ON A ROLL Be Well Bus, new cancer center signal 'a new day' for Northshore cancer care - St. Tammany Health System
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Vol. 17, No. 3Summer
/ Summer2021
Summer 2021
2021
ON A ROLL
Be Well Bus, new cancer center What you need to know about COVID-19, p. 4
signal ‘a new day’ for New St. Tammany Cancer Center opens its doors, p. 8
Be Well Bus hits the streets for community health, p. 11
Northshore cancer care Shake, shake, shake your booty at THE Gala 2021, p. 14 1
St. Tammany Health System is
home to the first and most
experienced robotics team on
the Northshore. US News and
World Report has named us a
High Performing Hospital. And
because of our dedication to
teaching the healthcare heroes
of tomorrow, we’ve been named a
top teaching hospital nationally.
MANY minds.
MANY advanced technologies.
MANY reasons to choose
ST. TAMMANY HEALTH SYSTEM.
ST. TAMMANY
MANY
INNOVATIONS
2 WORLD-CLASS HEALTHCARE. CLOSE TO HOME.
Gratefully Yours
MISSION
We are the heartbeat of our community,
Gratefully Yours
caring for our patients and their families
with excellence, compassion and teamwork.
EAM AHEA
VISION
Without
We will strengthen the health of our community Summertime,
question, and
COVID-19 has been thethe living story
healthcare is ...ofhealthy
2020 — but it’s by no m
with compassion, innovation and partnership.
only story worth telling at St. Tammany Health System.
VALUES
Teamwork. Trust. Compassion. Quality. Innovation.
Summer is brimming withthe
As we launch excitement and
last quarter great news,
of 2020, I’d likefrom the opening
to express my gratitude to you, our co
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS the new
of our beautiful exceptional
patientsupport
tower andyou our
havecollaborative
shared with our health
cancer system
center colleagues in this wild
with
John A. Evans, Chairman
James L. Core, Vice Chairman Ochsner HealthThank
to theyou for following
launch infection prevention
of our community guidelines unit,
health screening to isolate
the when you are ill, w
Thomas D. Davis, Secretary-Treasurer Be Well Bus! wash your hands and keep a distance from others. Thank you for the thoughtful gifts to
Wilson D. Bullock lll and colleagues in the midst of the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in our community, and
Edgar J. Dillard CPA continuing to remember us as the virus continues to infect new patients daily.
Mimi Goodyear Dossett Although COVID-19
Thank youseems to be rearing
for trusting its family’s healthcare. We strive to deliver on our
us with your
Merrill Laurent MD head once again – a result of too few people being
world-class healthcare, close to home. In 2020, we were recognized nationally for safe
Sue Osbon PhD
vaccinated combined with the arrival
patient experience in our
from organizations ranging from Leapfrog and U.S. News and W
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP community of the highly transmissible Delta variantQuantros.
industry watchers like Healthgrades and
Joan M. Coffman FACHE, President and CEO
We are
of the virus – those growing
who to serve.
have gotten Ourshot
their main campus expansion is moving along with the go
Sharon Toups FACHE, SVP/Chief Operating Officer
Kerry Milton BSN RN MSHA, SVP/Chief Nursing Officer first patient this winter. The Covington
appear still to be well-protected, and the brilliant and Clinic across the street from our Bone & Joint
Patrick J. Torcson MD MMM, SVP/Chief Medical Officer to open with Express Care, our pediatrics clinic, pediatric therapy and, soon, the Pa
brave work of scientists and healthcare professionals
Sandra DiPietro MBA, SVP/Chief Financial STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman
Officer Our partner is advancing the cancer center project forward on schedule, where we p
Carolyn Adema SPHR, SVP/Human Resources worldwide and here in our own
comprehensive cancersystem
centercontinue to had.
we’ve ever
Margaret Collett RN JD, VP/Chief Compliance Officer make a difference.We are the proud owners of a new Mako robotic system for orthopedic surgery, re
Craig Doyle, VP/Chief Information Officer Joan M. Coffman, FACHE
Michael K. Hill MD, VP/Quality and Utilization Management
We stand as the hips and knees. We also introduced UroNav for prostate cancer detection and treatm
Jack Khashou M.Ed MS, VP/St. Tammany mostQualityequipped
Network year.received
and If you haven’t We haveyour
threeCOVID-19
DaVinci robotic systems
vaccine yet, for urologic, gynecologic and general su
STHS complies with applicable federal civil rights lawsexperienced
and does not discriminate on the
We are performing pediatric spine surgery
call us at (985) 898-4001. We’ll get you protected in no time. at St. Tammany Health System. We are
on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. STPH does not to replace heart valves, meaning patients don’t have to undergo open heart surgery a
exclude people or treat them differently because of race, Northshore,
color, national origin, and when
age, disability or sex. STPH provides free aids and services to people with to their daily lives within days not weeks.
you
disabilities to communicate effectively with us. If you need thesecouple that withIf you haven’tWe
services, contact yet seen the Be Well Bus, check out the article in this issue to
stand as the most equipped and experienced on the Northshore, and when yo
the Patient Relations Department at 985-898-4669.
our compassion, learn more, and keep your eyes out for our sleek and modern mobile health
with our compassion, empathy and care, we cannot be surpassed.
empathy and care,screening we unit coming to aabout
As you read locationthesenear
andyou.
otherWe see this
stories new
in this bus as an
quarter’s issue of Heart to Heart, p
cannot be surpassed. embodimenttake of ourourmission to be the
commitment heartbeat
to our communityof our community,
to heart, caring caring for and families w
for patients
BOARD OF TRUSTEES compassion
our patients and and teamwork.
their families with excellence, compassion and teamwork.
William P. Trist, Chairman
Elizabeth Healy, Vice Chair Gratefully,
Darci S. Senner, Secretary-Treasurer Being out in the community with education and outreach, screening for
Joan Coffman FACHE heart disease, diabetes and a wide spectrum of cancers is a great way we can
Paul Davis
Mimi Goodyear Dossett
make a difference in the overall population health. Detecting these types of
Kevin Gardner Crews
conditions and diseases early worktheon
gives patients bestthe lighting
possible chance toin the
prevail. Adminis
Rock Kendrick Joan Coffman, reception area.
STHS President/CEO
Mary D. Lee
Renee Maloney
Please enjoy this issue of Heart to Heart magazine, our opportunity to share
Becky Carson Parks with you the world-class healthcare we deliver here close to home.
Norma Richard
Jim Woodard MD
Gratefully, Members of the STHS
executive team model
St. Tammany Health System
some of the cloth face
(985)898-4000 | StTammany.health masks purchased for
1202 S. Tyler St., Covington, LA 70433 health system colleagues
this past summer. Pictured,
St. Tammany Hospital Foundation from left, are Midge
(985)898-4171 | STHFoundation.org Collett, Kelly Rabalais,
Sandra DiPietro, Sharon
Toups, Joan Coffman,
Heart to Heart magazine is a quarterly publication Kerry Milton, Jack Khashou
of St. Tammany Health System and Craig Doyle. (Photo by
Joan M. Coffman, FACHE
Mimi Gaudet / STHS)
Vol. 17, No. 3; Summer 2021
STHS President and CEO
Melissa Hodgson, executive editor
Mike Scott, editor and senior writer
Tim San Fillippo, cover design and art direction
Jan Budenz, editorial assistant
3
COVID-19
FULL STEAM AHEAD
“Everything we do in life is a decision of benefit BY THE
and risk. I think the benefit of taking the vaccine NUMBERS
far exceeds the risk.” Key COVID-19
– Dr. Mike Hill, St. Tammany Health System infectious disease specialist figures as of July 1, 2021
Delta Blues 70-75%
The approximate
percentage of people
who experts say need
to be vaccinated to
Talking COVID, variants, vaccines and what comes next begin approaching herd
immunity.
BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG
37.7%
Crews work on the lighting in the Administration
reception area. The percentage of people
We’re not wearing masks everywhere we
in Louisiana who have
go anymore, but 16 months after COVID-19 received at least one dose
showed up in St. Tammany Parish, it’s still of a COVID vaccine.
making headlines.
There’s talk of the nasty new Delta variant.
There’s talk of vaccine side effects. There’s talk 40%-49%
of what things are going to look like this fall – The percentage of people
in St. Tammany Parish who
and whether we’ve got another outbreak ahead
have received at least one
of us. dose of a COVID vaccine.
To get the straight scoop on the virus and Dr. Mike Hill, infectious disease specialist at St. Tammany
what the next few months hold, we recently Health System. (Photo by Tim San Fillippo / STHS)
ew patient wing at St. Tammany Health System’s main Covington campus, located prominently along South Tyler Street,
sat down for a chat with St. Tammany Health
e a four-story structure that will add 160,000 square feet of space to the hospital. (Photos by Tim San Fillippo / STHS) largely unfinished initially.
30% - 39%
The fourth-floor, reserved for future expansion, will remain
System infectious disease guru Dr. Mike headlines about the incidence of myocarditis The percentage of people
Hill. Below, find an edited transcript of our or pericarditis (heart inflammation) after in Tangipahoa Parish who
vaccination, but that’s extremely rare. These have received at least one
ew four-story conversation: patient dose of a COVID vaccine.
cases are primarily in younger males, usually
wer takes shape
Let’s start byalongtalking about who our
under the age of 30 and most under the age
uth Tyler COVID Street patients at St. Tammany Parish
of 20, and the majority of it is completely Less than
Hospital are now.
MIKE SCOTT,The majority of COVID patients we’re
MSCOTT@STPH.ORG
resolved within five to 10 days. Again, this is an
extremely rare event.
29.9%
seeing now are younger and unvaccinated. The percentage of people
And, by the way, you can get myocarditis or in Washington Parish who
oordinating There
the have been oneofor two patients that have
construction pericarditis when you get COVID. have received at least one
been vaccinated
ur-story structure at the same thattime
came in sick but were dose of a COVID vaccine.
Also, speaking of side effects: The vaccine
re running not as sick as the
a full-service unvaccinated
hospital is patients. The
does not cause sterility. It does not cause birth
er exactly majority
an easy task.of patients
Doing it ininall age groups that took
middle of a global pandemic onlywell-protected, but we
the vaccine seem to be
defects. It does not cause long-term genetic
dysfunction. Those are myths propagated by
600,859
Thefirst-floor
total number of COVID
es things have had a significant shift in demographics to
The ceiling treatment in public areas on the first floor, including in this A look down the hallway that will
that much more difficult. anti-vaxxers,
Administration conference and arched
room, will feature they’re just not true. There’sconnect the new
wood. deaths
wingin to the United
the old States
building
patients 60 and
despite the challenges, St. Tammany under. near the current site of PJ’s Coffee.
no substance to them. since the start of the
lth System’sAnd new there’s
patientan wing
easy—way to avoid that. pandemic.
Are you more worried about the long-term
und for which Right: was broken in 2018
vaccinations. Get and
vaccinated.
effects of COVID than you are about vaccine
ch is part of There
ansion plan
a three-year,
— continues
$100
apace,
million
are those, though, who are still
withside
a effects. That’s
side effects? Yes. Everything we do in life is a 10,723
concerned about vaccine decision of benefit and risk. I think the benefit The total number of COVID
on-cutting anceremony
important expected to take
point, particularly given recent deaths in Louisiana since
of taking the vaccine far exceeds the risk.
e this winter. the start of the pandemic.
ere’s a peek inside the building, which
designedSTHS administers COVID-19 vaccines from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays at Sources: Centers for Disease
by the Covington-based Control and Prevention,
its Express Care clinic in Covington. Use the MyChart app or call (985) 898-4001 to make an appointment.
WB Architects to blend seamlessly with Louisiana Department
4
4 of Health
existing building — and which was
ming with activity recently as crews
h Womack Construction put finishing
hes on everything, literally, from the A nurses station takes place in one of As with much of the new wing’s first floor, the elevator lobby is tiled with
STHS cuts ribbon on $56 million, four-story patient tower
Expansion allows for every room in the hospital to be a private one
Gratefully Yours
BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG STHS leaders cut
the ribbon on the
thout question, COVID-19 has been the healthcare story of 2020 — but it’s by no means the
St. Tammany Health System leaders health system’s
new patient tower,
cut the ribbon in April on one of the
ly story worth telling at St. Tammany Health System. designed by fl+WB
biggest expansions in the organization’s architects and
67-year history, a four-story, $56 million built by Womack
new patient tower blending state-of-the- Construction to
As we launch the last quarter of 2020, I’d like to express my gratitude to you, our community, fo
blend seamlessly
art medical technology withthe theexceptional
health support you have shared with our health system colleagues in intothis wild and crazy y
the existing
system’s long-standing Healing Arts
Thank you for following infection prevention guidelines to isolate when youhospital.
are ill,(Photo
wearbya mask,
philosophy. Mike Scott/STHS)
“What an exciting day today wash your hands and keep a distance from others. Thank you for the thoughtful gifts to our foundati
is, and
long awaited,” STHS President and and colleagues in the midst of the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in our community, and thank you for
CEO Joan Coffman said. “One continuing
of the to remember
In addition ustoasfeaturing
the virusthe continues
latest to infect new
The newpatients daily.
wing will also feature
things that was so important as we Thank you for trusting us with your
medical technology, the new tower’s family’s healthcare. We strive to
artwork funded through deliverSt. on our promise to yo
Tammany
developed this new bed tower world-class
was to healthcare,
addition ofclose to home.
70 patient roomsIn
A new cancer center goes up near the intersection of Highway 21 and Interstate 12 in Covington.
2020, we were
– which recognized
Hospital nationally
Foundation’s HealingforArts
safety, quality an
Thereally incorporate
center, a joint project new technology
patient
of St. Tammany and
Health experience
System were
and Ochsnerfrom
designedorganizations
Health, iswith input
expected fromranging
to accept the healthfrom Leapfrog and U.S.
Initiative, which seeksNews and World Report
to promote
its first patient in summer 2021. (Photos courtesy Ochsner Health)
innovation that will help to industry sustain us watcherssystem’s
likedoctors and nurses
Healthgrades and– will allow
Quantros. a conducive healing environment
well into the future.” for every room in themain
hospital to be a expansion through everything from installation
We are growing to serve. Our campus is moving along with the goalofof seeing
That includes new administrative space private one for the first time in its history. traditional artworks to choice of lighting
and a seven-room conference center on
first patient this winter. The Covington Clinic across the street from our Bone & Joint Clinic is abo
Taking shape
“I’ve been on the medical staff here for and wallpaper design.
the first floor; 30 intensive-care to open
beds onwith Express Care, our pediatrics clinic, pediatric therapy and, soon, the Parenting Cent
31 years, and I’m really pleased to be able Completion of the new tower represents
President and CEO Joan Coffman
Our partner istoadvancing
the second floor; and 40 medical-surgical say that,” STHSthe cancer center
Chief Medica project forward
l Officer the second onphase
schedule, where
of STHS’s we plan the most
Expansion
beds on the third floor. The comprehensive
fourth floor cancer
Dr. Patrickcenter we’ve everthehad.
Northshore cancerreserved care
Wefor
to expand
are the proud
withTorcson
new said. “At
facility end of
rising south 2020 project. With its completion, focus
offor
Covington
has been left unfinished, the day,owners of a new
what it means Mako
is a new erarobotic
at system
turns to orthopedic
remodeling andsurgery,
renovation replacing
of total
e standBYfuture
as the
expansion.
MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG hips and knees. We also introduced UroNav for prostate cancer detection and treatment earlier t
St. Tammany Health System.” parts of the existing hospital. n
ost equipped and year. We have three DaVinci robotic systems for urologic, gynecologic and general surgeries.
This winter, leaders at We are performing pediatric spine surgery at St. Tammany Healthextent that We
System. we’darelikeusing
to today
TAVR
perienced STHS brings ‘Stop
on the
St. Tammany Health System
to replace heart valves, meaning patients don’t have
“One of the things that we’ve noticedThere,
the school system’s
to undergo
at our open
—non-classroom
but which willsites.
heart surgery
be at the
and can retu
rthshore,
expectand when
to cut the ribbon on they trained 302cancer
new facultycenter
and staff— are
the Bleed’ training
the 160,000-square-foot
u couple that with
to their daily lives withinCancer
St. Tammany days not weeks.is that we have
Center seen
members on how clinical
to pack atrials
wound,for apply
our patients
We stand as the most equipped and experienced on the Northshore, and when you
thosecouple
clinicalthat
into community
patient tower that’s been under
r compassion,
construction since late 2018with
significant growth over the last five years.
on our compassion, empathy and care, at
basically space-constrained weour
cannot
a tourniquet
be
So, we’reand perform
surpassed.
saving
existing
other life-
and expanding
techniques.trials,” Coffman said. “We do
site.”
mpathyits
andmaincare, we
hospital campus —
BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORGbutAs you read about these and other stories in this quarter’s
Some issue of recently
of those Heart
some ofto Heart,
trained
that today,please
school know
but this willw
- Joan Coffman, STHS President and CEO system employees now qualify as
there
nnot be won’t
surpassed.
Two be minutes.
to five much time fortake
That’s all itour commitment to our community to heart, caring for patients
takes and
give usfamilies
far biggerwith excellenc
opportunity,
celebration when it’s “Stop the Bleed” trainers themselves,
for a bad situation tofinished.compassion and
get worse. St. teamwork.
Tammany Health System’s Bethany Monistere,
particularly with our partner.
There’s too much other work to be done. Also, we’ll be ableso they
to can
allow share the
integrated knowledge
therapies with
— healing of
More to the point, that’s all it takes for center in red shirt, recently visited Pontchartrain
Just two miles south, another major expansion is
Elementary taking
School in Mandeville body,
to trainmind
facultyand more
spirit teachers
— to and
occur staff.
in thatAdditionally,
location.”
a person suffering a traumatic Gratefully,
injury to and staff members how to ‘Stop the Bleed’ in the the school system has of
committed to
shape
bleedthat
to deathwill expand
without the healthcare
proper medicaloptionsevent afforded With awas
of a traumatic incident. The training 40% increase in the number cancer patients in the
Northshore residents. offered as part of a free community past five
outreachyears at purchasing
the existing Stop thecenter
cancer Bleed location
kits for each
— a of
figure
attention.
AThe
product program at the health system. (STHS image) its to
schools.
goodof STHS’s
news long-term
is that learningstrategic
what partnership with Ochsner attributable mostly early detection and innovative new therapies
Health, “The numberinone thecause
next of a preventable
to do toit’sstabilize
a $50 million, 75,000-square-foot
such a patient until cancer center currently
Hospital Foundation, has been offering
— and similar growth expected five years, expansion of
going up near thearrive
intersection of than
Highway death is hemorrhage, or bleeding out,”
first responders is easier you 21 and Interstate 12.
one-hour courses to health system
local cancer care is nothing but good news for Northshore families.
Once completed in summer Joan2021,Coffman,
the STHS
three-story President/CEO
structure The addition of said
an STHS
expected Trauma
30 to 50 Services
new jobsManager
over the next three to
probably think. colleagues and community members
willMaking
be homesure to Ochsner and St. Tammany Health System’s five years at the Bethany
new cancer Monistere.
center “If youadds
further can to
arm
benefits the local
Northshore residents have since 2018.
comprehensive cancer care program, which is currently housed community will citizens
see from with
the this information to control
project.
that life-saving information is the focus Earlier this year, from January to April, bleeding, you can save someone’s life.”
across thethe
of “Stop street froma free
Bleed,” St. Tammany
community Parish Hospital. That being said, given the new center’s strategic location just
the health system’s “Stop the Bleed” If you'd like it
towill
discuss
“One of program
outreach the thingsofthat we’ve noticed
St. Tammany Health at our St. Tammany off Interstate 12, there’s hope alsoarranging
serve as afreebeacon to
Members of the STHSteam visited all 56 public schools in St. Stop the Bleed training for yourhoping
group, to sample
Cancer
SystemCenter is that
that, with helpwe have
from seen
St. significant
Tammany growth over the last cancer patients from outside the community
executive team model Tammany Parish, as well as a handful of email communityeducation@stph.org. n
five years,” STHS President and someCEOof the Joan Coffman said. “So,
cloth face the world-class healthcare the St. Tammany and Ochsner
masks purchased for 5
we’re basically space-constrained at our existing site.” partnership deliver together.
health system colleagues
As envisioned, the new cancer center
this past willPictured,
summer. continue to offer a full “We are super excited about the opportunity to expand our
range of cancer care — from from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship
left, are Midge
services here in west St. Tammany,” Coffman said.
Collett, Kelly Rabalais,
— all housed under one roof.Sandra ThereDiPietro,
will just be more of it.
Sharon The new cancer center is scheduled to accept its first patient
Full
FULL STEAM AHEAD
Circle
Covington woodworker
goes from tragedy
to triumph, with help
from STHS
BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG Crews work on the lighting in the Administration
reception area.
This is a story that ends in triumph.
It’s important to know that because
it starts with an awful tragedy. In
ABOVE: Covington woodworker Ben Bigler discusses his craft, his philosophies on life, and his full-circle
between, there is no small amount
relationship with St. Tammany Health System, which started with a shop accident three years ago that
of soul-searching, self-discovery took his left pointer finger. BELOW: The new St. Tammany Health System board room table, created by
and compassionate caregiving. Not Bigler. (Photos by Tim San Fillippo / STHS)
insignificantly, it also involves the
crafting of a custom-designed table, a
Department at St. Tammany Health System’s
physical symbol of that triumph.
Covington hospital. There, he met Dr. Brent
But first, there was tragedy. Covington
The new patient wing at St. Tammany Health System’s main Covington campus, located prominently along South Tyler Street,McCarty, an orthopedic
The fourth-floor, reserved forhand
futuresurgeon.
expansion, will remain
woodworker
will Ben Bigler
be a four-story structure remembers
that will it allfeet of space to the hospital. (Photos by Tim San Fillippo / STHS)
add 160,000 square largely unfinished initially.
“When he walked in, he was so cool, so
too vividly.
calm, easygoing,” Bigler said. “He just said,
“It was 6 o’clock, November 9th, three
New
years ago,”four-story
Bigler said.patient
“I had the music
‘Wow, what do we have going on here?’ Just
tower takes very calm: ‘Here’s what we’ll do.’ …
blaring. It was theshapelast cuts along
of the day.”
“It made me feel like I was in capable
SouthThere wereTyler Street
a lot of those cuts to be
hands, that things would be OK. It was kind
made – thousands, in fact, as he worked
BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG of the beginning of feeling like things would
in his shop on an electric chop saw
be OK.”
to mass-produce pieces for a wooden
Coordinating the construction of Post-surgery, Dr. McCarty referred Bigler
balancing game he invented. With
aChristmas
four-story approaching,
structure at thehesame time to STHS’s Occupational Therapy team,
was working
you’re running where he would go once a week for six
into the night.a full-service hospital is
never exactly an easy task. Doing it in months. There, the hand therapists – Dolly
He was also, he admits now, not
the middle of a global pandemic only Smith, Tricia Doell and Cassie Cloutet; he
paying as much attention to safety as he The ceiling treatment in public areas on the first floor, including in this A look down the first-floor hallway that will
makes things that much more difficult. Administration conference room, will feature arched wood.remembers theirconnect
That included fear about his ability namesthe–new helped
wing tohim adjust
the old building
could have been. It took just a second for
Yet, despite the challenges, St. Tammany to his injury and near the current site of PJ’s Coffee.
regain motion in his hand.
that to upend his life. to provide for his family with his
Health System’s new patient wing — They didn’t’ just patch him up physically,
“I’m a very careful woodworker,” he woodworking business, but it also put
ground for which was broken in 2018 and though. They helped him with the emotional
said. “My hands are my livelihood. So into question his dreams of becoming a
which is part of a three-year, $100 million aspects of his injury, as well.
when I cutplan my — finger off, it was thewith
kind musician.
expansion continues apace, a “It’s a blow,” he said. “It really is a blow
of injury I wasceremony
ribbon-cutting scared toexpected
look at.” to take “It was just a sense of, not ‘Why me,
God?’ None of that. I know why. I was to your sense of identity, especially for me,
placeWhen he finally summoned the
this winter.
being not the wisest person operating a working with my hands.”
strength,
Here’s a he peeksaw that the
inside the building,
pointer finger
which
machine the way I was,” Bigler said. “But He added: “The words of encouragement
on his
was left hand
designed hadCovington-based
by the been severed below
it was more like, ‘What’s next? What that they did offer were things like, ‘You’re
the middle
fl+WB knuckle.
Architects Bigler,
to blend who is with
seamlessly
comes next?’” not alone with this. This does happen, and
the existingprone
normally building — and which
to smiling was
and laughter,
teeming with activity What came next for him was an people recover and we see it all the time.
was overcome with arecently
blend ofasshock,
crews fear
with You’re going to be fine.’”
and Womack
uncertainty Construction
about his put finishing
future. ambulance ride to the Emergency
touches
6 on everything, literally, from the A nurses station takes place in one of As with much of the new wing’s first floor, the elevator lobby is tiled with
floors to the ceilings. the patient areas, which will occupy the
second and third floors.
a light brown marble tile. The ground-level flooring, when completed,
will be poured terrazzo.
4
Eventually, Bigler – who gives all the It took a small crew and no small amount
Gratefully Yours
credit to Dr. McCarty, Dolly, Tricia and of sweat to maneuver it into the new
Cassie – not only reopened his shop, Bigler building’s board room.
Woodworks on North Jefferson Avenue in This is where the triumph part comes in.
downtown Covington, but he decided to As the last piece fit into place, Bigler By STHS Communication
thout rededicate
question, himself COVID-19
to it. has beenthrew thehishealthcare
arms in the air instory of 2020 — but
a “Rocky”-style it’s by no means the
Department
ly story worth telling at St. Tammany Health System.
Among his new celebration. A friend
In April, St. Tammany Health
clients: St. Tammany snapped a photo of
System earned a five-star
Health System, which
needed a board room
“In a way,
As we launch the last quarter of 2020,
the moment, captured
I’d likeBigler
from behind overall
to express my gratitude rating fromour
to you, the community, fo
Center for Medicare and
table for its recently St. Tammany
the exceptional support you have shared – andwith our health
capturing the system colleagues in this wild and crazy y
Medicaid Services in its 2021
opened new wing. This moment
Thank you for following infection prevention guidelines to isolate of victory that when you of areonlyill, six
wear a mask,
wasn’t just any table, Parish Hospital
wash your hands and keep a distanceclosed from the bookThank
others. on
ratings.
you forLouisiana
It is one
the thoughtful
hospitalsgifts to our foundati
to earn
though. It would have that awful night three
a 360-square-foot helped me rebuild
and colleagues in the midst of the initial outbreak of COVID-19 the
years earlier.
in our
the only
community,
five-star
one
ranking and
in the Greater
and thank you for
footprint, big enough
continuing to remember us as the virus continues
“One of the things
to infect new patients daily.
to seat at many as 27.
A new cancer center goes up near my identity.”
the
Thank
intersection
you
of
for
Highway
trusting
21 and
us
Interstate 12
with
in
yourthatfamily’s
Covington. struck me healthcare.
about
New Orleans
We strive
according to
metro
to deliver
Becker’s
onarea,
our promise to yo
Hospital
world-class healthcare, close to home.
The center, a joint project of St. Tammany Health System and Ochsner Health, is expected to accept
“Itfirstwas
its immediate
patient in summer 2021. (Photos courtesy Ochsner Health)
In 2020,
what was said at the we were recognized nationally
Review. … Also in April, STHS
for safety, quality an
– Covington woodworker
patient experience from organizations ranging from (for Leapfrogonce andagainU.S. earned
News and World
for me: ‘Yeah, I’m going ribbon-cutting a spot on Report
to do that,’” Bigler industry Ben watchers Bigler like Healthgradesthe and newQuantros.
building) was Women’s Choice Award’s list
said. “‘I’m going to do We are growing to serve. Our main thiscampus
concept expansion
of, ‘We’re is moving of Bestalong with thefor
100 Hospitals goal of seeing
Taking shape
whatever it takes to not
just build that project,
reworking our identity’
first patient this winter. The Covington Clinic across the street from our Bone & Joint
or ‘We’re building our
to open with Express Care, our pediatrics clinic, pediatric therapy and, soon, the Parenting Cent
Patient
category.
Experience
… The
in its size
American
Clinic is abo
butCEOI’mJoan going to make it the best thing I identity at St. Tammany with the expansion College of Cardiology
President and
Northshore Coffman
cancer Our
care partner
to is advancing
expand with the
new cancer
facility center project
rising south forward
of on schedule,
Covington
recently whereSTHS
recognized we plan
for the most
can.’” of this new tower,’” Bigler said. “And in a
After
BY MIKE a year
SCOTT, of design andcomprehensive
construction,
MSCOTT@STPH.ORG
cancer
way, St. center
Tammany we’ve everHospital
Parish had. helped its demonstrated expertise
he delivered his finished product, made of We are the proud owners of a
me rebuild my identity.” new Mako robotic system for orthopedic
and commitment surgery, replacing total
in treating
e stand American
as This
thewinter, walnutleaders
over aat hipssteel
welded andframe,
knees. We He also introduced
added: “I got theUroNav
opportunityfor prostate
to craft cancer detection
patientsextent thatand
with we’dtreatment
chest like to todayearlier t
pain,
ost equipped and
inSt. Tammany
March. His Health
unique System
vision year.
for We
piecing have
the three a DaVinci
boardroom robotic
table wheresystems
you’re for
going urologic,
to reaccrediting
gynecologic— but and it
which this
will
generalspring
be surgeries.
at the
expect to cutinvolved
the ribbon “One of the things that we’ve noticed at our as a Chest Pain Center with
table together 20on We are performing pediatric spine surgery at St. Tammany Health System. We areare
pieces, with the have the kings of the community, really, new cancer center —
using TAVR
perienced theon the St.
largest 160,000-square-foot
being delivered to the to hospital
replace a Tammany
onheart valves,
Cancer Center
that aremeaning
influencing patients
is thatof
the direction
don’t
we
have
have seen Primary
where to undergo open
Percutaneous
clinical trials for our patients
heart surgery and can retu
rthshore, and tower
patient
custom-built when that’sAbeen
trailer. under
police escort helpedsignificant growth over
St. Tammany thegoes.
Hospital last That’s
five years.
pretty So, we’re Coronary Intervention.
and expanding those The
clinical
construction to their daily lives within days not weeks. our existing site.” ACC also
u couple thattraffic.
manage withsince late 2018 on We stand
basically
as the
coolspace-constrained
most
for me. It’s kind of fullat
equipped and
circle, really.” n
experienced on the Northshore,
trials,” Coffman
awarded thesaid. “We do
health
its main hospital campus — but system’ssome of that today,you
and
chest when
pain couple
but this
program will that
r compassion, there won’t be much time with
- Joan Coffman, STHS President and CEO
for our compassion, empathy and care, we cannot be surpassed. with give us far
a Silver bigger opportunity,
Performance
mpathy and celebration
care, we when it’s finished.As you read about these and other stories in this quarter’s issue particularly
Achievement
of Heart to with
Award
Heart, our partner.know w
forplease
2021.
There’s too much other work to be done. Also, we’ll be able to allow integrated
… STHS said therapies
goodbye — healing
this of
nnot be surpassed. take our commitment to our community to heart, caring for patients and families with excellenc
Just two miles south, another major expansion is taking body, mind and spirit — to occur in thatto
past spring location.”
a number of
shape that will expand thecompassion healthcare options and afforded
teamwork. With aCovington
40% increase in thelongtime
number of cancer patients
colleagues. Among in the
Northshore residents. past five years at the existing them:
woodworker cancerHomecenter Health
locationNurse — a figure
Ben Bigler
A product of STHS’s long-term Gratefully,
strategic partnership with Ochsner attributable mostly to early detection
throws his Marylynand innovative
Skinner, whonew therapies
retired
Health, it’s a $50 million, 75,000-square-foot cancer center currently — and similararms in growth expected
afterin the
41 next
years five
with years,
STHS; expansion of
going up near the intersection of Highway 21 and Interstate 12. local cancer careafter
triumph is nothing but good Manager
Payroll news for Northshore
Lee Anna families.
reassembling
Once completed in summer 2021, the three-story structure The addition of an expected 30
STHS’s new
to 50 new
Ruberts, whojobs over the
retired next three to
after
will be home to Ochsner and St. Tammany Health System’s five yearsboard
at theroomnew cancer center
28 years further
withaddsSTHS; to benefits
LPN Unitthe local
comprehensive cancer care program, which is currently housed community will
table in see from the Assistant
project. Sabraina Causey,
across the street from St. Tammany Joan Coffman, STHS President/CEO That being
Parish Hospital. the health
said, given thewho newretired
center’safter
strategic location just
21 years;
system’s new
“One of the things that we’ve noticed at our St. Tammany off Interstate 12,
wing. (Photo there’s hope
andit will also
Registered serve as
Nurse a beacon
Marilyn to
Cancer Center is that we have seen significant growth over the last cancer patients
providedfrom by outside the community
Moore, who retired hopingfromto sample
Ben Bigler)
five years,” STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “So, the world-class healthcare the
ourSt. St.Tammany
Tammanyand Ochsner
Physicians
we’re basically space-constrained at our existing site.” partnership deliver together.Network’s Covington office
As envisioned, the new cancer Members center
of thewill
STHS continue to offer a full “We are super excited about the opportunity
after 25 years on to theexpand
job. our
executive team model
range of cancer care — from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship services here in west St. Tammany,” Thanks Coffman
and said.
congratulations
some of the cloth face
— all housed under one roof. There
masks will just
purchased for be more of it. The new cancer center is scheduled to all! to accept its first patient 7
7
“Some of the things thathealth
are not ablecolleagues
system to be provided to the in June 2021.
this past summer. Pictured,
from left, are Midge
Collett, Kelly Rabalais, 5
Sandra DiPietro, Sharon
A new day for cancer care in St. Tammany
FULL STEAM AHEAD
St. Tammany Health System, Ochsner unveil new, $50 million cancer center
BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG
Crews work on the lighting in the Administration
reception area.
The new patient wing at St. Tammany Health System’s main Covington campus, located prominently along South Tyler Street, The fourth-floor, reserved for future expansion, will remain
will be a four-story structure that will add 160,000 square feet of space to the hospital. (Photos by Tim San Fillippo / STHS) largely unfinished initially.
Participating in the ribbon-cutting on the new cancer center are, from left, Ochsner oncologist Dr. Zoe Larned, Cancer Center Administrator Jack Khashou,
St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan Coffman, Ochsner Health President and CEO Warner Thomas, St. Tammany Parish President Mike
New four-story patient
Cooper, Medical Director of the Ochsner Cancer Institute Dr. Brian Moore, St. Tammany Health System breast surgeon Dr. Angela Buonagura, and Ochsner
tower takes shape along
Health Board Chairman Andy Wisdom. (Photo by Mike Scott / STHS)
South Tyler Street
BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG
BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG
The future of cancer care on the Northshore has arrived.
On June 7, leaders of St. Tammany Health System and
“This is probably the most
Coordinating the construction of
Ochsner Health cut the ribbon on the new St. Tammany Cancer
a four-story structure at the same time
patient-centric project I’ve
Center, a campus of Ochsner Medical Center. The three-story,
you’re running a full-service hospital is
75,000-square-foot facility at the intersection of Interstate 12
never exactly an easy task. Doing it in
ever been involved with. I’m
and Highway 21 is being characterized as a game-changer for
the middle of a global pandemic only
cancer treatment on the Northshore.
makes things that much more difficult.
very proud to be part of it.”
The ceiling treatment in public areas on the first floor, including in this
Administration conference room, will feature arched wood.
A look down the first-floor hallway that will
connect the new wing to the old building
Built around an integrated,
Yet, despite the challenges, St. Tammanymultidisciplinary philosophy near the current site of PJ’s Coffee.
that focuses on treating the whole patient – mind, body and – Cancer Center Administrator
Health System’s new patient wing —
spirit –for
ground the new was
which cancer center,
broken which
in 2018 cost $50 million and
and Jack Khashou
took is
which 18part
months to build, was
of a three-year, designed
$100 millionto deliver the most “Today, we mark a new day for cancer care in St. Tammany
comprehensive
expansion plan —cancer treatment
continues in a single
apace, with a place in the region.
Parish,” Coffman said just before the ribbon-cutting. “For
It addition,ceremony
ribbon-cutting it will give patients
expected to access
take to the largest clinical
one, it enables St. Tammany Health System, working with our
place
trialsthis winter.in Louisiana, allowing them to take advantage
network
partner Ochsner, to elevate the high-quality cancer services
ofHere’s a peek inside new
groundbreaking the building, which without ever leaving
cancer therapies
we’ve been providing the Northshore region for years. But for
was
thedesigned
parish. by the Covington-based
another, what I’m most grateful for, is what this means for our
fl+WB Architects to
St. Tammany blendSystem
Health seamlessly with and CEO Joan
President
the existingsaid
building — and which
community. So many more local families will be able to find
Coffman the facility’s brandwas
of integrative oncology will
teeming with activity the world-class care they need right here, close to home, in
revolutionize cancerrecently
care onasthe
crews
Northshore.
with Womack Construction put finishing their own backyard. That is truly a blessing.”
touches
8 on everything, literally, from the A nurses station takes place in one of As with much of the new wing’s first floor, the elevator lobby is tiled with
floors to the ceilings. the patient areas, which will occupy the
second and third floors.
a light brown marble tile. The ground-level flooring, when completed,
will be poured terrazzo.
4
Ochsner Health President and which serves as the cancer center’s
CEO Warner Thomas echoed those philanthropic arm.
Gratefully Yours
sentiments, stressing there’s no other
facility in the region like the new
St. Tammany Cancer Center.
The artwork is among the
more conspicuous facets of the
center’s holistic approach. As
ithout question, COVID-19 haspart
“The idea of housing 30 physicians been of whatthe healthcare
has been dubbed the story of 2020 — but it’s by no means the
and over 80 cancer professionals facility’s “Lagniappe Services” are a
ly story worth telling at St. Tammany
together, to put the best minds
Health System.
therapeutic food pantry, a boutique
together to think about how to and physical therapy area, along
improve cancer care and bring As with access
the we launch to yoga,
the last quarter acupuncture,
of 2020, I’d like to express my gratitude to you, our community, fo
best treatments to our patients is meditation and tai-chi classes.
the exceptional support you have shared with our health system colleagues in this wild and crazy y
what we really seek to do each and “This is probably the most
every day,” Thomas said.
Thank you for following infection prevention guidelines to isolate when you are ill, wear a mask,
patient-centric project I’ve ever
Following the ribbon cutting, wash your hands and keep
been involved with.a I’m
distance from others. Thank you for the thoughtful gifts to our foundati
very proud
cancer center leaders threw open and colleagues to be in the
part of midst
it,” saidofSt.the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in our community, and thank you for
Tammany
the doors for a day’s worth ofcontinuing tours to remember
Health System’s us JackasKhashou,
the virus continues to infect new patients daily.
ahead of the arrival of the center’s Thank you for trusting
administrator us with
of the canceryour family’s healthcare. We strive to deliver on our promise to yo
center.
A new cancer center goes up near the intersection of Highway 21 and Interstate 12 in Covington.
first patient on June 14.
The center, a joint project of St.
world-class
Tammany Health “It really is a close
healthcare,
System and Ochsner continuum-of-care
Health, is
to home.
expected to
In
accept
2020, we were recognized nationally for safety, quality an
its first patient in summer 2021. (Photos courtesy Ochsner Health)
Those patients will have access project. It connects the St.
patient experience from organizations ranging from Tammany A painting by Marianne Rodriguez gets an
Leapfrog and U.S. News and World Report
adjustment as it is installed at the new St. Tammany
to some of the most innovative Health System hospital, this campus
industry watchers like Healthgrades and Quantros.Cancer Center, a campus of Ochsner Medical
technology in the cancer care here in Covington and Ochsner Center. In all, nearly two dozen original works of art
We are growing to serve. Our main campus expansion is moving along withtothe
hanggoal of seeing
Taking shape
sphere, including new PET scan Cancer Center across the lake to from Northshore artists were acquired in
and CT machines, as well as more first patient this winter. The Covington
create a continuum of care that really Clinic across
thethe street
cancer centerfrom
as partour Bone
of St. &
Tammany Joint
HospitalClinic is abo
Foundation’s Healing Arts Initiative. (Photos by Norma
than 45 infusion bays, each of to open with willExpress Care, our
make a difference andpediatrics
hopefully clinic, pediatric therapy and, soon, the Parenting Cent
Richard / STHS)
Northshore
President and CEO Joan Coffman
which cancerOur
provides comfortable care partner
seating getis
to expand advancing
away with
from the
new cancer
facility
the fragmentation center project
werising southforward on schedule, where we plan the most
of Covington
for patients and a caregiver, comprehensive
BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG
not cancer
see in our
to cancer
center when
community we’veitever
comeshad. Northshore
to mention access to their own We are the proudcare.”
ownersn of a new Mako robotic system for orthopedic surgery, replacing total
e standTV asscreen.
thewinter, leaders at hips and knees.
This To learnWe more
alsoabout St. Tammany
introduced artists leave
UroNav for prostate cancer detection extent thatandwe’dtreatment
like to todayearlier t
mark on new
In
St. addition,
Tammany hanging
Health throughout
System Cancer Center, a campus of — but which will be surgeries.
at the
ost equipped and year. We have three DaVinci robotic systems for urologic, gynecologic and general
theexpect
building arethe
to cut 17 ribbon
pieces of onart “OneMedical
Ochsner of theCenter,
thingsvisit that we’ve noticed at our new cancer center — are
perienced We are performing pediatric spine surgery at St. Tammany Health System. We are using TAVR
theon the
from
rthshore,patient
the
noted
and tower
Healing
local artists, part of
160,000-square-foot
when
Arts Initiative to
of
that’s been under
replace
St. Tammany Cancer Center
StTammany.health/Cancer
heart valves, meaning
NorthshoreCancerCare.org.
and
patients cancer center
is that we have seen clinical trials for our patients
don’t have to undergo open heart surgery and can retu
significant growth over the last five years. So, we’re and expanding those clinical
St. Tammany Hospital to their daily
Foundation, lives within days not weeks.
u couple construction
that withsince late 2018 on basically space-constrained at our existing
We stand as the most equipped and experienced on the Northshore, and Buildingsite.” adorned trials,” Coffman said. “We do
with
its main hospital campus — but some of thatwhen
today,you couple
but this will that
r compassion,
there won’t be much time with
- Joan Coffman, STHS President and CEO
for our compassion, empathy and Thecare,
new we cannot
$50 million
a be
gallery’s
surpassed.worth
give us far of
bigger opportunity,
celebration
mpathy and care, we when it’s finished.As you read about these and other stories in this original
quarter’s issue of Heart to with
particularly ourplease
Heart, partner.know w
There’s too much other work to be done.
St. Tammany
Also, we’ll be able to allow
works
integrated therapies — healing of
nnot be surpassed. take our commitment to our community to heart, caring for patients and families with excellenc
Cancer Center,
Just two miles south, another major expansion is taking body, mind and spirit — to occur in that location.”
a campus BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG
shape that will expand thecompassion and afforded
teamwork. of Ochsner
healthcare options With a 40% increase in the number of cancer patients in the
Medical “Wait until you see what’s going here,”
Northshore residents. Center,past
is five years at the existing cancer center location — a figure
Norma Richard said, sweeping her arm in the
Gratefully,
A product of STHS’s long-term strategic partnership with Ochsner located attributable
at mostly to early detection and innovative new therapies
Health, it’s a $50 million, 75,000-square-foot cancer center currently the intersection direction of a large, empty wall.
— and similar growth expected in the next five years, expansion of
of Interstate That’s how she thinks. Where most see
going up near the intersection of Highway 21 and Interstate 12. 12 andlocal cancer care is nothing but good news for Northshore families.
Once completed in summer 2021, the three-story structure HighwayThe21.addition of an expectedRichard
vacant space, 30 to 50sees
newpossibilities
jobs over the–next three to
will be home to Ochsner and St. Tammany Health System’s five years at the new cancer center further adds to Hospital
(Photo by Mike which is exactly why St. Tammany benefits the local
Scott / STHS)
comprehensive cancer care program, which is currently housed community will Foundation
see from theExecutive
project. Director Nicole Suhre
Joan Coffman,
across the street from St. Tammany STHS President/CEO That beingrecruited
Parish Hospital. said, given herthe
subcommittee
new center’s to spearhead
strategic location just
“One of the things that we’ve noticed at our St. Tammany off Interstatethe
12, selection,
there’s hopeacquisition and
it will also installation
serve as a beacon to
Cancer Center is that we have seen significant growth over the last cancer patients from outside
of artwork for the the community
newly completed hoping
St. to sample
five years,” STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “So, the world-class healthcare
Tammany the St.
Cancer Tammany
Center, and Ochsner
a campus of
we’re basically space-constrained at our existing site.” partnership deliver
Ochsner together.
Medical Center, as part of the
As envisioned, the new cancer
Members center
of thewill
STHS continue to offer a full “We are super excited about
foundation’s the opportunity
Healing to expand our
Arts Initiative.
executive team model
range of cancer care — from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship services here in west St. Tammany,” Coffman said.
some of the cloth face
— all housed under one roof. There
masks will just
purchased for be more of it. The new cancer center is scheduled continuedtoon
accept its first
next page * patient
99
“Some of the things that are not able to be provided to the
health system colleagues in June 2021.
this past summer. Pictured,
from left, are Midge
Collett, Kelly Rabalais, 5
Sandra DiPietro, Sharon
In theory, it might sound like a fun
FULL STEAM AHEAD
project, especially for someone as
passionate about the arts as Richard is.
But in practice, there were extenuating
circumstances.
“When they asked us, I said, ‘OK, well,
how much time do we have?’” Richard
remembered. “And Nicole said, ‘Well,
that’s the catch.’”
In all, Richard and other members of
the foundation’s Healing Arts Committee
including Mary Lee, Carlos Sanchez and
Sarah Bonnett, who Richard said were key This work by Bernard Mattox was so big, it wouldn’t fit in the elevator at the new cancer center, so
to the effort, would have to locate, acquire installers had to haul it up the stairs.
and install nearly two dozen pieces of
Crews work on the lighting in the Administration
original artwork from local artists in just reception area.
seven weeks.
The result was both a marathon and a
sprint from which Richard and her fellow
committee members are still catching
their breath.
“Everything in the front of the house
is original pieces, original artwork from A handful of pieces from the old St. Tammany
local artists,” Richard said. “And that was Cancer Center, such as this triptych by Gretchen
Armbruster that once hung in the infusion suite,
the goal. We wanted our local, Northshore now reside in the new cancer center.
artists to shine in this modern,
The new patient wing at St. Tammany Health System’s main Covington campus, located prominently along South Tyler Street, The fourth-floor, reserved for future expansion, will remain
75,000-square-foot
will building.
be a four-story structure that will add 160,000 square feet of space to the hospital. (Photos by Tim San Fillippo / STHS) largely unfinished initially.
“The problem was, who do we call that Does she think they were successful?
St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Board of
we know who has an inventory that fits Trustees member Mary Lee, who also chairs the To answer, Richard tells the story of
New four-story
the beautiful, patient
contemporary flow of this foundation’s Healing Arts Committee, makes sure a couple she saw in the cancer center
tower
building?” takes
she added.shape “Thatalongwas the hard everything is just right during installation of a recently. He was an older man, pushing
painting by artist Mary Helen Seago.
South
part, finding Tyler Street
artists whose work was a the wheelchair of a woman, presumably
good fit.” “It was a whirlwind,” she said. his wife. Passing a piece of recently
BY MIKE SCOTT, MSCOTT@STPH.ORG
For Richard, who’s been a key part of And they’re not done. Five more installed art, she asked him to stop. They
the Healing Arts Initiative since joining commissioned pieces are still on the way. examined it together and talked for a
Coordinating
STHF’s Board of theTrustees
constructionalmostof five Plaques have yet to be installed identifying short time before moving on.
ayears
four-story structure
ago, that meantatshaking
the same time
trees, each work. They’ve also got a couple “When they got closer,” Richard said, “I
you’re
beating bushes and burning up her ismobile of surprises in the works – like what’s
running a full-service hospital
heard her say, ‘Let’s go over here. I want to
never
phone, exactly
tapping an easy
into task. Doing it in she’s
the relationships destined to adorn that large, empty wall. see the art over here.”
the middle of a global pandemic only
nurtured over the years throughout the Still,
The Richard
ceiling treatmentis pleased
in public with
areas on thewhat sheincluding inShe
first floor, this teared up a little
A look thinking
down the aboutthat
first-floor hallway it, will
makes things that much more difficult. Administration conference room, will feature arched wood. connect the new wing to the old building
Northshore art community. and her team have put together. then added:
Yet, despite the challenges, St. Tammany near the current site of PJ’s Coffee.
Finding the art was just the first step. Then “On ribbon-cutting day, we were just “That’s what it’s all about.” n
Health System’s new patient wing —
there was also getting it approved by all the so proud,” she said. “The goal was to Learn more about St. Tammany Hospital
ground for which was broken in 2018 and
stakeholders in the cancer center,
which is part of a three-year, $100 million
negotiating make St. Tammany proud, make the arts Foundation, including ways you can
for price and installing 17 original
expansion plan — continues apace, with a pieces by community in St. Tammany proud. They make a difference in cancer care on the
14 local artists all
ribbon-cutting in one day.
ceremony expected to take gave us an opportunity to shine.” Northshore, at STHfoundation.org.
place this winter.
Here’s a peek inside the building, which
Meet the
was designed by the Covington-based
FIRST FLOOR SECOND FLOOR THIRD FLOOR
Artists
fl+WB Architects to blend seamlessly
the existing building — and whichMary
Lori Sperier
with
wasHelen Seago
Marianne Rodriguez
Linda Dautreuil
Rick Brunner
Bernard Mattox
Carol Hallock
Craig McMillin
Cindy Trist
Marcia Holmes
Tanya Dischler
Kellie Gironda
Artists whose work hangs
teeming with activity recently as crewsCarol Lapari* Marcia Holmes Linda Dautreuil Joel Blazek Gretchen Armbruster Bernard Mattox
in the new cancer center: Pam Soileau Craig McMillin
with Womack Construction put finishing
touches
10 on everything, literally, from the A nurses station takes place in one of As with much of the new wing’s* Commissioned work yetlobby
first floor, the elevator to beisinstalled.
tiled with
floors to the ceilings. the patient areas, which will occupy the
second and third floors.
a light brown marble tile. The ground-level flooring, when completed,
will be poured terrazzo.
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