location here between the two refineries,” said Rachael Theriot, Corporate Manager. “We do everything here from drug screening to fit testing to hazardous blood work testing– our dream is to have a full clinic here.”

The facility officially opened its doors April 1 and is currently up to 70 clients, according to Business Development Manager Paul Crain.

But Prime Occupational Medicine’s true calling card is their mobile clinic– essentially a health screening center on wheels. Mobile on-site services include drug and alcohol screening, audiometric exams, pulmonary testing, physicals, blood testings, flu shots and more.

“It’s really become a phenomenon and has doubled in business every year,” explained Crain. “We did 300 physicals in Lake Charles last year.”

Regular business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with 24 hour on-call services available.

Prime Occupational Medicine is located at 701 E. St. Bernard Hwy. in Chalmette.

In fact, if anything kept people at home it was the inclement weather that flooded many streets throughout the parish, he explained.

Compared to other big premiers, Fortinberry says opening night of The Dark Knight Rises did very well its first weekend, as did other titles.

Safety and security have always been a top priority of Chalmette movies, although Fortinberry maintains high security is hardly needed.

“We did address security measures, and we already have regularly scheduled security in place,” Fortinberry explained. “But St. Bernard is a very safe community and we usually don’t have to worry things like that.”