4 Clinicians Recognized for Documentation Excellence
The Circle of Excellence Awards celebrates clinicians who demonstrate exceptional commitment to clinical documentation accuracy, integrity and teamwork, key elements in driving high-quality, value-based care.
Each month, these awards recognize one or more outstanding specialists, primary care physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) nominated by their Clinical Documentation Excellence (CDE) educators.
Winners are honored here in the Ochsner Health Network Newsletter, receive the CDE Circle of Excellence lapel pin, an Ochsner Ovation for Excellence from CDE leadership and recognition on the CDE SharePoint site.
Congratulations to our Summer 2025 Circle of Excellence honorees:
Dean Yount, MD, Interventional Cardiology
Our August 2025 Circle of Excellence recipient, Dr. Yount, exemplifies precision and consistency in clinical documentation. Nominated by his CDE nurse, Silvana Whittington, he has set the standard for capturing and supporting chronic HCC diagnoses across patient encounters.
- Encounter Action Rate: 100%
- Best Practice Advisory Action Rate: 98%
His dedication to excellence and collaboration with the CDE team has made a measurable impact on documentation quality systemwide.
Scott Bergeaux, MD, Primary Care
Medical Director, Ochsner Lafayette General
Dr. Bergeaux developed the Ambulatory Focus Program, launched in May 2023, to strengthen documentation accuracy across outpatient practices. Through ongoing CDE work sessions, his team has achieved continuous improvement:
- 2025 Reconciliation Rate: ~91%
- Encounter Action Rate: 65%+
His initiative demonstrates how structured collaboration can translate into sustained documentation success and better patient outcomes.
Whitney St. Mary, NP, Hematology Oncology
Slidell Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center
As departmental CDE liaison, Whitney founded the SPEED Program, training new APPs to master the OPA tool and HCC coding. Her leadership improved note-taking consistency and provider efficiency, producing:
- Encounter Action Rate: 91%
- OPA Action Rate: 79%
Her work has enhanced education, engagement and documentation excellence across the oncology department.
Sidney Jackler, PA-C, Neuro-Headache Specialist
Ochsner Health Center – Covington
Recognized for two years running, Sidney maintains 100% accuracy in documenting specialty-specific chronic conditions via the OPA tool.
- 2024 Results: 100% Encounter Action | 100% Accuracy
- 2025 Results: Flawless performance maintained
As a site lead and mentor, he exemplifies teamwork and dedication, helping peers strengthen their own documentation practices.
