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West Jefferson Medical Center has been recognized by the following national and state organizations that measure quality and
excellence in clinical care.
2010 Best Places to Work
New Orleans Publishing Group
December 2010 – For the 8th consecutive year, West Jefferson Medical Center was one of the companies of the region
named by New Orleans CityBusiness in the newspaper’s annual Best Places to Work listing. Started in 2003, Best Places to
Work recognizes the area’s 50 top employers, including 35 large companies and 15 small. Honorees are chosen based on a questionnaire
of benefits offered, including average salary, health care, paid time off and employee programs, coupled with an online survey of
employees. During the 8th Annual City Business Best Places to Work luncheon, West Jefferson Medical Center received its
recognition award.
CityBusiness began the awards luncheon as a means of honoring companies based on how well they treat their
most important asset — their employees. Final rankings were based on results from a Best Places to Work survey as well as a separate
survey of several employees. West Jefferson Medical Center is the company in the large firm category placing each year since
CityBusiness began the Best Places to Work awards program.
2009 Best Places to Work
New Orleans Publishing Group
December 2009 –
For the 7th consecutive year, West Jefferson Medical Center was one of the companies of the region named by New Orleans CityBusiness
in the newspaper’s annual Best Places to Work listing. Started in 2003, Best Places to Work recognizes the area’s 50 top employers,
including 35 large companies and 15 small. Honorees are chosen based on a questionnaire of benefits offered, including average salary,
health care, paid time off and employee programs, coupled with an online survey of employees. During the 7th Annual City Business
Best Places to Work luncheon, West Jefferson Medical Center received its recognition award.
CityBusiness began the awards luncheon as a means of honoring companies based on how well they treat their most
important asset — their employees. Final rankings were based on results from a Best Places to Work survey as well as a separate survey of
several employees. West Jefferson Medical Center is the company in the large firm category placing each year since CityBusiness
began the Best Places to Work awards program.
2009 Get With The Guidelines Silver Performance
Achievement Award – Coronary Artery Disease
American Heart Association
 
September 2009 - West Jefferson Medical Center received the American Heart Association’s Get WithThe Guidelines Silver
Performance Achievement Award–Coronary Artery Disease. The award recognizes West Jefferson’s commitment and success in implementing
a higher standard of cardiac care that effectively improves treatment of patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease.
Under Get With The Guidelines–CAD, patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs,
aspirin, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers in the hospital and receive smoking cessation/ weight management counseling as well as referrals
for cardiac rehabilitation before they are discharged. Hospitals that receive the Get With The Guidelines-CAD Silver Performance Achievement
Award have demonstrated for at least one year that 85 percent of its coronary patients (without contraindications) are discharged following
the American Heart Association’s recommended treatment guidelines.
"The American Heart Association applauds West Jefferson Medical Center for its success in implementing the appropriate
evidence-based care and protocols to reduce the number of recurrent events and deaths in cardiovascular disease patients," said
Gregg C Fonarow, M.D., National Chairman of the Get With The Guidelines Steering Committee and Director of Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy
Center. "West Jefferson Medical Center has achieved a high level of performance in terms of implementing these life-prolonging treatments."
"West Jefferson Medical Center is dedicated to making our cardiac program among the best in the country. The American Heart
Association’s Get With The Guidelines program is helping us accomplish that by making it easier for our physicians, nurses and other
health professionals to improve the long-term outcomes of our cardiac patients, "said Nancy R. Cassagne, Chief Executive Officer of WJMC.
"We are very pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care. Our community is the real beneficiary."
The American Heart Association’s Get WithThe Guidelines program is designed to increase the use of and adherence to the
association’s secondary prevention guidelines for coronary artery disease. Developed to assist healthcare professionals follow proven
standards and procedures before patients are discharged, Get With The Guidelines–CAD can help West Jefferson Medical Center reduce the
risk of recurrent heart attacks and death in treated patients. The program, which works by mobilizing teams in acute care hospitals to
implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines.
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 610,000 people suffer a new heart attack and 325,000 experience a
recurrent heart attack each year. Statistics also show 1.26 million individuals are affected by CAD* each year. Additionally, one in
five deaths in the United States is caused by CAD.
*CAD data was taken from 2009 AHA CHD Statistical Update
2009 Health Care Heroes
New Orleans CityBusiness
2009 - In its third year recognizing outstanding men and women in the health care industry, New Orleans CityBusiness
named 7 West Jefferson Medical Center physicians, staff members and volunteers to the 2009 health care heroes’ class roster.
Heroes were selected by a panel of judges based on their contributions that have increased the well-being of the
community. West Jefferson is proud of the many and varied accomplishments this exemplary group represents and is pleased to
have them openly acknowledged.
Pictured are the WJMC honorees with West
Jefferson Medical Center CEO, Nancy R. Cassagne. (from left to right) Dr.Leslie Levenson, Mattie Schouest, granddaughter
of Betty Dugas (unable to attend), Mrs. Cassagne, Darlene Gondrella, Debra Thibodeaux, Diane Sieta, and Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Fierro.
Not pictured: Dr. Erich Richter.
2009 Certificate of Distinction - Stroke Care
Advanced Certificate as a Primary Stroke Center - The Joint Commission
West Jefferson Medical Center was awarded the advanced certificate
as a Primary Stroke Center with Distinction. The Joint Commission’s Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers recognizes
centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. Achievement of certification signifies that the services
a hospital provides as the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes. It is the best signal to the community
that the quality care provided is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients. In fact, demonstrating
compliance with these national standards and performance measurement expectations may help obtain contracts from employers and purchasers
concerned with controlling costs and improving productivity. The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification program was
developed in collaboration with the American Stroke Association. It is based on the Brain Attack Coalition’s "Recommendations for the
Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers."
2008 Best Places to Work
New Orleans Publishing Group
December 2008 - West Jefferson Medical Center stands by the
philosophy that if you produce a winning game plan and promote total teamwork, you will produce positive results. That philosophy
has served this West Bank of Jefferson Parish hospital for nearly 50 years and has not gone unnoticed.
During a recent awards ceremony, West Jefferson Medical Center was recognized as among the best places to work in
the New Orleans region. The honor was bestowed on the hospital during the 6th Annual CityBusiness Best Places to Work
awards luncheon. In the category of large companies, West Jeff ranks third among the top honored companies.
"We are honored to be recognized by a respected New Orleans-area business journal," comments Nancy R. Cassagne,
West Jefferson’s Chief Executive Officer. As CEO Cassagne adds, "West Jefferson Medical Center combines a winning combination
to meet our goal, which is making people’s lives better through excellent healthcare. We truly appreciate the devotion that
our employees, doctors, volunteers and staff have to the hospital and to the true winners – our patients, their families and
the community we serve."
CityBusiness began the awards luncheon as a means of honoring companies based on how well they treat their most
important asset — their employees. Final rankings were based on results from a Best Places to Work survey as well as a separate
survey of several employees. A panel of CityBusiness employees and members of the Human Resources Management Association’s New
Orleans Chapter served as judges for the competition.
2008 Get With The Guidelines Silver Performance
Achievement Award
American Heart Association
West Jefferson Medical Center has received the American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines –
Stroke (GWTG–Stroke) Silver Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes West Jefferson Medical Center’s commitment
and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according
to nationally accepted standards and recommendations. To receive the GWTG - Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award,
West Jefferson Medical Center consistently complied for at least one year with the requirements in the GWTG–Stroke program.
2008 Heart Walk Fundraising Recognition
Start! Heart Walk - American Heart Association
January 2009 - Over 3,000 New Orleans area residents took giant steps for their heart health on November 15, 2008 at
Audubon Park in the American Heart Association’s annual Start! Heart Walk. The non-competitive, three-mile walk raised $360,000
to support heart disease and stroke research and educational programs in the New Orleans community.
Teams were made up of employees from local companies, along with friends and family members of all ages. "Everyone
knows someone affected by cardiovascular diseases like heart disease or stroke. That’s why it’s so important for all of us
to participate in the Start! movement and do our part to help save lives," said Glen Golemi, CEO of United Healthcare-Gulf
States Region and 2008 Start! Heart Walk Chairperson.
Recognized as the top local company that has raised the most funds in the history of the New Orleans Heart Walk,
West Jefferson Medical Center raised over $50,000 for Start Heart Walk 2008. Our community hospital set a fundraising
record for the New Orleans Walk. More than the funds raised, the hospital is congratulated on its raising community
awareness about cardiovascular and heart disease as the Life Style Change sponsor. Tim Bracey, C.E.P. and Christina
Mamolo coordinated the WJMC Team.
Individuals who made healthy changes to their habits were recognized at the event for being "Lifestyle Change Heroes",
sponsored by West Jefferson Medical Center. On December 4th, Lorraine Miller of Marrero received her lifestyle change award at
West Jefferson Medical Center. CEO Nancy R. Cassagne presented the award.
In addition, walkers participated in various activities at three Start! Heart Walk communities: Create Hope, Inspire
Change and Celebrate Success. Attendees enjoyed free Subway sandwiches and drinks, had blood pressure screenings by Tulane
Medical Center, took "Got Milk!" milk mustache photos, and listened to live entertainment from the Burnside Flashers while at
the Walk. Awards were given out to top fundraising individuals and companies.
Diseases of the heart are the country’s No. 1 cause of death; stroke is No. 3. These and other cardiovascular diseases
kill more than 870,000 Americans each year and cost the nation more than $431 billion in direct and indirect costs. In the New
Orleans area, over 32% of all deaths are a result of cardiovascular diseases.
The New Orleans Start! Heart Walk raised over $360,000 this year. The Heart Walk, which has raised almost $600 million
nationally for research and education since it was launched in 1994, will take place in about 450 cities this year. American
Heart Association-funded research has contributed to many important discoveries such as CPR, life-extending drugs, pacemakers,
bypass surgery, the heart-lung machine and surgical techniques to repair heart defects.
SUBWAY® restaurants, Healthy Choice® and AstraZeneca® are the national presenting sponsors of Start. Local presenting
sponsors included United Healthcare and Peoples Health. American Heart Association officials note Heart Walk and related wellness
activities fit nicely with many individuals’ quest to achieve healthier lifestyles as part of their New Year’s Resolutions. Now’s
the time to work on the year 2009. New Orleans area residents who want information on participating in next year’s Start! Heart
Walk can call the American Heart Association at 504-830-2300.
2007 Outstanding Achievement Award –
Community Cancer Program
Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons
Established in 2004, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) is designed to recognize cancer
programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. A facility receives the OAA following the on-site
evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrates a Commendation level of compliance with seven standards
that represent the full scope of the cancer program and also receives a compliance rating for the remaining 29 standards.
The seven standards that form the basis of the OAA criteria are drawn from the following six areas of program activity:
- cancer committee leadership
- cancer data management
- clinical services
- research
- community outreach
- quality improvement
2007 Best Places to Work
New Orleans Publishing Group
New Orleans CityBusiness has selected its Best Places to Work for 2007. West Jefferson Medical Center is in
that number. The 2007 fifth-annual event honors 50 companies divided into large and small businesses. Based on the U.S.
Small Business Administration’s definition, large businesses have 50 or more employees while small businesses have fewer
than 50 employees. This year’s honorees were selected based on a survey of benefits offered, including average salary,
health care, paid time off and employee programs, coupled with a brief employee survey.
2007 GIFT Certification
Louisiana Maternal and Child Coalition
Louisiana Prenatal Commission
West Jefferson Medical Center in 2007 became the first hospital in Louisiana to be GIFT (Guided Infant Feeding Techniques)
Certified (a Breast Feeding friendly institution). The Family Birth Place accepted this award for West Jefferson Medical Center.
2007 Best Nursing Teams for Texas and
Louisiana Region Honoree – The Family Birth Place
ADVANCE for Nurses
The Family Birth Place has been named as one of the Best Nursing teams for Texas and Louisiana by ADVANCE for Nurses.
The recognition is featured in the Nurses Week issue of ADVANCE for this region. The regional editor of ADVANCE informed
us that the Family Birth Place is the only nursing team from Louisiana to receive the prestigious recognition. This is the second
year in a row that West Jefferson Medical Center nurses are honored.
2007 Energy Star Award
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Department of Energy
West Jefferson Medical Center is an Energy Star award recipient. The ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient
products and practices. Because a strategic approach to energy management is important to a business’ successful financial stability
and the environment, the, EPA’s ENERGY STAR partnership offers an energy management strategy that helps in measuring current energy
performance, setting goals, tracking savings, and rewarding improvements. The EPA provides an innovative energy performance rating
system which businesses have used in tens of thousands of buildings across the country. EPA also recognizes top performing buildings
with the ENERGY STAR. WJMC is a proud honoree.
2007 Innovator of the Year – Behavioral
Medicine Center
New Orleans Publishing Group
West Jefferson Medical Center has received 2007 Innovator of the Year recognition for its outpatient behavioral medicine
services especially in the area of aftercare. The New Orleans City Business Innovator of the Year program recognizes individuals,
companies and organizations that succeed by operating in new and exciting ways or creating unique products.
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