Lights, Camera, Action... (contd. from page 1)

3532 Canal Street, Suite 6 New Orleans, LA 70119

Inside DMA is a quarterly newsletter published by Diagnostic Management Affiliates PPO LLC. DMA does not prescribe medical advice. Comments are welcome. For additional information, call or write us as follows: DMA, Attention: Stuart Schmidt,

Marketing Manager, 3532 Canal Street, Suite 6, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119, (504) 484-7077 or (888) 663-7077.

more like “Hollywood South” than it does right now. As Timberlake and Jeff Bridges work on the independent

drama “The Open Road” in New Orleans, Douglas and Jesse Metcalfe are filming a remake of the 1950s criminal drama “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” in the northern Louisiana town of Shreveport. Also in production in the state is the action flick “12 Rounds” starring World Wrestling Entertainment’s John Cena; Universal Pictures’ “Cirque du Freak” starring Hayek and John C. Reilly; the sci-fi feature film “Robosapien,” based on the popular story by the same name; and the horror sequel “Final Destination 4.” Dean Devlin, executive producer of “The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice” starring Noah Wyle and Bob Newhart, which is currently in production in New Orleans, says that while working here he’s been impressed with everything from the services to the people. This was his first time working in Louisiana. “This was a very good experience for us,” he said during a short break in filming earlier this week. “I have shot in other places and it looks beautiful, but it was too painful. This was not. This was really a joy, a joy on the set, a joy off the set.

People took care of us. I definitely intend to do more work here, for sure,” he said.

Stelly and the spokeswoman for his office, Amber Havens, said infrastructure and personnel to support the industry needs

to grow as demand grows for the state as a film location. Havens said Louisiana is working to get funding to further develop its infrastructure and resources, such as training residents in crew positions: grips, lighting, camera operators, wardrobe, set construction, and painting. Havens said one of the industry’s biggest successes has been its expansion across the state, particularly into Shreveport. Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the industry “relocated as far north as possible without leaving the state, and Shreveport was ready to step up and embrace it,” she said. Shreveport, had the right resources, such as hotel space

and office space. But mostly, Havens emphasized the city’s welcoming community. “It’s stayed and has gotten bigger because of the local officials and community there,” she said.

For more information about the film industry in New Orleans visit www.lafilm.org or www.nwlamovies.com.

• Sharecroppingwasthemainbusinessofmyareathroughoutthe1900’s.

• IamthefirstsuburbofNewOrleans.• OneofmyclaimstofameisthatIamhometothelongestoverwaterbridgeintheworld.

• InFrenchmycommunitiesnameliterallymeans“smallfarm”or“tenantfarm”.

• IamoneofthelargestunincorporatedcommunitiesintheUnitedStatesandthelargestinthestate.

Answersonpage3

DMACaseFile

WhatCityAmI?

The great state of Louisiana has always been a wonderful place to film movies. Since at least the 1930’s Louisiana has attracted movie makers to the pelican state. In recent years Louisiana has seen an increase in film and television production, which may be attributed to the m a n y d i v e r s e l o c a t i o n s t o choose from, as well as the tax credi t o f fered to product ion companies. The increase of film and television production within Louis iana has helped the state become the third most popular alternative filming location outside Hollywood. Many wonderful movies have been filmed in the great state of Louisiana: 2001’s Monster’s Ball, 2004’s Ray, 2006’s Déjà Vu, and Factory Girl, just to name a few. Currently there are

Lights, Camera, Action...

Diagnostic Management Affiliates PPO, LLC

A Newsletter for Our Clients and Friends

Summer 2008

Antonio J. Waring, II, M.D.Pain Management Physician Practices at Southern Surgical Hospital, Slidell, LA

Specializing in pain management, Antonio J. Waring, II, M.D., has been a provider with DMA since July of 2007. Dr. Waring received his Bachelor of Science degree from Washington University while earning his M.D. from Tulane University School of Medicine. He completed both his internship in General Surgery and residency in Anesthesiology at Ochsner Foundation in New Orleans. Dr. Waring is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Management. He is well noted for his research as well as the numerous publications he has written on spinal pain.

His practice has become one of the premier centers for treating pain associated with the spinal cord. From low back and leg pain to headaches and neck pain, patient comfort and satisfaction are at the heart of his practice. Dr. Waring understands the importance of upfront and realistic evaluations, which is why he spends time thoroughly examining and understanding his patient’s discomfort. Knowing that deadlines are often dependant upon these evaluations, Dr. Waring and his staff are quick to turn reports around.

In addition to his private practice with Southern Surgical Hospital, Dr. Waring previously worked as the Interventional Pain Physician at the VA Hospital in Biloxi, MS, and the Staff Anesthesiologist at Northlake Anesthesiologists Practice at Northshore Regional Medical Center and the Surgery Suite in Slidell, LA.

over twenty movies in pre-production or production in the state right now.

Justin Timberlake, Salma Hayek, and Michael Douglas are among a host of celebrities working on films in Louisiana, contributing to what is shaping up to be

the busiest year for the state’s film industry to date.

I n 2 0 0 7 t h e r e w e r e fifty-three film and television projects. “We’re on track to break last year’s total,” said Chris Stelly, L o u i s i a n a ’ s director of film and television.

Stelly says that although filmmaking has been on the rise in Louisiana since the state adopted a widely successful package of tax credits for film and television productions in 2002, the state has arguably never looked

Continued on page 4

dma newsletter summer 2008.indd 2-3 6/18/2008 1:50:48 PM

DMACaseFileCONFESSION

IamMetairie/Kenner!AndthefollowingDMAprovidersare

locatedintheunincorporatedareaofMetairie:AdvancedNeurodiagnosticCenter

CharlesAprill,M.DClearviewMedicalImaging

CrescentCityPhysicalTherapyDiagnosticImagingServicesDoctorsImagingServicesEastBankImaging

ThomasR.Lyons,M.D. (Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine)

MetropolitanHealthGroupOchsnerMedicalCenter

OmegaInstituteofHealthandHospitalStand-Up-OpenMRICentersofLouisiana

Tulane-LakesideHospitalKennethE.Vogel,M.D.

AlexisWaguespack,M.D.(Spinecare Medical Group, Inc.)

CASE CLOSED

Does the thought of spring make you sneeze, have nasal stuffiness, itchy, watery eyes or a runny nose? If so, join more than 35 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies every year, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Indoor allergies are usually caused by things such as dust mites, house dust, cockroaches, mold, and pet dander (to name a few). Seasonal changes can increase their severity. Outdoor allergies are triggered by pollen from grass, weeds, and trees, as well as from mold. The major pollen seasons are mid to late spring (tree pollen), late spring to summer (grass pollen), and late summer (weed pollen and ragweed). All of this can vary depending in which area of the county you live. Mold tends to be worst in the fall, but can cause problems in the spring and summer months as well. Pet dander is a year round indoor and outdoor allergen.

Food allergies occur when the immune system has an abnormal reaction to a particular food you consume. The most common food allergies are soy, milk, wheat, seafood, nuts, and eggs. There is no cure for food allergies - you just have to be careful to avoid the individual food and products that contain the allergens.

These days there are many natural-based products and home treatments you can safely try before running to the

Allergies Explained & Natural Remedies for Allergy Sufferersnearest drugstore. Many natural remedies are a useful way to tackle mild allergies as well as your worst symptoms. By making simple changes to your daily diet, you can watch your allergy

symptoms start to lessen or disappear.

Natural Remedies for Allergy Sufferers

Vitamin C acts as an antihistamine once in the body. It helps to inhibit the histamine response in your body, which makes your blood vessels swell and produce fluid, causing wheezing, swelling, and itching. You can find vitamin C in foods such as citrus fruits, red berries, kiwi, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and spinach. It can also be supplemented in many forms which can be found at health food stores or your local drug store. Vitamin B5 is another natural antihistamine that can lessen the symptoms of seasonal allergies. It can help to relieve nasal congestion and alleviate asthmatic symptoms related to seasonal allergies. Vitamin B5 can be found at drug stores or health food stores. Quercetin is an

antioxidant found in plants. There is some evidence that it may control the release of histamine, which causes congestion as well as help reduce inflammation in the airways. Quercetin can be found in plant-based foods, including apples, red and purple grapes, cherries, and onions. You can also find it at most health food stores in pill form.

The foods you consume can help your seasonal allergy symptoms. Foods that are hot and spicy can actually provide some allergy relief. Spicy dishes are more likely to thin mucous secretions, which in turn can clear nasal passages. Some of the recommended spices for this purpose include cayenne pepper, hot ginger, fenugreek, and the traditional onion and garlic.

Sometimes what you don’t eat may be even more important than what you do eat. A person’s food intolerance may be more related to their seasonal allergies than one realizes. “People should really look at their diet and cut out any foods that seem to provoke even a mild sensitivity, such as hives or even an upset stomach,” says Mary Hardy, MD, director of Integrative Medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. By doing so, Dr. Hardy says, this will literally lighten the burden on the immune system, which can help to reduce the impact of the seasonal allergic reactions.

Lastly, if you suffer from ragweed or other weed pollen allergies, try to avoid “eating melon, cucumber, sunflower seeds, banana, chamomile, and any herbal supplements containing Echinacea, all of which can make your symptoms much worse,” say New York University allergist Clifford Bassett, MD.

--For sources and additional information visit Allergy and Remedy information--www.webmd.com and www.fitnessmagazine.com

Southern Surgical Hospital (SSH) is owned by local physicians, in partnership with Cirrus Health. As a physician-owned facility, the hospital is able to offer patients only the latest in technology while being a multi-specialty surgical facility dedicated to delivering personalized, high quality care to each patient.

Ind iv idua l su rg ica l needs a re important at Southern Surgical Hospital. The physicians and professional staff of Southern Surgical Hospital (SSH) go the extra mile to ensure each guest is fully comfortable before, during, and after their surgery. Spine surgeries performed at SSH are done under stealth spinal surgery, a highly efficient image-guided procedure that decreases hospital stay, and shortens the patient’s recuperation time. Stealth surgery is performed at an integrated, image-guided suite, the first of its kind in the nation. Surgeries at SSH are by referral only and SSH does not have an emergency room.

The physicians at Southern Surgical Hospital are some of the finest surgeons in the country. Each physician is an expert within their field of surgical specialty and is dedicated to providing their patients the highest level of care available. Specialties at SSH include: Anesthesiology, Cervical/Lumbar Spine, ENT including pediatric and sleep apnea, General (open and laparoscopic),

IGSS Image Guided Spine Surgery, Neurosurgery, Nutritional Counseling, Orthopedic including Sports Medicine, Total Bone and Joint Surgery, and many other specialty areas. In addition to these procedures the hospital also offers the following Imaging

services and non-surgical services: CT scan, EKG, Fluoroscopy, MRI, Ultrasound, Laboratory, Nutritional Counseling, Pain Management, Pharmacy, and Sleep Labs.

Performing more than twenty-five different types of neurosurgery, their neurosurgeons are leaders in their field and rank among the best in the world for their expertise. Southern Surgical Hospital’s orthopedic physicians perform surgeries ranging from total joint replacements

to carpal tunnel releases to sports-medicine related surgeries. The experienced staff at Southern Surgical Hospital offers a comprehensive range of pain management procedures to help relieve acute or chronic pain conditions. Some of the treatments they offer include epidural steroid injections, nerve root blocks, discograms, and sacroiliac joint injections.

Southern Surgical Hospital has been serving Slidell, LA since November of 2005. With highly skilled physicians, a warm and caring staff and a top of the line facility, Southern Surgical Hospital will be serving the Slidell area for many years to come.

Southern Surgical Hospital

Now that the weather is getting warmer and the days are longer, it is time to reconnect with nature. You don’t have to live near the mountains or a forest to get more from the outdoors. Here are a few tips for people living in the city or virtually anywhere to lead a more nature-filled lifestyle.

• Walk or Bike to work. If you live close to your office and the roads are safe, you should consider combining your commute and your workout. Combine the challenges of hills and curves with the views of sky and trees—there is no healthier way to begin and end your day. If you don’t have a bike, you can also walk or run to work. Choose what works best for you. If the distance is too far, you can always consider taking a walk during your breaks. It is easy to keep an extra pair of walking shoes and change of clothes at work in case you decide to bike, walk, or run to and from work, or if you choose to exercise during your daily breaks. Either way, you will be guaranteed to be more productive, have more energy, and probably lose a little weight in the long run.

• Keep your car in the garage! Most car trips are made within two miles of home. On days when you can run errands within this radius, put on some comfortable shoes, strap on a good backpack, and travel by foot.

• Take the gym outside. Almost any exercise that can be done in the gym can be done outdoors, often more effectively.

Visit www.fitnessmagazine.com for more ways to connect with nature and lead a healthier and more natural lifestyle.

Reconnecting with the Outdoors

Over the last few months DMA has made some exciting changes. Under the direction of our new marketing manager, we have revamped and modernized our logo to incorporate the classic New Orleans’ style Fleur-de-lis. Look for our updated logo the next time you receive a letter or contract from us.

This past May, Stuart Schmidt joined our team as our new marketing manager. Stuart holds a BA in Philosophy from Millsaps College with a Master’s in Business Administration from the Else School of Management at Millsaps College. Over the next few months, Stuart will be looking forward to meeting our existing clients and getting to know how DMA can better serve your needs. Since we have signed up a number of new providers, this will be an excellent opportunity for you to receive an updated DMA PPO provider list.

I am also pleased to have the newsletter back up and running again. With Stuart taking the marketing helm, the newsletter will resume quarterly publication. Thank you for your business. Sincerely,

Jack Onstott

Notes from the General Manager

dma newsletter summer 2008.indd 4-5 6/18/2008 1:50:48 PM