[StBernard] St. Bernard makes key step in journey towards hospital

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard makes key step in journey towards hospital 

10:11 PM CDT on Wednesday, October 28, 2009

 Susan Edwards / Eyewitness News

sedwards at wwltv.com 


CHALMETTE, La. -- St. Bernard leaders say residents are closer now than ever
to breaking ground on a new hospital, more than four years after the storm
destroyed the Chalmette Medical Center. 

Thursday night, the Hospital Service District Commission selected Franciscan
Health Systems to manage the hospital. Chairman Wayne Landry said the firm
also operates a hospital in Baton Rouge. 

"There are so many exciting things going on behind the scenes to get this
hospital constructed and built and operational by the end of 2011," he said.
"This is a sign for them with something tangible to say, 'oh, ok, now we
have a management group.'" 

That is the latest step toward a new medical facility for the area.
Meanwhile, hospital plans are on the drawing board, with blueprints set for
completion by December, and construction bids to follow, said Landry.

The hospital will start off as a 40-bed hospital, and it can be expandable
to over 100 beds. 

"Initially we are going to have a full-service emergency room,
medical-surgical care, we won't do OBGYN care or things of that nature, but
as we bring in specialists we will expand our services," said Landry. 

St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro said the funding issues are
finally starting to fall into place. 

"We have asked the government to move priority-five money and make it
available for construction costs, at least a portion of the remaining $14
million so facilities planning can approve the project, and it can go for
bid when the design is ready," said Taffaro. 

But there remains one hurdle: the land on which the hospital will be built.
The board has been in talks with the Meraux Foundation on 11 1/2 acres of
land, but there is another option. 

"We have begun discussions with the Archdiocese of New Orleans on whether an
alternate site would be feasible and whether it would serve the purpose of a
hospital complex," said Taffaro. 

That property would be anywhere from 20-25 acres, behind the government
complex, part of the parish park system and the former Prince of Peace
parish complex. But, Taffaro said both the Meraux property and the
Archdiocese property have their advantages and challenges. The next step is
to determine which is best suitable for a hospital. 

"If that is done then the design work will be on the way and can pick up
speed, which means clearing work and site preparation can pick up speed and
we can see some shovels in the dirt before the end of the year," said
Taffaro. 

Landry said they expect to know which tract of land will be best suited for
hospital property sometime next week.