Our Lady of the Lake Ascension Implements New Life-Saving Technology in Emergency Department
October 30, 2024
Gonzales, LA – Our Lady of the Lake Ascension, part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOLHS), announces a major advancement in healthcare with the implementation of the IntelliSep test in its emergency department. This innovative diagnostic tool allows for the early detection and treatment of sepsis. Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in hospitals across the nation and until now there was no objective test to determine if a patient was septic. The first-of-its-kind sepsis detection tool was researched and developed at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. The growth of the tool to Our Lady of the Lake Ascension will provide life-saving technology to more patients in the region.
“We are proud to expand this innovative technology to serve more of our patients throughout Southeast Louisiana. At Our Lady of the Lake Ascension, we will be enhancing our healthcare delivery by reducing mortality, recovery time, and medical costs through early sepsis detection,” said Chuck Spicer, President of Our Lady of the Lake Health.
Sepsis is a condition triggered by the body's response to infection and can rapidly lead to organ failure if not promptly identified and treated. The IntelliSep test uses a standard blood sample to analyze white blood cell responses, delivering results in under 10 minutes. In the first year of implementation at Our Lady of the Lake Emergency Department there has been a 30% reduction in mortality of septic patients.
“It is with immense pride and excitement that we announce Our Lady of the Lake Ascension will be the newest hospital in the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System offering access to IntelliSep, further advancing the care of this community we are proud to be a part of,” said Dr. Christopher Trevino, CMO and Executive Physician of FMOLHS Emergency Department.
The implementation of this diagnostic tool follows rigorous research, development and clinical studies in partnership with medical diagnostics company Cytovale, Our Lady of the Lake Health and LSU, which began in 2014. The test received FDA clearance in December 2022. Building on its initial success at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center – where it was first used to treat patients in August 2023 – FMOLHS has been extending access to the IntelliSep test throughout Louisiana and Mississippi, with Our Lady of the Lake Ascension being the newest location to offer this life-saving test.
For more information about IntelliSep, please visit our blog here.
Photos and B-roll available upon request.
About Our Lady of the Lake Health
Our Lady of the Lake Health is a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare ministry based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with more than 7,500 employees committed to serving the Capital Region and building a healthy community through excellence in patient care and education. With an 800-bed Regional Medical Center, a dedicated Children’s Hospital, a 78-bed hospital in Gonzales, Louisiana, two freestanding emergency rooms in outlying parishes, and a 600+ provider Physician Group, Our Lady of the Lake Health provides comprehensive healthcare services for common to complex conditions. Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is a primary teaching site for graduate medical education programs in partnership with LSU, and is recognized in the areas of heart and vascular, trauma and emergency care, stroke, cancer care, minimally invasive procedures, and more. Our Lady of the Lake is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and is driven by its mission to serve all God’s people, especially those most in need. For more information, visit ololrmc.com.
About the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System is one of the largest healthcare systems based in Louisiana and is the leading healthcare provider for more than half the state’s population. The health system is a non-profit, Catholic organization sponsored by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the ministry serves patients in Louisiana and Mississippi through a network of hospitals, clinics, physicians and integrated health systems. The health system’s unified physician organization is comprised of more than 1,100 adult and pediatric primary care physicians and specialists. The system’s nine main campus hospitals include St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and Gonzales, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Heart Hospital, and Women's & Children's Hospital in Lafayette, Our Lady of the Angels in Bogalusa, and St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. For more information, visit fmolhs.org.