Maxillofacial Surgery Institute Opens

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - St. Mary Medical Center has opened the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Institute at 1715 Marycrest Street, West Entrance.

The physicians are experienced in all aspects of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Institute strives to provide the best care in a comfortable environment using state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

Services include dental extractions, wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, facial cosmetic surgery, cleft lip and palate surgery, and treatment of many other conditions of the mouth, jaws and face.

Practicing physicians at the new location are D. David Kim, DMD, MD, FACS; Celso F. Palmieri Jr., DDS; Jennifer E. Woerner, DMD, MD, FACS; Stavan Patel, DDS, MD; Andrew Meram, DDS, MD; and Fawaz Alotaibi, DDS.

To make an appointment, call 318-626-2710 or visit https://www.ochsnerlsuhs.org/.

GastroIntestinal Specialists Recognized by Newsweek

GastroIntestinal Specialists, A.M.C. has been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC). Ambulatory Surgery Centers provide same-day surgical care, including diagnostic and preventive procedures.

The list is compiled by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world’s leading statistics portal and industry-ranking provider. It highlights the nation’s top ambulatory surgery centers based on quality of care, performance data and peer recommendations. Centers in the 25 states with the highest number of Ambulatory Surgery Centers were included in the study. GastroIntestinal Specialists joined other ambulatory surgery centers from California, Florida, Minnesota, New York, and Texas on the list.

Shreveport Endoscopy Center is a state-of-the-art ASC. The center is licensed by the state of Louisiana and certified by Medicare. It is also accredited by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care, which gave the center the organization’s full three-year recognition.

Regional Urology to Join Ochsner LSU Health

Regional Urology and Ochsner LSU Health signed an agreement to combine the organizations and expand services and resources. Physicians and providers at Regional Urology will continue services at its existing locations, including a clinic, surgery center and cancer treatment center on Bert Kouns Industrial Loop in Shreveport and clinics in Natchitoches and West Monroe, La.

By combining with a regional health system, the patients, providers and staff at Regional Urology will benefit from additional resources and integration opportunities through technology, quality initiatives, human resources, supply chain, research, etc. With more than 70 specialties in the Ochsner LSU Health System, the move facilitates more multidisciplinary collaboration and treatment.

Both Ochsner LSU Health and Regional Urology have a history of providing high-quality specialty care with a strong commitment to research and innovation, offering the latest treatments for patients with chronic and complex medical conditions. The addition of Regional Urology’s physicians, providers, staff and facilities to Ochsner LSU Health will also increase access to healthcare and generate more opportunities for medical education.

For more info, visit www.ochsnerlsuhs.org and www.regionalurology.com.

Smoke-free Ordinances are Not Hurting the Gaming Industry

According to the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights organization, Northwest Louisiana Casino market numbers continue to show improvement despite warnings that a recently imposed smoke-free ordinance could cripple the industry.

The Shreveport City Council’s comprehensive smoke-free ordinance took effect in August of last year. Bossier City Council has not yet addressed the issue. Its three riverboat casinos still allow smoking. Opponents of the law suggested that as much as 20% of Shreveport’s gaming income would be lost when gamblers abandon their two casinos and take their money across the river.

The latest figures from the Louisiana State Police, which has oversight of the gaming industry, show the Shreveport/Bossier market with a 9.6% growth from its January numbers through February, even though there were three fewer gaming days. The two Shreveport boats each saw increases of more than 10% in the past month.