U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise visits STHS, applauds frontline COVID workers

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Friday, July 16, 2021

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U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise visits STHS, applauds frontline COVID workers

Mike Scott, mscott@stph.org

U.S. Representative and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, left, and St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan Coffman applaud members of the health system’s COVID care team on Friday, July 15, 2021, during a tour of the health system’s Covington hospital. (Photos by Tim San Fillippo / STHS)

U.S. Representative and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise toured St. Tammany Health System’s Covington hospital on Friday (July 16, 2021), making a point to visit with and acknowledge the work of its front-line COVID team and vowing to put his legislative weight behind the health system’s community outreach initiatives.

“You’re all pioneers. Thinking back a year and a half ago, we didn’t even really know what (COVID) was,” Rep. Scalise told the health system’s COVID team. “We just appreciate the work y’all have done. Good luck, and let us know what we can do on our side.”

The congressman’s remarks were met with applause from those accompanying him on the tour, which, in addition to St. Tammany Health System leaders, included such local dignitaries as state Sen. Patrick McMath, state Rep. Mark Wright of Covington, Parish President Mike Cooper and Covington Mayor Mark Johnson.

“We think of all of our team as the A-team, but this is our COVID A-team, and we really have appreciated their work through the pandemic,” STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “They have taught us a lot.”

In addition to touring the COVID unit, Rep. Scalise visited the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), its new four-story patient tower (“It’s still got that new tower smell,” he said) and its New Family Center, where more than 60,000 babies have been born since St. Tammany Health System’s founding in 1954 as St. Tammany Parish Hospital.

We figured it was 2009 the last time I toured the hospital, and let me tell you, it’s a completely different place. It’s just amazing all the growth and how well y’all have managed it.”

- U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, after a tour of St. Tammany Health System's Covington hospital

“I told Mike Cooper, I said, ‘The parish is going to continue to grow, and y’all (STHS) are the leading indicator of where the growth is,” Rep. Scalise said.

From there, he visited the health system’s new Be Well Bus, a 40-foot, mobile health clinic custom-designed to bring a variety of cancer screenings and other preventative health procedures directly into the community.

Noting how important it is that people return to the regular health screenings they may have neglected during the pandemic, Rep. Scalise said he worked to include $1 million to help cover the cost of the bus and its programs in the latest federal appropriations bill.

That bill, which recently cleared a key congressional committee, still must be approved by the full House, the Senate and the president, “but at least it’s in for now,” he said. “I’m just going to keep working to make sure it stays in.”

That was particularly welcome news to Coffman, who has been a key advocate of the Healthier Northshore initiative, which has brought together more than 50 business leaders, governmental agencies and other stakeholders in a concerted effort to improve local health metrics.

“Thank you so much for caring about the initiative that we’re working toward,” Coffman said. “We are very fortunate that we are able to meet our mission without a tax millage, but things like this certainly help us just really advance it.”

Wrapping up his Northshore visit, Rep. Scalise toured the St. Tammany Cancer Center, a campus of Ochsner Medical Center, a newly opened three-story facility at Interstate 12 and Highway 21 that leverages the partnership of STHS and Ochsner to offer local residents a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to cancer care without ever leaving their backyard.

By his own account, Rep. Scalise left impressed.

“We figured it was 2009 the last time I toured the hospital, and let me tell you, it’s a completely different place,” he said. “It’s just amazing all the growth and how well y’all have managed it.”

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, center, tours the New Family Center at St. Tammany Health System’s Covington hospital, where more than 60,000 babies have been born since 1954. Pictured with him are New Family Center Director Jamie Romage, left, and STHS Communications AVP Melissa Hodgson.

Ochsner oncologist Dr. Genevieve Maronge escorts U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise around the 47-bay infusion suite at the newly opened St. Tammany Cancer Center, a campus of Ochsner Medical Center, on Friday, July 16, 2021. 

A painting by local artist James Michalopoulos provides a colorful backdrop as U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise tours the St. Tammany Cancer Center, a campus of Ochsner Medical Center, on Friday, July 16, 2021. The painting is one of some two dozen artworks by local artists on display at the cancer center as part of St. Tammany Hospital Foundation’s Healing Arts Initiative.

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise boards St. Tammany Health System’s Be Well Bus, a 40-foot motorcoach outfitted with all manner of cancer screening equipment as part of the health system’s community outreach program. Rep. Scalise said an appropriations approved by a key congressional committee this week includes $1 million for the bus and its operation. He added that he will continue to champion its passage as it goes to the full House and the Senate.

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, center, tours St. Tammany Health System's Covington hospital on Friday with STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman. 

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