TGMC aims for continued excellence
July 27, 2016
Community goes big in support of cops, sheriff’s offices
July 27, 2016
With a full trophy case and a lengthy list of accolades for high performance and patient-centered excellence, there isn’t much that Thibodaux Regional Medical Center hasn’t done in its now-86-year history.
But that doesn’t mean the hospital won’t still find ways to take things to the next level in local medicine.
In just a couple weeks, TRMC will open its Wellness Center – a 242,000 square foot complex that will mark the hospital’s commitment to wellness, prevention and a higher standard of living.
Hospital CEO Greg Stock said the facility will be one of a kind – something this area hasn’t ever seen. It’s also a sign of continued prosperity for a medical center which started in 1930 as a 26-bed hospital run by the town’s Catholic church.
“We look forward to that Wellness Center,” Stock said. “It’s designed to make a statement about the importance of wellness. It’s a great facility. It’s designed to make people feel healthy. That’s a day we look forward to. I think people around here are very excited.”
For TRMC, the facility is going to bring massive momentum to a hospital which was never expected to be quite so big or successful.
TRMC started in 1930 as St. Joseph’s Hospital – a church-run building that was run by nuns.
“The original origin of the hospital was not much more than just a doctor’s office,” Stock said. “From there, it became sponsored by Catholic organizations and the sisters. They ran it for a number of years.”
As Thibodaux grew, so did St. Joseph’s Hospital. The hospital got a full-time, 40-bed facility in 1953. That structure was added onto several times throughout the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s as people moved into the area and needed a place to receive medical care.
But over time, St. Joseph’s outgrew its space, which created the demand for a bigger, better hospital campus in Thibodaux.
St. Joseph’s Hospital closed on April 14, 1975. It gave way to Thibodaux General Hospital, which opened as a 101-bed facility – the biggest Thibodaux had ever seen at the time.
That campus is located where the hospital sits today – on 602 North Acadia Road.
In this new facility, TRMC advanced itself and became among the leaders in local medicine. The hospital was the first in the area to install ultrasound technology – made available through private donations.
In 1983, Thibodaux Regional also installed a C-Arm in the surgical department, which enabled surgeons to limit the risk for infections during operations.
And then Greg Stock arrived and things changed forever.
Stock said he started his work with TRMC in the early 1990s. Upon his arrival, he said he created a strategic plan aimed to allow TRMC to be better in all areas – including an increase in services and better commitment to top-notch patient care.
And the medical facility hasn’t looked back ever since.
Under Stock, TRMC has attained a lot of the CEO’s goals.
Thibodaux Regional has won countless awards and titles for patient care, while also developing what Stock calls a culture of excellence that focuses on “patient-centered excellence.”
Stock said TRMC takes pride in treating people the right way so that they feel comfortable during their time under care.
“Being in the hospital is a tough thing for people to deal with sometimes. We do our best to make people feel at home,” Stock said. “That culture of excellence involves our entire hospital. We take pride in that. Our whole staff takes pride in that. We have a team that enjoys being part of our community and enjoys providing excellent care to the great people in this area.”
The Wellness Center will just be a cherry on top the already-successful medical facility.
Stock said the center will feature state-of-the-art equipment at every turn, including elevators which preserve energy by using energy on the way up, but creating it on the way down.
“Everything in the facility is top of the line,” Stock said.
The hospital CEO said the facility will be loaded with, “bright, happy colors,” and also beautiful artwork. This is being done to create an environment of happiness – a way for locals to celebrate their health and wellness through prevention and education.
“We’ve excelled in clinical care for many years,” Stock said. “Now we’re trying to get upstream. We want to prevent the clinical things that happen as best we can. We want to teach people how to lead happier, healthier lives. We don’t want them to see us when they’re sick. We want them to see us to avoid getting sick. We want to see people at their happiest, proudest moments.”
The Wellness Center will include an Imaging Center, a Sports Medicine Center, a Pain Center, a full-sized pool, a basketball gym and much more.
Trainers will be on-site and each individual member will be able to create a plan tailored to their specific wants and needs.
Stock said the facility is expected to open its doors around Aug. 1.
The Wellness Center will be open to anyone, but membership will be required for access to the building.
At press-time, Stock said about 2,000 people have already bought memberships.
To sign up or get more information, call (985) 447-5500 or visit the hospital’s website at fitnesscenterofthibodauxregional.com
“We’re waiting on the open date,” Stock said. “It’s a happy time for us. We think the Wellness Center is going to make a lot of people very, very proud – me, included.” •
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