Ochsner Health Network Officially Launched

Press Release
    On Thursday, June 18, 2015, elected officials, along with the founding partner organizations came together to officially launch and celebrate the Ochsner Health Network. 
    Speakers included Kathy Kliebert, Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals; Warner Thomas, President and CEO, Ochsner Health System (OHS); Patti Ellish, President and CEO, St. Tammany Parish Hospital (STPH); David Callecod, President, Lafayette General Health (LGH); Stephen Wright, Senior Vice President, Group Operations, CHRISTUS Health (CH); and Phyllis Peoples, President and CEO, Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC).
    The event focused on the changes in the healthcare industry and the importance of partnerships to sustain growth while maintaining local access to care.
    The overarching vision for the Ochsner Health Network is an opportunity for the highest quality healthcare organizations, initially including five founding partners encompassing 25 facilities across the state, and more than 3,000 physicians including physicians who are part of Ochsner Physician Partners and St. Tammany Quality Network, to come together and provide more value for more patients.
    The goals set forth by the partners are to build upon unique strengths and share best practices to improve quality, safety and the patient experience, provide greater access to care for patients across the region and reduce healthcare costs.
    Patti Ellish described the key accomplishments between St. Tammany Parish Hospital and Ochsner over the last year including the launch of the electronic health record, Epic, in the STPH clinics in early June – a project that improves the integration of care for patients as they move between Ochsner and STPH.  In addition, the partnership has brought Ochsner pediatric subspecialists into the service district to collaborate with local pediatricians to improve access to new services now available for children and families in west St. Tammany parish.   
    David Callecod, noted that the natural evolution of Lafayette General Health’s success as a system was to join the Ochsner Health Network.  As a leader in patient experience, LGH plans to share best practices and continue to build clinical excellence.  One of the first advancements detailed was the implementation of Ochsner’s telemedicine program in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Lafayette General Medical Center.  The added support of specialists such as Ochsner pediatric neurologists will allow LGH to utilize things like a Total Body Cooling System locally without having to transport the most delicate patients.  
    Stephen Wright of CHRISTUS Health highlighted  the recent announcement of the partnership with CHRISTUS Health Louisiana, which included six facilities, completing the network’s statewide presence.   In addition to an opportunity to work together on clinical research studies, he prioritized work on Medicare Advantage to increase cost savings for those patients.  An early assessment on materials management for CHRISTUS has created more than $3 million in savings opportunities.
    Phyllis Peoples called out the unique opportunity for Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) to align with other very strong organizations through OHN while maintaining independence for both the hospital and physicians.  Ochsner and TGMC have worked successfully together in a public/private partnership at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center and OHN is seen as the natural evolution of this relationship.  
    To learn more about the Ochsner Health Network please visit ochsnerhealthnetwork.org.