COVINGTON – Five months after acquiring Braswell’s pharmacy in Covington, St. Tammany Health System leaders made it official Thursday (Feb. 29, 2024), with a ribbon cutting and grand re-opening of the newly branded St. Tammany Health System Pharmacy at Braswell’s.
In addition to uniting two long-standing local healthcare institutions, the acquisition ensures Braswell’s, which has served Northshore residents since 1981, remains locally owned and operated.
“We are, of course, excited and grateful to expand St. Tammany Health System’s retail operation today,” health system President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “But I am particularly gratified that we were able to purchase this iconic business and keep it locally owned. Under our stewardship, our Northshore neighbors can rest assured that Braswell’s will continue to serve the Northshore community with compassion and professionalism for years to come.”
With the rebranding comes new signage and a smattering of behind-the-scenes operational adjustments. Otherwise, the health system has worked to make the transition as seamless as possible, both for customers and for Braswell team members, who were invited to join the St. Tammany Health System workforce.
“We are proud to retain many of the colleagues who have served the Covington community for years under the Braswell’s name and welcome them to our St. Tammany family,” said Sharon Toups, senior vice president and chief operating officer of St. Tammany Health System. “Through this acquisition, we are able to meld our histories, keep the pharmacy local, and serve our community in yet another capacity, with the same care and compassion we have for the past seven decades.”
Coffman, Toups and other health system leaders were joined by local dignitaries including Covington Mayor Mark Johnson, who characterized the acquisition of Braswell’s – located right across South Tyler Street from the health system’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital – as a win-win for the community.
“This is the story of icon meets icon,” Mayor Johnson said. “Two trusted long-standing local businesses become one. When St. Tammany Health System decided to acquire Braswell’s, we knew then that it would remain a local community pharmacy. I always love it when history takes a positive turn. This is fantastic for the city of Covington and the entire St. Tammany community.”
In addition to Braswell’s, St. Tammany Health System will continue to operate its employee and inpatient pharmacy within St. Tammany Parish Hospital.
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About St. Tammany Health System
The heartbeat of its community, St. Tammany Health System cares for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. It is nationally recognized for quality, safety and service excellence by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. The health system is home to 281-bed St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1, three diagnostic centers and 12 medical clinics throughout western St. Tammany Parish. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS is AA- rated by Fitch and receives no tax funding. More at StTammany.health.