Healthcare providers are encouraged to include testing for HIV infection into their clinical practice as a routine for clients 13-64 years old, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The written separate consent is no longer necessary. Consent for HIV testing shall be incorporated into the patient’s general informed consent for medical care on the same basis as are other screening or diagnostic tests. However, patients continue to have the option to refuse testing.  

Patients agreeing to test will be given an oral or written explanation of the meaning of HIV infection, and significance of negative or positive results. The patient shall be offered an opportunity to ask questions. If a patient declines testing, it shall be documented in the progress note.

Ochsner Holiday Schedule: 

New Year's Day

Mardi Gras Day

Good Friday/Spring Holiday

July 4, Independence Day

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day

Dec 25th the only Christmas/December Holiday

LSU System Holiday Schedule 2007-2008

Fellow LSU Residents,

Tulane will be opening an inpatient unit at NOAH sometime in January.  Thereafter, we will increase our intern call collaboration with Tulane.  We are busy working out the details and trying to make the intern call schedule as high quility and low frequency as possible (q5 to q9).  More updates in January. 

Thanks to Arwen, Ross, Jamie H., and Paula Wilt with putting the call schedules together!

Please submit Duty Hours before years end.  Remember this is necessary to keeping our program accredited.  Please submit Patient Logs thru December 2008 too.  Completing these tasks in one component of professionalism and your residency training.  I admit it's often difficult to stay on top of the paperwork.

The BSC/Irma Bland Psychotherapy Clinic is slated to open in January.  This means ALL residents can get started learning psychotherpy and honing your skills early in training.  And yes, you will be able to practice med management if necessary (Ben McAllister!).  The orientation is January 10th at Ochsner; see below for details. 

Please email me suggestions for the web page.  Remember, we, residents, direct how we use and our page.  So, your input is needed.  We added Dr.Griffies MHERE Guide to practicing and prescribing in the ED, which is excellent.  Also, we added all our recommended books.  Please send me names of books (with ISBN) that you like and we'll add it to the list.

Happy Holidays,

Pejic and Pancholy

Please check out our updated web pages: 

Books to Read,

Intro to Internship,

Downloads 

Rotation Schedule for 2008.

When:  Thursday January 10, 2008 an orientation to the BSC, our new resident clinic,  will take place

Time: 12:30p.m.-2:00p.m.

Where: Room 456 of the Ochsner Brent House Hotel.

1. Give yourself permission to be human. When we accept emotions -- such as fear, sadness, or anxiety -- as natural, we are more likely to overcome them. Rejecting our emotions, positive or negative, leads to frustration and unhappiness.

2. Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable. When this is not feasible, make sure you have happiness boosters, moments throughout the week that provide you with both pleasure and meaning.

3. Keep in mind that happiness is mostly dependent on our state of mind, not on our status or the state of our bank account. Barring extreme circumstances, our level of well being is determined by what we choose to focus on (the full or the empty part of the glass) and by our interpretation of external events. For example, do we view failure as catastrophic, or do we see it as a learning opportunity?

4. Simplify! We are, generally, too busy, trying to squeeze in more and more activities into less and less time. Quantity influences quality, and we compromise on our happiness by trying to do too much.

5. Remember the mind-body connection. What we do -- or don't do -- with our bodies influences our mind. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits lead to both physical and mental health.

6. Express gratitude, whenever possible. We too often take our lives for granted. Learn to appreciate and savor the wonderful things in life, from people to food, from nature to a smile.

Interns:  Now is a good time to take USMLE III.  Administration is urging you to do this now while Medicine and Neurology are fresh in your minds.  Thanks,  KG

1. From any computer, log on to www.residencypartner.com
2. Type in your LSU id and password and Institution: lsuhsc
3. Log in your hours since July 1 2006
4. Pat yourself on the back!
5. Problems? First try reseting your LSUHSC.EDU password.  Then use the new password on the Residency Partner login page.  If that doesn't work email nicholaspejic@gmail.com or npejic@lsuhsc.edu
6. Try to complete ASAP (we're shooting for 5/17/07 by 2pm)