[StBernard] Thoughts on parish hospital

[Westley Annis]

Here are some of the ideas circulating on nola.com concerning the
possible, maybe-one-day hospital for SBP:


I've been thinking oschner also...but was just explained yesterday that
oschner will use this hospital here for poor people from Jefferson...and if
we have oschner here...and we would need something high tech...we would be
referred to go to jefferson...that oschner will not duplicate their
services. If high tech stuff...meaning brain scans...etc.


well, this is exactly why we , the residents of st bernard parish, need more
information before a decision is made, and maybe, why, we the residents,
should have this decision placed on a ballot: Franciscans or Oschner? Public
or Non for profit?
Both Oschner and Franscians will care for anyone from any parish just as the
area hospitals have been caring for us since 2005. And as taxpayers, we will
be responsible for the profitablity of providing this care if it is public
hospital.
ALSO, I cant see a whole lot of specialist investing in St Bernard Parish
within the first year or so, so, if I'm not mistaken, we will be referred to
Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge

I'd rather drive the miles to jefferson instead of Baton Rouge. I haven't
checked into this hospital thing much, but, after listening to a friend talk
about it yesterday....I noticed what my original concept was...automatically
thinking a hospital here in the parish that residents would have
preference...but in reality...not the case. If we have a hospital with 60
beds...in reality it looks like 50 will be immediately used by anyone
outside the parish and a possiblity that it will be filled before anyone in
the parish gets a bed...either from an emmergency or planned surgery or what
ever. I don't know. What I do know is that I personally don't have enough
knowledge of the working of such a hospital....and something important for
me and for other residents to check into more closely. Care for anyone I can
understand...but I do find my thoughts to be selfish in wanting this
hospital to service residents first. If anyone can shed more light on the
subject from different angles I'd appreciate it.

It seems there's a bit of confusion on this issue and I hope someone in an
official
capacity will start trying to clarify.

With a 60 bed capacity this is not gonna be a place to do brain surgery or
to crack open someone's chest.  Also remember prior to Katrina, if someone
went in to CMC in a bad wreck or with a GSW, they were automatically sent to
Big Charity as it had the only level one trauma center in the area.

My impression on reading of Ochsner's presentation was that this is going to
be a band-aid station and just a feeder into the big hospital in Jefferson.
Will they put the $$$s into this small place for things such as diagnostic
imaging services such as CAT and MRI or even a cardiac cath lab?  Or, will
they just put in the bare-bones necessities (however they define those) and
feed everything else across town?

Jim