Golden anniversary

TGMC leads the way in technology

TGMC in the forefront of patient care

A special word of thanks

Financial responsibility: Hallmark of TGMC’s history

Honoring Chiefs of Staff

A salute to our medical staff

TGMC earns distinction as an Employer of Choice

New services keep TGMC in the forefront of patient care

As your hometown health-care partner, we are always looking at the latest treatments available to help preserve your family’s health.
Lymphedema
For the first time ever in Terrebonne Parish, complete decongestive therapy (CDT) is available for treating lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling of the arms or legs due to accumulation of fluid.

Lymphedema is often caused by injury, surgery or medical treatment that affects the lymph nodes. In addition, some people are born with poor lymph function, setting the stage for lymphedema to develop in young adulthood.

CDT begins with a complete assessment of the illness, as well as the patient’s needs and lifestyle. A personalized treatment plan can then be developed, incorporating therapy options such as:

Manual lymph drainage to improve lymph flow
Compression garments and bandages to prevent fluid buildup
Physical and breathing exercises to encourage drainage
Skin care to reduce the risk of complications

“Lymphedema is a problem in this area, and it’s important to have this level of care available for our community,” says Nancy Dupre, Director of Rehabilitation Therapy Services at TGMC.

Making care convenient is essential to successfully treating lymphedema, adds Lacy Poiencot, LOTR, CLT, a licensed occupational therapist who completed intensive certification training in CDT earlier this year. “By offering this service close to home, we help patients get the best results with the most convenience,” Poiencot says.

Voice and speech difficulties
TGMC now provides Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), a technique for improving the voice and the speech of people affected by Parkinson’s disease, stroke and neurological disorders.

LSVT includes 16 individual sessions in one month. The therapy focuses on improving volume by exercising the muscles of the larynx (voice box) and incorporating sensory awareness training with skill exercises. LSVT has been shown to help 90 percent of patients. TGMC offers LSVT through a specially trained and certified speech language pathologist.

For more information about our lymphedema services and LSVT, please call (985) 873-3555.

Kidney stones
You probably know that kidney stones are very painful. But you may be surprised to learn that 10 percent of Americans will develop the condition at some point in life.

Fortunately for local residents, TGMC offers extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), which uses ultrasonic waves to crush the stones without surgery.

“Lithotripsy is a wonderful new addition to the services available through the Surgery Department at TGMC,” says Lou Estay, Director of Surgery at TGMC. “For many patients, lithotripsy is a noninvasive way to stop kidney stone pain quickly and effectively.”

Director of Surgery at TGMC. “For many patients, lithotripsy is a noninvasive way to stop kidney stone pain quickly and effectively.”

Kidney stones are hard masses that develop when crystals from urine build up. Although they can affect anyone, kidney stones develop more often in Caucasian men, usually between the ages of 20 and 40. Symptoms include sharp pain in the back, side or lower abdomen; nausea; vomiting; blood in the urine and a burning sensation during urination.

Often performed on an outpatient basis, ESWL breaks the kidney stones into tiny particles that the body can easily pass. Usually, only one treatment is required, and the risk of complications is very low. In addition, recovery time from ESWL is short, with most patients returning to their normal lifestyle in a few days.

“Most of the people we treat with ESWL are surprised at the technology and grateful not to have to undergo surgery,” Estay says. “It’s really a remarkable procedure that we are proud to have available for our patients.”