Talking Community Health
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Wellness partners gathered on Friday morning at the St. Landry Bank Annex and described how their companies are responding to a variety of local health care needs.
The bank-sponsored event attracted a variety of providers from medical transports, first responder agencies, hospital specialists and family medicine, who discussed how their efforts are helping improve overall parish health.
St. Landry Bank CEO Robbie Tomlinson explained that the bank has taken an active role in community discussions that involve issues such as health and education.
“What we are realizing is that there are great people in our area who are doing great work in our community,” Tomlinson said as he addressed the large crowd
The bank also received a Louisiana Health Department recognition presented on Friday for promoting workforce practices that are attentive to bank employees.
Tomlinson said the bank has developed a health improvement plan that pays 100 percent of health insurance premiums for fulltime and parttime employees and families.
Employees at the bank are also receiving what Tomlinson described as a work-life balance which includes bereavement days, increased time off, renovated quiet spaces and escape rooms.
The elevated attention to employee health,said Tomlinson, has decreased the number of sick days, which has lowered the overall health costs by the bank.
“As a result we are seeing more productive teams,” Tomlinson added.
The bank, Tomlinson said, has also taken an active role in the community pantry, which is located on the corners of Court and Vine streets.
“What we have been noticing is that within a 24 hour period, is the food that has been stocked in the pantry is gone within 24 hours. There is obviously a great need for (the pantry) in our community,” Tomlinson said.
Mary Pham, who represented Acadian Ambulance, introduced several preventative devices that can be used during emergencies.
Pham displayed a chart which assists first responders in identifying the sources of medical needs for youths and non-verbal individuals and a seat belt pad that allows responders to identify the names of persons who need assistance.
The company, Pham pointed out, also has the ability to assist with hastening the response time of emergency calls.
D’Angellia Vaughn-Allen, a Port Barre native, has returned to St. Landry and she is working as an infectious disease specialist at Opelousas General Health Systems.
Since her return to the parish, Vaughn-Allen said she has recognized the need for treating HIV patients, especially those who are 19 to 25 years old.
“Our care for these patients include how they can overcome these issues,” Vaughn-Allen told those who attended.
Laura Kaiser explained that the parish is fortunate to have an infectious disease expert who works in a rural health environment.
Rhonda Bergeron, who represented Acadiana Practitioners, said the company, which started with three employees, now has 100 workers who are seeing patients who are having difficulties paying for proper medical care.
“It’s a need like you could never imagine,” said Bergeron. “What’s happening within the landscape of our community is real. However we are also seeing that there are individuals out there who are doing a lot of good things that people don’t realize,” Bergeron added.
