TGMC aims for continued excellence

The world of medicine is always changing. To remain competitive, a hospital must be willing to stay in front of those changes and in tune with the latest trends in the field.

Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma does exactly that – and more.

That’s why they’ve firmly established themselves as a leader in local medicine for more than 60 years and counting.

Founded in 1954 as Terrebonne General Hospital, the local medical facility has constantly grown with the times to emerge in its present position as a leader in patient care, wellness and prevention.

Today, TGMC is a 300-plus-bed facility – a hospital that’s won countless honors from some of the most prestigious medical authorities in the country.

Hospital CEO Phyllis Peoples said the accolades are an honor TGMC’s entire staff is proud of. But more importantly, she said they’re also a sign of TGMC’s ability to grow with the rapidly moving field of medicine.

TGMC’s current focus is to continue its high-quality patient care with an aimed focus on wellness and keeping people healthier for longer stretches of their lives.

“The healthcare industry is constantly evolving to better serve the needs of the patients in our community,” Peoples said. “Many technological advancements are created every day to improve patient care. TGMC continues to provide our patients with the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology available. … Our community has always turned to us when they are in poor health, but we are encouraging our community to be proactive in their healthcare. Through our Healthy Lifestyles Center, we are offering wellness and prevention education and programs to help our community lead healthier lives.”

For TGMC, it’s been a long journey.

The hospital started in 1954 and was run by the Sisters of St. Joseph. It was called Terrebonne General Hospital. The original facility was modest for modern times, but impressive for the 1950s.

It featured 76 beds, 20 bassinets, 16 physicians and 58 employees total, according to Peoples.

“The (original) employees’ primary vision was to provide healthcare services to the residents of the Bayou Region,” Peoples said.

In the 1960s, the local economy grew, which caused a rise in the area population. To combat that, the Sisters added more beds and services to Terrebonne General.

“This, however, was still not enough for the ever-growing population and the need for a state-of-the-art hospital was recognized,” Peoples said.

The demand was met in 1984 when the original building was sold to the Terrebonne Police Jury and under the governance structure of an appointed Board of Commissioners, the hospital’s current campus was built – a 321-bed facility that sits just off the twin spans bridges in Downtown Houma.

And with it came a new name, as well.

“Terrebonne General Medical Center was opened,” Peoples said.

In its history, TGMC has had a continual commitment to providing quality care to those in need.

Peoples said the hospital has an all-star staff of 1,400 employees and 300 physicians, which includes some of the brightest minds in the world of medicine.

“Our physicians have received numerous awards and accolades for their dedication to patient care and serving our community,” she said. “Many have performed pioneering procedures and research that has impacted the field of medicine.”

And now, TGMC is reaching out and is focusing heavily on preventing bad situations from arising through education.

In recent years, TGMC’s Healthy Lifestyles Center has emerged and offered wellness and prevention education and programs to help community members lead healthier lives. In addition, Wellness for Life has partnered with several local businesses over the years to provide employee wellness screenings and education.

The hospital has also used its Community Sports Institute to get into schools and work with local high school athletics.

“The Community Sports Institute is present in all Terrebonne Parish schools providing education, prevention and care,” Peoples said.

A big coup to TGMC is its new Sports Performance Training Center, which allows citizens the opportunity to workout with professional trainers to either be more fit, rehab an injury or take preventative steps to avoid injuries down the line.

With lead trainer Zach Voss at the controls, the facility has quickly emerged as a local leader in athletic training – a facility loaded to the brim with the latest and best equipment in the field of exercise and athletic training.

Voss said he’s taken pride in partnering with the community to give people the help they deserve. Since the Sports Performance Training Center’s inception, it has partnered with high schools and local athletes on several projects aimed to promote wellness and injury prevention.

“Our facility is a great place and is a huge asset to our community,” Voss said. “Our equipment is all new. It’s all the best stuff. We have a lot of ways that we can help people meet their goals and lead happier, healthier lives. That’s always the goal – to meet the needs of every, single individual person.”

Peoples agreed.

She said it’s the people who matter most for the doctors and professionals at Terrebonne General Medical Center.

Taking pride in taking care of them, she said, is what has allowed the hospital to continue to push forward and into the future.

“Through all the changes in the world of healthcare, one thing that has remained the same is our dedication to providing compassionate care to our community,” Peoples said. •

TGMC

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