New $235M Hospital Takes Shape in Baton Rouge
After more than a decade of planning, a hospital designed to change the lives of Louisiana’s youngsters is taking shape in Baton Rouge. Expected to open its doors in late 2018, the new Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital will be six floors, 350,000 sq. ft. (32,516 sq m) and include inpatient beds, a pediatric emergency room, surgical unit and a hematology/oncology unit that will serve both inpatients and outpatients. The estimated construction cost for the hospital and medical office building is $235 million.
“A freestanding Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital will serve as the premier destination for high-quality, advanced medical care for children within a statewide network of pediatric healthcare excellence creating advanced research, highly trained physicians and community health initiatives that will ensure a healthier future for Louisiana’s children,” said Dr. Shaun Kemmerly, chief medical officer, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. “Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital will support medical research, pediatric residency programs and academic training for future Louisiana physicians, in an effort to continuously feed the pipeline of tomorrow’s healthcare providers with pediatric-trained practitioners.”
Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital is one of the largest providers of pediatric care in the state. Each year the hospital provides care to thousands of patients from all across state, along with parts of Mississippi and Texas. Our Lady of the Lake includes a Regional Medical Center, dedicated Children’s Hospital, 300-provider physician group network and free-standing emergency room in Livingston Parish.
“Children make up 25 percent of Louisiana’s population, and we recognize healthy children will grow into healthy adults contributing to the communities in which they choose to live,” Kemmerly said. “We are committed to positively impacting the long-term health of the state, and to do this we must begin with children. With this new facility we can continue to grow the resources for ongoing education for children to create lifestyle changes and to build healthy habits to break the risk cycles of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.”
The new Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital project includes a medical office building that will primarily house clinics for pediatric specialists, allowing them close proximity to both the hospital and clinics. The new hospital also will feature playrooms on every floor. The idea is to make the experience less stressful for kids undergoing various tests and treatments.
“Children’s hospitals designed with bright colors, natural light and access to relaxation spaces are more pleasing for patients. Research supports the belief that a child’s environment can affect healing. Playrooms provide a space for children to do what they do best —play. These spaces help the children to feel normal,” Kemmerly said.
Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital offers pediatric specialty care across the state. It currently operates as a hospital within a hospital model inside Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. A new freestanding Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital will be built on 66 acres of property that runs parallel to I-10 in between Essen and Bluebonnet near Our Lady of the Lake’s main campus in Baton Rouge. In addition to Baton Rouge, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital Pediatric Specialty clinics are located in Hammond, Gonzales, Lafayette and Monroe.
Kemmerly said investment in the latest technology and equipment will continue to grow as the Our Lady of the Lake and Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital expands.