House Calls Lakeview Regional Medical Center

In part 2 of our organ donation series, House Calls visits with the husband of an organ donor. Hear about hero Tara Hollier and how she gave the gift of life to four people when she passed away. Tara’s husband, Ron, shares his experience and talks about how @LouisianaOrganProcurementAgency (LOPA) helps him keep Tara’s memory alive. We will hear from a surgeon who oversees Tulane Medical Center’s kidney and pancreas transplant program and from the chief clinical officer for LOPA, who will discuss the ethical responsibilities of organ donation and transplantation.

April is Organ Donation Awareness Month – so we kick off a series of episodes to educate the public about organ donation and transplantation. It’s not just a heart on your driver’s license; it’s the gift of life. Our guests will be representatives of the @LouisianaOrganProcurementAgency (LOPA) talking about the history of organ donation and transplantation in the United States and the regulatory bodies that oversee it. This episode also covers the types of organs that can be donated, as well as the process to get a donated organ to a recipient when a donor passes away.

Mental health matters now more than ever. Our older population and their caregivers already face the challenges that come naturally with aging – forgetfulness, agitation, and confusion and adding today's stresses of quarantine rules, isolation, and vaccination on top of that have caused many to suffer. It can be too much at times for anyone to deal with alone. Our team is here to help adult caregivers navigate their options for support. That is why it is important to learn more about the services our Behavioral Health team offers. Dedicated to our 55 and older population by providing short-term support in a caring and dignified manner. Caregivers can hear from our nursing leaders about the type of families who best benefit from a short-term stay in our controlled and supportive environment, giving themselves as well as their family members a little break when needed.

Lakeview Regional kicks of Heart Month with an episode about the importance of recognizing the warning signs of heart attack or stroke, and of not putting off healthcare. For many, COVID is not the biggest health risk they face. Cardiovascular disease is still the #1 killer in the U.S. and in order for doctors to help you in an emergency, every minute counts. Dr. Omer Iftikhar, cardiologist with Lakeview Regional Physician Group, talks about why there was a huge dip in heart emergencies early on in the pandemic and why you should never “sleep on it” when you are having symptoms.

Are you having a baby this year and trying to decide where to deliver? In this episode, we talk to new mom Kayla Tolar about her experience delivering her first child on Day 1 of pandemic quarantine. Kayla represents the “modern mom” – she did her research and had a birth plan, which turned out to be more important that she realized it would be. Learn about how the hospitals in this area compare in terms of neonatal intensive care capabilities, Baby Friendly designation, amenities and receptivity to birth plans and doulas. We also cover Lakeview’s partnership with Tulane Medical Center and the long-standing partnership between HCA Healthcare and March of Dimes – two key things that set Lakeview Regional apart as a place to trust with the birth of your child.

The unsung heroes of hospitals can be found behind the red line in our operating rooms. They play a critical role in supporting surgeons during the most complex and life-threatening operations. In this episode, we talk with Lakeview Regional’s heart surgery team about what it’s like to actually save lives every day. This episode also features Dr. John Breaux, thoracic surgeon, talking about how he selected and groomed his surgical team, and why the team matters.