Hurricane Ida Information, Sept. 9, 2 p.m.

Briefing Recording: https://ochsner.imagerelay.com/share/13688481bc87418687b1ce5e135a8efc

Spokespeople:

• Warner Thomas, President and CEO, Ochsner Health
• Mike Hulefeld, Chief Operating Officer, Ochsner Health
• Dr. Robert Hart, Chief Medical Officer, Ochsner Health

Key Updates:

Hurricane Ida Updates

• St. Anne: Emergency room is open (never closed). Behavioral Health Unit (10 beds) at St. Anne returned to operations this week. Medical inpatient unit (12 beds) returned to operations today. Clinics reopened Tuesday and will continue to expand in coming days. Resuming community vaccination and COVID testing starting on Monday at St. Anne.
• Chabert: Emergency department remains open (never closed). Starting today, Chabert Primary Care Clinic on Industrial Blvd (behind the hospital) is open for walk-ins and open from 8am -3 pm.
• Staffing Updates: More than 5,300 employees activated as Team A essential (across the system, onsite) and more than 1,200 Team A Remote Activated as Essential (across the system, off site). More than 8,200 Team B Relief Team Activated (across the system).
• Employee Support: More than 1,100 employees have been offered housing accommodations. 1,942 employees have received rapid response emergency funds through our Employee Assistance Fund. Ochnser has distributed more than 230,000 gallons of gas to our employees.

Key Information for Patients Seeking Care Post Storm

• Updates for Expectant Moms:  Hospitals with L&D include:
• GNO: Ochsner Baptist, Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner, Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank Campus
• West: Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge, Ochsner Lafayette General
• North LA: Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Center
• New! Virtual Healthcare – Free Visits and Digital Hubs: Through Monday, September 13, patients can receive free virtual visits via Ochsner Anywhere Care using the code IDA. We are working to bring virtual hubs into other heavily impacted areas of the state, including the Bayou region. Hubs currently online include:

• GNO: O Bar Primary Care (1401 Jefferson Highway, Jefferson, LA 70121), O Bar Baptist (2820 Napoleon Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115), Pharmacy & Wellness - Ochsner Kenner (200 W Esplanade Ave, #106, Kenner, LA 70065) and Ochsner Community Health – Brees Family Center (5950 Bullard Ave, New Orleans, LA 70128).
• Baton Rouge: O Bar The Grove (10310 The Grove Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810), O Bar O’Neal (16777 Medical Center Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70816)

• Blood Bank: Blood supplies are critically low due to closures caused by Hurricane Ida and donation plays a role in saving the lives of our patients and those in our community. All donors and staff are required to wear a mask. For more info, visit www.ochsner.org/bloodbank.

COVID Updates

• Updated Numbers: We are caring for 486 COVID-19 patients across our facilities (down from 530 on Monday 9/6 and 1,074 one month ago).
• Breakdown of Regional Numbers:
• Baton Rouge: 40
• Bayou: 27
• GNO: 178
• Lafayette: 83
• North LA: 57
• Northshore / Hancock, MS: 101
• Employees Vaccinated: 78.4% of Ochsner Health employees are now vaccinated.
• Pediatric Patients: Last month we admitted a total of 45 children for COVID-19 (for context this is about the same number of children admitted from March 2020-July 2021)

• COVID Testing Updates: COVID testing (was impacted by storm) has resumed. Last week (8/29) we did about one third of our usual volume of COVID-19 testing. Our test volumes and positivity rates are:

• This week – 9,737 (15.4% positive)
• Last week – 11,340 (18.1% positive)
• Week of 8/22 - 33,434 (16.6% positive)
• New! Mobile Infusion Unit in Lafyette: In partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and LDH, Ochsner Lafayette General will begin providing COVID-19 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment at a mobile infusion. To confirm eligibility for the treatment, receive a referral, and book an appointment, patients should contact 1-833-TREAT-COVID (1-833-873-2826).

Visuals:

• Storm Season Visuals – Hurricane Ida: https://ochsner.imagerelay.com/sb/bf980564-f7ec-4dfe-bd52-47d5b84a6c79/storm-season-visuals-hurricane-ida-ochsner-health
• Hurricane Ida Ochsner Heroes Visuals: https://ochsner.imagerelay.com/sb/db4a9d79-7837-4057-bee8-997a6e337616/hurricane-ida-ochsner-heroes-ochsner-health
• Ochsner COVID Response Visuals: https://ochsner.imagerelay.com/sb/8db954cf-dd47-4a2f-be85-441f1c3fd48e/covid-response-visuals-ochsner-health

Additional Resources from the Ochsner Blog:

• Storm Stress – How to Manage Your Emotional Health: https://blog.ochsner.org/articles/storm-stress-how-to-manage-your-emotional-health
• Generator Safety Tips: https://blog.ochsner.org/articles/generator-safety-tips
• What to Expect When You’re Expecting During Hurricane Season: https://blog.ochsner.org/articles/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-during-hurricane-season
• Requirements to Donate Blood: https://blog.ochsner.org/articles/have-you-saved-a-life-today-volunteer-to-be-a-blood-donor

Upcoming Media Briefings:

• We plan to hold more briefings in the future and will continue to share updates during those meetings.

If you have additional interview requests, please email pr@ochsner.org and we will do our best to support your coverage needs. Thank y’all so much for your patience and continued efforts to inform your readers and viewers. Stay safe!