October marked five years since Ochsner Health and LSU Health Shreveport partnered with a vision to improve the health and well-being of their communities.
The newly formed Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana (Ochsner LSU Health) and its partners committed to make healthcare more accessible to all, improve quality, expand patient-centered technology, support the growth of the medical school and enhance research in the region. Building on the strengths of Ochsner Health and LSU Health Shreveport, the healthcare system has exceeded expectations for progress in these areas and continues to focus on its commitments to North Louisiana.
Among the successes of the past five years, Ochsner LSU Health has greatly increased access to care. From the common cold to the most complex medical needs, the health system cares for more than 165,000 patients with over 600,000 clinic visits annually, representing a more than 75% increase in clinic visits over five years. From two hospitals and seven outpatient locations, there are now three hospitals and more than 20 outpatient locations across North Louisiana, providing more care options close to home. Since inception, Ochsner LSU Health has opened St. Mary Medical Center, a newly renovated hospital featuring a wide range of services, including women’s and children’s services, an overnight surgery center, a neurosciences pavilion and a comprehensive diagnostic and imaging center. The health system also partnered with Oceans Healthcare to create a new behavioral health facility, Louisiana Behavioral Health; opened community health centers on St. Vincent Avenue in Shreveport and on Louisville Avenue in Monroe; opened urgent care locations in Shreveport, Bossier City and West Monroe; and added multiple primary care and specialty care clinics throughout the region.
“In five years of partnership, we’ve achieved results beyond our expectations – changing countless lives, creating economic and academic opportunity and transforming the communities we serve throughout North Louisiana,” said Ochsner Health CEO Pete November. “The partnership was designed to expand access to high-quality care, and together we have brought expedited and high-quality primary and subspecialty care to communities across the region. We have supported the medical school both financially and by working with LSU to enhance the clinical training environment for medical students and residents. Since the partnership began, we have seen incredible innovative technological advances, not only in medical treatments, but also in the way our patients interact with their care teams, which allows them to get test results and make appointments quickly and effortlessly.”
“The five-year anniversary of the 50-50 partnership between LSU Health Shreveport and Ochsner Health provides a time to celebrate and reflect on all that has been accomplished by bringing two strong organizations together to create the only academic health center in a 150-mile radius in North Louisiana and adjoining states,” said David Guzick, MD, PhD, Chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport. “As the virtuous circle of patient care, research and education in our academic health center has grown in size, scope and stature, we have created an economic multiplier in the region. But we’re just getting started. We are motivated by our past success to aim even higher in achieving our vision of becoming a top-tier academic health center nationally.”
Ochsner LSU Health is a leader in cutting-edge and high-quality healthcare across multiple specialties. The Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – Academic Medical Center is the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, Level 2 Pediatric Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center — the only hospital in the state with all three designations. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Center has been named as a Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group and one of America’s Best Hospitals by Money Magazine. St. Mary Medical Center also received Press Ganey’s Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award for outstanding patient experience.
With more than 4,200 employees, making it one of the largest employers in the region, Ochsner LSU Health is a powerhouse in the local economy. An additional 350 contracted positions, 950 physicians – including LSU Health Shreveport faculty and residents – and 150 advanced practice providers in more than 65 specialties and subspecialties also work throughout Ochsner LSU Health’s multiple locations. Since 2018, the partnership has increased the number of practicing physicians by 70% and grown its workforce by more than 700 employees.
