Sunstar Americas and RDH magazine have awarded LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Dentistry assistant professor Jennifer Hew a Sunstar/RDH Award of Distinction. Hew, a registered dental hygienist, is one of eight recipients nationally. At the LSUHSC School of Dentistry, Hew launched a program that integrates care for special needs adults and children into the dental hygiene curriculum – the first of its kind in the nation. She also leads the Special Olympics Special Smiles Program, which provides comprehensive exams, X-rays, cleanings and instructions on dental hygiene at athletic events. Recipients of the awards, now in their 12th year, are nominated by colleagues for displaying drive, passion and experience.
Ochsner Health System recently received two national re-accreditations by the American College of Surgeons: a three-year accreditation by the Commission on Cancer (COC) and a three-year full accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) for its Lieselotte Tansey Breast Center. Accreditation by the COC means a cancer program meets or exceeds 34 quality care standards, is evaluated every three years through a survey process and maintains high care standards. The Lieselotte Tansey Breast Center is the only NAPBC accredited breast cancer program in New Orleans. To receive NAPBC accreditation an institution must uphold certain standards in treatment, including proficiency in the areas of center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement.
The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) awards grants to help families in need of financial assistance pay for their child’s health care treatments, services or equipment not covered, or not fully covered, by their commercial health insurance plans. Families of children 16 years old or younger who meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States and have a commercial health insurance plan can receive up to $5,000 per grant. In 2012, UHCCF awarded more than 1,300 grants worth more than $4.1 million to families seeking treatments for medical conditions including cancer, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, hearing loss, autism, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, ADHD and cerebral palsy. Visit uhccf.org to apply or make donations to the fund. There is no application deadline.
