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National Hospital Week - May 11 -17
"Caring Is What We Do Best"

We appreciate our RMC Team Members!

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Members of the RMC Cardiopulmonary Department screening local high school athletes
Lonnie Williams,  RDCS, RVT
Crystal Lyons, RRT, Cardiopulmonary Director
Patsy McKenzie,  CCS

Riverside Medical Center and Cardiovascular Associates are screening high school athletes to detect Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a deadly thickening of the heart muscle that causes the sudden death of athletes.

This screening includes a limited Echocardiogram, Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Glucose check. 

These screenings are provided for the athletes at no cost by Riverside Medical Center and Cardiovascular Associates.

For more information, call Crystal Lyons, Director of the Cardiopulmonary Department At 985-795-4136;

Lonnie Williams or Patsy McKenzie at 985-795-4133.

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 Cardiac Screening

We are proud to announce the enhancement of our Cardiovascular Ultrasound system with the addition of the new Vivid 7 Echocardiogram machine.  This dimensional breakthrough dramatically affects the efficiency and ease of assessing your cardiovascular health with diagnostic confidence.

For more information, please contact our Cardiopulmonary Department and speak to one of our qualified Echo Technicians (985) 795-4318.

Who should have a Cardiac Screening?

• If you want to learn more about your heart health
• If you suffer high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, chronic lung condition, chest pain, shortness of breath, smoke cigarettes, suffered a previous stroke, or any heart condition
• If you have a family history of heart disease, or sudden death
• If you have been diagnosed with a heart murmur
• If you are an athlete and concerned about your heart health
• If you are not feeling well and are concerned about your heart health
• If you have not had an EKG or echocardiogram in the past year
• If you are looking for peace of mind

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Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is a very contagious virus infection that sweeps across the country each year from November through April. It affects the respiratory system and can be mild to severe. It impacts people across the world. Every year between 5 to 20 percent of the population in the United States will get the flu. Up to 114,000 people are hospitalized and approximately 36,000 people die from the infection or one of its complications, such as pneumonia. The flu is particularly hazardous for newborns, the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and anyone with chronic medical conditions - including asthma. Susan Varisco, Infection Control Director at Riverside Medical Center says the severity of flu symptoms varies from person to person. Most common symptoms include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Contrary to popular belief, the flu rarely causes stomach upset. What is commonly called the “stomach flu” – with symptoms like nausea, diarrhea and vomiting – is technically not the flu, but gastroenteritis instead. Typically, the flu generally lasts from seven to 14 days, with the first days being the worst. Complications are a bigger health risk than the flu itself, especially for high risk populations. Possible complications that can result from flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children may also get sinus problems and ear infections. The CDC defines those at high risk, in most need of the vaccine, as: • all children aged 6–23 months; • adults aged 65 years and older; • persons aged 2–64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions; • all women who will be pregnant during the influenza season; • residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities; • children aged 6 months–18 years on chronic aspirin therapy; • health-care workers involved in direct patient care; and • out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children younger than 6 months. Prevention The flu spreads in moist droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. These can be transmitted directly through a cough or a sneeze, or indirectly through contaminated objects, like a telephone handset or drinking glass. The viruses can live for several hours on a variety of surfaces. It is usually passed from person to person, though occasionally a person may become infected by touching something with virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose. “Many people are unaware that you may be able to infect others a day before you have any symptoms,” says Lesia McQueen, RN,. "Before you even know you’re sick, you can give another person the flu." “Of course, the best way to prevent flu is to be vaccinated, but here things everyone can do to lower the risk of contracting the virus,” says Susan Varisco. She offers these suggestions for increasing your chances of avoiding the flu: • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. • If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. • Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. • Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Mrs. Varisco cautions, “Some people should not be vaccinated, such as children less than six months old, people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.” The best way to prepare for the upcoming flu season is to arm yourself with the facts and the flu vaccination if it is available to you. For more information about the flu, availability of vaccine or any other questions, contact your physician, the local department of health or visit the CDC's comprehensive flu information center on their website at www.cdc.gov/flu for the latest updates. ### Read More...

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Riverside Medical Center is proud to announce the opening of its new outpatient wound care clinic. The wound care clinic is designed to treat patients with chronic or slow healing wounds that have shown little or no signs of healing over the course of a month or two. Read More...

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Franklinton, LA 2006—Riverside Medical Center and Alliance Imaging, Inc. announce the addition of five day per week magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service, which will enable the facility to service the community with expanded MRI service and capability.

This service has allowed patients to undergo this imaging procedure within the community and now offers additional days of operation. “The addition of this imaging modality compliments ands greatly extend the range of high quality diagnostic services already available to the community’s residents at Riverside Medical,” states Brian Tate, Radiology Director. Read More...

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Recent studies indicate that 27% of Americans are obese and 61% are overweight. These studies also predict that as many as 40% of Americans will be classified as obese by the year 2010. Why? With super-sized meals and drive-through restaurants our nutritional habits are catered toward convenience rather than nutritional value. In addition, technology and modern day conveniences have robbed many Americans of much needed physical activity. Given this information, it’s time to take a step in the right direction. Read More...