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October 15, 2013
Gov. Bobby Jindal praised the staff at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center Monday for their dedication during often-difficult times, while announcing that the hospital is unveiling two new mammography machines that he said will save lives.
Jindal joined hospital staff, administrators and local officials at the hospital Monday. Established as part of Louisiana’s traditional “Charity” hospital system, Chabert is now operating as a joint venture between the state, the privately owned Ochsner Health System and publicly-owned Terrebonne General Medical Center.
The partnership was forged after state health care cuts threatened to decimate Chabert, a major destination for the destitute of Terrebonne, Lafourche and surrounding parishes.
“Today, we’re introducing two new mammography machines that will provide more accurate and faster screenings for preventative care, and early breast cancer detection for our people through some of the newest technology available,” Jindal said.
The new mammography machines, he said, could not have come at a better time since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The same-day screening machines, Jindal said, will result in an additional 100 patients this year being served.
A new urologist provided through the Ochsner system is resulting in more than 100 additional patients being seen, Jindal said. The number of colonoscopies performed as the hospital, Jindal said, has increased by 24 percent, from 2,019 colonoscopies in 2012 to 2,500 in 2013.
State Sen. Norby Chabert, whose legislator father fought to bring hospital care to the bayou region, praised the state’s commitment to the partnership that saved the institution.
“This partnership strengthens the great work we already have here at Chabert, such as our graduate medical education, while also expanding access to services,” Chabert said.
Jindal said the marrying of hospitals in the charity system with private institutions throughout the state will buttress the state’s ability to deliver health care, especially to lower income families.
Additionally, Jindal noted that as a place where doctors are taught through graduate medical education, the Chabert connection will bring doctors down.
“Our historic public-private partnerships are continuing to improve care and educate the doctors of tomorrow across our state, all while saving taxpayers more than $120 million dollars,” Jindal said. “In fact, some state officials estimate that these partnerships could create a $6 million dollar surplus for taxpayers once all the hospital transitions are completed.”
The addition of a new cardiologist, Jindal said, has resulted in an additional 60 patients being seen.
In the past heart patients had to go to New Orleans from Chabert to have certain heart procedures done or to see a cardiologist. The Ochsner partnership, he said, now allows for better cardiac care.
“The progress made here at Chabert through the public-private partnership is extraordinary.” Jindal said. “Chabert and the other partnerships throughout our state are truly transforming access to services and strengthening safety net care for our people.”
In the first month of the partnership, from June to July, the number of patient visits increased by 20 percent according to figures cited by Jindal.
Phyllis Peoples, CEO of Terrebonne General Medical Center, noted that if Chabert had shut down, as the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals plan for funding would have brought about, TGMC would not have been able to handle the backflow.
That was why TGMC officials agreed to partner with Chabert, Ochsner and the state to help keep it open.
“Chabert will continue to grow and develop under its new management, but quality patient care for all Terrebonne Parish residents will always be the primary focus,” Peoples said.
