STQN announces 2020 Q2 Medical Director’s Award

Members of the Northlake Pulmonary Group are, from left, Drs. LaSandra Barton, David S. Cressy, Chad B. Van Asselberg, Donald A. Kuebel, Richard E. Casey and Ricardo E. Blanco, and Nurse Practitioner Wendy Pratt APRN. (STHS file image)

By STHS Communication Department

COVINGTON – St. Tammany Quality Network (STQN) presented its 2020 second-quarter Medical Director’s Award to the Northlake Pulmonary Group for their outstanding care in treating critically ill COVID-19 patients at St. Tammany Health System (STHS).

“The care this group provided to our sickest patients was nothing short of spectacular” said Dr. Michael K. Hill.  “The team continuously developed protocols to deal with the changing information concerning the treatment of COVID-19 patients. This included new ways to ventilate patients and new supportive protocols. Additionally, the group also recognized and promptly treated the complications associated with this novel coronavirus. “

 “COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on our most vulnerable patients,” Dr. Hill said. “It was inspiring to see these physicians take the lead in delivering the newest and most effective care to our community. Their dedication to patient care is remarkable.”

The Northlake Pulmonary Group includes Drs. LaSandra Barton, Ricardo Blanco, Rick Casey, David Cressy, Don Kuebel, and Chad VanAsselberg.

The group has been the premier pulmonary-critical care group in western St. Tammany Parish for more than 25 years. These physicians continue to advance pulmonary care and implement the latest diagnostic techniques. One such example is the implementation of endobronchial ultrasound, also known as EBUS. Dr. Blanco helped spearhead the implementation of this diagnostic procedure almost six years ago.

The EBUS procedure is useful in earlier diagnosis of lung cancer, atypical pulmonary infections and inflammatory lung disease. The group also provides critical care coverage at STHS, assists in the treatment of chronic lung diseases, and performs sleep studies and treats patients with sleep apnea. Many of the physicians are also actively involved in the St. Tammany Cancer program at STHS and are active in several STQN committees.

STQN continuously strives to define and improve the healthcare needs of our community. Promoting wellness is a key component of this quest.

The St. Tammany Quality Network is a physician-led organization that demonstrates a commitment to quality and outcomes by creating a medical community aligned around quality initiatives and payer engagement; using a common information technology platform to capture disease specific data to assist in proactive patient care; and collaborate on patient-centric initiatives that enhance the quality and improve efficiency of health care delivery