HEALTHBEAT

• Ochsner Medical Center has been designated as one of only six training centers in the world for an innovative medical devise called the da Vinci Surgical System® by Intuitive Surgical, right. The new technology affords physicians the ability to perform operations with minimal incisions to improve recovery time and decrease pain and blood loss. Three of Ochsner’s four da Vinci surgical systems are located on its main campus in New Orleans with the other in its Baton Rouge location. 

HEALTHBEAT• Tulane University cancer researcher Matthew Burow asserts that a compound produced by specifically grown soybeans could help fight breast and ovarian cancers. The compound, known as glyceollin, stopped further growth of tumors in mice with ovarian and breast cancers by preventing the tumor from responding to estrogen. Few existing therapies for women with breast and ovarian cancer are truly effective and many stimulate uterine cancer growth, a side effect not found in the glyceollin study.

• Michael S. Block, DMD and professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Dentistry, has received the W. Harry Archer award, a prestigious award from the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ACOMS). Dr. Block received his degree from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1979, in addition to his DMD cum laude in a special field. He completed his residency program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the LSU School of Dentistry in ‘83 and continued his success editing four textbooks and serving as section editor on dental implants for the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

HEALTHBEAT• As a result of an annual study of America’s hospitals, Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) received the 2007 HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety™. In the past three years, HealthGrades has examined every nonfederal hospital in the nation, finding that TGMC had an outstanding record of patient safety. “At TGMC patient safety is a culture, a habit and a way of life. In addition to providing quality care, our physicians and staff work very diligently to ensure that safety is a top priority when treating our patients,” says Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO.

• Fertell, a new at-home screening test, allows couples to test their fertility without a doctor’s appointment. The test has separate components to test the concentration of motile sperm in men and egg quality in women.  
– Karie Meltzer

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