St. Tammany Parish Hospital is embarking on a two-year, $21 million project to expand its emergency services and add new private patient rooms. The project will be publicly bid in the second quarter, and construction is expected to begin in the third quarter.
2010 U.S. Census figures reveal that the largest segments of the Northshore population are adults ages 35-54 and children ages 0-13. Parish and state statistics list St. Tammany Parish among the highest for mental health crises including alcohol, drug and suicide related emergency care. The aging demographic indicates that the Northshore’s geriatric population will also be on the rise. Coupling these facts with the hospital’s mission to address the health care needs of west St. Tammany and surrounding areas, St. Tammany Parish Hospital is embarking on an expansion project that will grow patient capacity, meet these emerging needs and introduce specialized pediatric emergency care.
The emergency department expansion will add approximately 8,650 square feet of new construction on 11th Ave. and renovate approximately 20,130 square feet of existing hospital space. The Ambulance Entry to the Emergency Department will be relocated to the east side of the building behind the hospital.
The inpatient addition will “stack” atop the existing two-story wing of the hospital at the corner of South Tyler and 11th Ave. It will add approximately 15,354 square feet of new construction atop a building originally constructed to grow to three stories.
The resulting 21 private patient rooms will be called 3North and will be built on the principles of a healing environment to provide comfortable space for the patient, caregivers and family.