St. Tammany Health System will “Light It Up Blue” for the month of April, illuminating a handful of its Covington facilities in blue light as part of an international campaign to raise autism awareness.
Beginning April 2, which is World Autism Day and the second day of Autism Awareness Month, parts of the main hospital campus on South Tyler Street will be awash in blue light along with the health system’s St. Tammany Pediatrics practice and its Bone & Joint Clinic just south of the hospital.
The hospital’s Pediatric Emergency Department, its Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and St. Tammany Pediatrics have all been designated Certified Autism Centers by the International Board of Credentialing and Education Standards.
In coming weeks, the Bone & Joint Clinic – whose Dr. McCall McDaniel was the catalyst behind the health system’s joining of the Light It Up Blue campaign – is also expected to earn the designation.
The blue lights will remain at STHS for the entire month of April, according to St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Executive Director Nicole Suhre, who added that foundation Specialist Melanie Rudolph is leading the effort for the foundation, coordinating the local campaign with Dr. McDaniel and the help of the health system’s Building Services, Grounds and Construction departments.
“We are excited to work with the hospital on this awareness initiative. This is one small way we can bring autism awareness to the forefront in our community with the ultimate goal of garnering support all year long,” Suhre said. “We encourage everyone who sees the blue lights in the month of April to visit our website and make a donation in support of St. Tammany Health System’s efforts to better care for those with autism in our community.”
In joining the Light It Up Blue campaign, STHS joins a growing list of facilities around the world – from private homes to landmarks including the Empire State Building and the White House – to “go blue” for the month of April.
According to Suhre, the hope is to make it an annual observance at STHS.