STHS Be Well Bus earns federal funding

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Thursday, March 10, 2022

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STHS Be Well Bus earns federal funding

STHS Communication Department, commdept@stph.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 9, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT
: Melissa Hodgson ABC APR | 985-898-4131 | mhodgson@stph.org

The St. Tammany Health System Be Well Bus is a custom-built motorcoach outfitted with a variety of health screening tools. (Photo by Mike Scott/ STHS)

COVINGTON, Louisiana – In recognition of the population health improvement that a mobile health screening unit can bring to a community, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise has secured $1 million in federal funding to support St. Tammany Health System’s mobile screening programs including its mobile health unit, the Be Well Bus.

“We’re so grateful to Rep. Scalise for his encouragement and guidance in our efforts to create a healthier Northshore,” STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “Our Be Well Bus screening unit literally carries health and wellness into our service district, and we recognize this appropriation will enable its healing work substantially.”

The STHS Be Well Bus is a 40-foot mobile health screening unit, custom-designed to bring a breadth of health and wellness screenings and preventative care directly into the community.

“St. Tammany Heath System’s mobile screening bus eliminates barriers like transportation and lack of health coverage,” Louisiana Rep. Mark Wright said. “This type of outreach helps underserved communities in my district and surrounding areas. I’d like to extend a special thanks to Congressman Scalise for working to secure the funding for this project.”

“All major cancers as well as diabetes, heart disease, nicotine addiction and sleep disorders are better treated with early diagnoses,” Coffman said. “Carrying such screenings and health education into the neighborhoods of our Northshore community helps our local families with early detection and improved access to care pathways once diagnosed.”

Noting how important it is that people return to the regular health screenings they may have neglected during the pandemic, Rep. Scalise worked to include this $1 million appropriation to support STHS mobile screening programs in the federal appropriations bill.

“This is a major win for a healthier Northshore,” Louisiana Senator Patrick McMath said. “Thanks to Congressman Scalise for making sure this funding was included in the final bill. St. Tammany’s mobile screening bus delivering services across the Northshore helps lower costs and improve outcomes for residents. I applaud Congressman Scalise, state and local leaders for prioritizing our residents’ health.”

Coffman said, “Our vision is to improve the health of our patients with innovation, compassion and partnership. Appropriation of these funds for the bus will go miles and miles toward that vision, carrying cancer screenings, health checks, vaccines and other community healthcare throughout our community.”

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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.

About the STHS and Ochsner Partnership
St. Tammany Health System and Ochsner Health work together in partnership to improve the community’s health and quality of life, today and for the future. Together, the partners represent the most complete system of care, aligning west St. Tammany’s top two independent health leaders behind the common goals of improving access, expanding specialty care and making care affordable. Under their agreement, each retains its autonomy; neither manages nor owns the other.

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan Coffman applaud the health system's COVID-19 care providers during a visit by Scalise to the Covington hospital in 2021. (Photo by Tim San Fillippo/STHS)

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, center, with members of the STHS Board of Commissioners. (Photo by Tim San Fillippo/STHS)

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