St. Tammany Health System leaders cut the ribbon Tuesday (April 13) on one of the biggest expansions in the organization’s 67-year history, a four-story, $56 million new patient tower blending state-of-the-art medical technology with the health system’s long-standing Healing Arts philosophy.
Administrative areas of the new addition are expected to be occupied late this week, with occupation of its 70 new patient rooms taking place soon after.
“What an exciting day today is, and long awaited,” STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman said moments after the ribbon was cut. “One of the things that was so important as we developed this new bed tower was to really incorporate new technology and innovation that will help to sustain us well into the future.”
That includes new administrative space and a seven-room conference center on the new wing’s first floor; 30 critical-care beds on the second floor; and 40 medical-surgical beds, as well as an expansion of the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, on the third floor.
The new wing’s fourth floor has been left unfinished as shell space, reserved for future expansion.
In addition to featuring the latest medical technology, the new tower’s addition of 70 patient rooms – which were designed with input from the health system’s doctors and nurses – will enable the hospital to make every room in the hospital a private one for the first time in its history.