Our Lady of the Lake Opens Emergency Room in North Baton Rouge

Our Lady of the Lake leadership joined Gov. John Bel Edwards, state officials, and community leaders in marking the official opening of the new Our Lady of the Lake North Emergency Room. On Nov. 15, the state-of-the-art facility on Airline Highway began accepting patients, closing a gap in the area’s emergency healthcare services and bringing lifesaving care closer to residents in north Baton Rouge.

“This emergency room will have an immediate positive impact on the community,” said K. Scott Wester, president and CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. “Bringing healthcare services to the people who need them most is the foundation of Our Lady of the Lake’s core values and our privilege as healthcare providers. We are grateful to our many partners who supported this project, and especially to Governor Edwards for his vision and leadership in making this day a reality.”

“During my time in the legislature, on the campaign trail, and since taking office, I committed to bringing an emergency room to north Baton Rouge, an area of the state desperately in need of emergency services,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “We followed through on that commitment, and I am proud of how quickly we’ve been able to mobilize our partners, especially Our Lady of the Lake, in the effort to open quality, cost effective emergency services where they are needed most.”

The Our Lady of the Lake North Emergency Room is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by emergency physicians who specialize in providing comprehensive emergency care for patients with acute illnesses or injuries. The facility has eight treatment spaces, a full-service lab and pharmacy, and is able to provide patients with on-site CT and X-ray imaging. 

The ER is an 8,800-square foot addition built adjacent to the existing LSU Health Baton Rouge North Clinic at 5439 Airline Highway, which is home to an urgent care center, an infusion clinic, and services for primary care and oncology.

“The medical complex on Airline is an innovative model of healthcare delivery,” said Wester. “We are leading the nation with the creation of this unique facility that provides patients with services for primary care, urgent care, and emergency care, all under one roof. The model is defining best practices, and others across the country are looking to Baton Rouge as an example of progressive healthcare.”

Approximately 57,000 patients are expected to be treated each year between the ER and urgent care center. The new ER is also expected to help decrease patient traffic at other hospital emergency rooms throughout the Baton Rouge area and relieve wait times for emergency care. 

Our Lady of the Lake is dedicated to meeting the healthcare care needs of the Baton Rouge metro area and has invested in building a strong emergency care structure throughout the region that is increasing access to the appropriate level of care for residents. Since 2012, Our Lady of the Lake has built a helipad, opened the area’s only Trauma Center, added a dedicated Transport Team for the Children’s Hospital to specialize in transporting children in emergencies, built the state’s first freestanding emergency room in Livingston Parish, opened a new children’s emergency room, and expanded its adult emergency department. It is a recognized leader in emergency care and a regional destination for trauma services.

The grand opening ceremony included a ribbon cutting, led by Our Lady of the Lake CEO Scott Wester and Gov. John Bel Edwards. Many other state and local dignitaries participated in the event, including Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee, East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, and members of the Louisiana Legislative delegation. In the tradition of Our Lady of the Lake’s Catholic heritage, a blessing was bestowed upon the building, led by Fr. Sam Maranto, to strengthen and aid all who work and visit there.  

11/16/2017