Servant Leadership.

Robert K. Greenleaf coined the phrase and concept in his 1970 essay, “The Servant as Leader.” Other leadership professionals and philosophers have expanded upon the idea, but the concept of “servant leadership” remains simple.

The needs of colleagues is given the utmost attention by servant leaders, who achieve results for their organization by becoming humble stewards of the organization’s human, financial and physical resources.

Chief Operating Officer at Oklahoma University Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Rebecca Benoit, RN, MHA, who recently accepted the position as Chief Nursing Officer for Dauterive Hospital, classifies her leadership style as that of a servant leader.

“That means putting the right clinical leader or expert in place over a specific service and ensuring they have the tools and are empowered to get the job done,” Benoit said. “It is my goal to earn the trust of the physicians and build confidence that all clinical services at Dauterive Hospital will meet and exceed all of their needs and those of their patients and families.

“As a collaborative partner in all aspects of care, I will have an open door policy for all members of the Medical Staff as well as scheduled meetings when appropriate to facilitate closing the communication loop,” she added.

Benoit replaces Anna Burke, RN, FACHE, who served as Chief Nursing Officer for Dauterive Hospital since August 2008. Burke moves to The Regional Medical Center of Acadiana in September, where she will serve as Chief Nursing Officer for the Lafayette-based hospital.

Benoit earned an associate’s degree in Nursing from LSU at Eunice in December 1982. While serving as Chief Nursing Officer for Elmwood Medical Center in Jefferson, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Loyola University in nearby New Orleans in December 1996.

She moved to the Chief Nursing Officer position at the former Medical Center of Southwest Louisiana, now The Regional Medical Center of Acadiana, in 1997 and earned a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Tulane University in New Orleans two years later.

Benoit has 20 years of administrative experience, 16 of which she spent in senior management in various roles as Chief Nursing Officer and interim posts as a Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Tasks included analyzing clinical, financial and operating data to support strategic decision making, developing successful collaborative nursing, physician and hospital relationships and developing leadership training for directors and managers.

Professional memberships include the American College of Health Care Executives, Governing Board of the American Heart Association, Oklahoma City Health Alliance for the Uninsured and the College of Pharmacy National Advisory Board.

A family illness inspired Benoit to begin looking for employment a little closer to home. Still, on some level, Benoit said she always knew she would return to her South Louisiana roots.

“The smart Cajuns always do,” she said. “The CNO position at Dauterive is a true blessing for me because it allowed me to be back with family in a time of need and stay with my HCA family for employment.”

The mission of Dauterive Hospital clearly states that “above all else we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.” That comment extends into community service for Benoit, an active advocate for healthcare services for the uninsured in Oklahoma City, Okla.
 
“I look at community service as a way to take care of our extended family,” she said. “The real rewards in life come to us when we go above and beyond what is expected, so community service is just the right thing to do for everyone, including yourself.”
 
Still, serving people through healthcare is a primary focus for Benoit.

“People that know me well would say I have great spiritual energy and a family focus and I am really proud of that,” she said. “As a health care professional I never take for granted the privilege of being able to make a difference in life and death of the patients and families we serve on and off the hospital campus.”
 
At a glance
• 2005-Present – Chief Operating Officer at Oklahoma University Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
• 2000-2005 – Chief Nursing Officer for Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver
• 1997-2000 – Chief Nursing Officer at the former Medical Center of Southwest Louisiana, now The Regional Medical Center of Acadiana.
• 1993-1997 – Chief Nursing Officer at Elmwood Medical Center in Jefferson, where she also served as Interim Chief Executive Officer for three months in 1996
• 1990-1993 – House Supervisor/Nursing Administrator for Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette
• May 1999 – Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Tulane University in New Orleans
• Dec. 1996 – Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Loyola University in New Orleans
• Dec. 1982 – Associate’s degree in Nursing from LSU at Eunice

Got stones? Got relief. Fast.

Dauterive Hospital in conjunction with Queen City Urology and The Urology Clinic now offers those suffering with kidney stones a more immediate solution to traditional treatment methods.

Previously, people with kidney stones had to wait up to two weeks for the lithotripsy machines shared by several hospitals in the Acadiana area to make a scheduled visit to a particular facility before treatment. Urologists typically prescribed pain medication to help patients manage the discomfort in the meantime.

Dauterive Hospital recently partnered with HealthTronics Inc., a company specializing in extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), to provide full time availability of the lithotripter, which will be used exclusively at Dauterive Hospital’s new “Stone Center.” Physicians managing the Stone Center include Dr. David Benson with Queen City Urology and Dr. Clyde Roy of The Urology Clinic. Both practices are located on the Dauterive Hospital campus at 600 N. Lewis Ave.

“This partnership makes Dauterive Hospital the only hospital in Acadiana to have a lithotripsy on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Alan Fabian, Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to bring this much needed service to our families, friends and neighbors in Acadiana.”

Lithotripsy is a non-invasive procedure performed on an outpatient basis. Other benefits include drastically reduced pain, recovery times and a low risk of complications.

“People don’t want to hurt. We now have the capacity to treat all stones, so there is no reason for anyone to go anywhere else to receive the treatment they need and the relief they so greatly desire,” said Dr. Benson, a Board-Certified Urologist.

This is great news for area physicians, as well, Dr. Benson explained, because physicians no longer have to wait for their patients to receive treatment. The service also provides relief to area businesses, whose employees suffering from kidney stones will be off of pain medication and back to work sooner, he said.

Lithotripsy uses shockwaves directed from outside the body to fragment stones inside the urinary tract. The stone to be treated is targeted with a real time X-ray. High-energy pressure waves are focused on the stone until it breaks into tiny particles, which can be passed naturally and painlessly in the urinary system.

“It’s better patient care and it’s quick,” Dr. Benson added. “This is a collaborative effort between my practice, The Urology Clinic and Dauterive Hospital to improve the care of patients with stones.”

eQ Health Solutions, the former Louisiana Health Care Review Inc., recently honored Dauterive Hospital with a prestigious platinum-level award for quality patient outcomes for the second consecutive year.

Dauterive Hospital, founded in 1920, is the only Teche Area health care provider to receive the prestigious Platinum Level honor two years in a row.

eQ Health Solutions, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Louisiana, recently presented the 103-bed full-service, acute care hospital in New Iberia with its Platinum Level 2009 Louisiana Hospital Quality Award at the third annual Louisiana Health Care Quality Summit hosted by eQ Health Solutions in Baton Rouge.

“In all instances we want to do the right thing for our patients, physicians, staff and volunteers. Dauterive Hospital relies upon proven, evidence-based practices to ensure our guests receive the consistent, quality medical care they deserve,” said Alan Fabian, Chief Executive Officer.

“The bottom line is lives are being saved and the health of our community is being improved – a direct result of the quality improvement initiatives being carried out at Dauterive Hospital,” Fabian added. “We are proud of the commitment and dedication our physicians and staff have shown to our patients and our community. On their behalf, we thank the state for this prestigious honor.”

This is the fifth year these awards have been given to hospitals in Louisiana. eQ Health Solutions established the awards to recognize Louisiana hospitals that successfully implement quality initiatives directed toward improving patient care in the hospital setting, specifically in the areas of: Acute Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure, Pneumonia and Surgical Care.

These topics have been designated as national health care priorities by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The quality improvement efforts at Dauterive Hospital are led by Joyce Andrico, RN, Quality Management Director, and a team of physicians including Dr. Michael Alvarez, Chief Medical Officer.

“All of our hard work is about improving the quality of patient care, outcomes and quality of life,” Andrico said. “We are honored to receive this recognition from Louisiana Health Care Review, which shows Dauterive Hospital has made significant improvements. We have improved and will continue to improve the quality of care.”

The Hospital Quality Award is based on select criteria and measured improvements in the specified clinical areas. To be eligible for the award, hospitals must have achieved improvement at least 25 percent for each applicable topic or maintain a high level of performance greater than 90 percent during the 2008 calendar year. There were 78 hospitals in the state that received 2009 Louisiana Hospital Quality awards.

Physicians, patients and visitors may now use their personal laptops and Internet-compatible cell phones inside Dauterive Hospital to connect to the World Wide Web for free.

Dauterive Hospital launched the Guest Network – an in-house wireless Internet Connectivity service -- this week allowing patients and guests to stay in touch with family and loved ones throughout their stay. The service is offered at no charge.

“Keeping family members and loved ones abreast of a patient’s condition has never been easier,” said Alan Fabian, Chief Executive Officer. “The service also allows patients and other guests to access work or personal e-mail and other Web sites they normally visit to stay connected.”

Guests inside the hospital simply connect to the World Wide Web through their laptop or cell phone Wi-Fi connection. Laptops equipped with the software automatically search for the connection and link to it.

The new Wi-Fi service is good news for physicians. Many physicians are moving to electronic practice management systems, which are easily accessible from the Internet.

“The service allows physicians to connect to their private practice, personal e-mail and other Internet-based tools that aid in caring for their patients,” Fabian added. “It’s like having a direct link to your office in your hands while inside the hospital.”

Dauterive Hospital in conjunction with Queen City Urology now offers a surgical procedure that freezes prostate cancer in its tracks.

Board-certified Urologist Dr. David Benson joined the Dauterive Hospital family of physicians in the summer of 2009 and opened Queen City Urology, 500 N. Lewis Ave., Suite 270. Soon after his arrival, Dr. Benson began offering Targeted CryoAblation of the Prostate, simply referred to as “Cryo.”

Cryo is an FDA- and Medicare-approved and accepted treatment for localized or recurrent (following radiation) prostate cancer that does not require major surgery to treat the cancer, Dr. Benson explained. The minimally invasive procedure utilizes ultrasound guidance to allow a specially trained Urologist to visualize the prostate as he strategically inserts up to eight slender cryoprobes directly into the prostate gland.

Each probe transmits argon and helium gas to freeze and thaw the entire prostate. A warming catheter protects the urethra. Temperature sensors carefully monitor the process and precisely determine when target temperatures have been reached.

“Argon gas circulates inside the probes, creating an ice ball that kills the cancer cells irrespective of their aggressiveness,” Dr. Benson explained. “Advances include real-time ultrasound and computer guidance to individualize treatment based on the unique characteristics of each patient and his cancer.”

Nothing is removed. There are no incisions. Most Cryo procedures are done on an outpatient basis. Some patients are required to stay overnight. The recovery time is reduced compared with more traditional surgical treatments available for prostate cancer, he added.

“In select cases, Focal therapy (referred to as “male lumpectomy”) may be offered to treat only the affected part of the prostate and leave the rest of the prostate untreated,” Dr. Benson said. “The benefits – potential preservation of potency and the ultimate in ‘watchdog waiting.’ This is the only FDA-approved technology that allows the option of focal therapy for prostate cancer. Cryo involves a single treatment as opposed to radiation which may require up to 45 treatments over a nine-week period.”

Cryo provides highly effective 10-year survival rates for all localized prostate cancers, Dr. Benson said. And, unlike radical surgery or radiation treatment, Cryo can be repeated if the cancer recurs.

Radical Prostatectomy, the most common treatment, involves surgical removal of the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissue. It has the highest rate of complication, requires a stay of several days in the hospital and a recovery period of several months. Recovery times have been reduced by the newer “robotic” procedures; however, there is no data demonstrating on oncologic advantage over conventional radical prostatectomy. According to recent literature, the most important factor in successful outcomes appears to be the experience of the surgeon rather than the technique utilized.

 Radiation Therapy is used to treat localized cancer. There are two types. External beam radiation (IMRT, EGRT) involves treatment with high-energy rays five days a week for up to nine weeks, depending on the dose prescribed. In more aggressive cancers, it may also include the use of hormone therapy for 6 to 24 months. Seed implantation is a minor surgical procedure performed by the radiation oncologist and urologist to implant radioactive “seeds” into the prostate gland. The “seeds” give off radiation for several months. There may be fewer complications with this less invasive procedure; however, the toxicity of the radioactive material may result in significant long-term complications.

Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis, Dr. Benson said. Cryo is a potential treatment option for men of all ages with clinically localized (T2 or less) prostate cancer. As with any treatment, the patient’s age, medical history, stage and location of the cancer, as well as the attitude and family support are factored into the decision-making process.

“My job is to help patients make the best decision for treatment with the two most important factors being quality of life and control of the disease,” Dr. Benson said. “If I can’t give patients a reasonable treatment and quality of life at a level they desire,” he said, “then I haven’t done much for them.”

CryoAblation Benefits

• Lower morbidity and side effects when compared to other treatments
  • Negligible incidence of incontinence (may be higher in treating radiation failure patients)
• Quicker recovery time
• Minimally invasive
• Minimal blood loss
• Option to repeat if necessary
• Ability to customize the treatment based on clinical parameters
  • Male lumpectomy/Focal
  • Nerve sparing
  • Total gland ablation

Robert K. Greenleaf coined the phrase and concept in his 1970 essay, "The Servant as Leader." Other leadership professionals and philosophers have expanded upon the idea, but the concept of "servant leadership" remains simple.

The needs of colleagues is given the utmost attention by servant leaders, who achieve results for their organization by becoming humble stewards of the organization's human, financial and physical resources.

Chief Operating Officer at Oklahoma University Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Rebecca Benoit, RN, MHA, who recently accepted the position as Chief Nursing Officer for Dauterive Hospital, classifies her leadership style as that of a servant leader.

"That means putting the right clinical leader or expert in place over a specific service and ensuring they have the tools and are empowered to get the job done," Benoit said. "It is my goal to earn the trust of the physicians and build confidence that all clinical services at Dauterive Hospital will meet and exceed all of their needs and those of their patients and families.