CHRISTUS Health and Ochsner Health System (Ochsner) announce that the two systems have finalized an agreement for Ochsner to become a minority member of CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana.
The joint venture includes two hospitals, a charitable foundation, an ambulatory surgery center, imaging centers, and clinics. This joint venture will also be responsible for all future healthcare facilities and services operated by the two health systems in the Lake Charles area. CHRISTUS Health will manage the hospitals, CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick and CHRISTUS Ochsner Lake Area, and Ochsner will manage all physician and clinic operations, with physicians and clinic staff transitioning to Ochsner employment. The 13 clinic locations in the Lake Charles area will also be co-branded to reflect both parties, and will be named Ochsner CHRISTUS Health Centers.
“This partnership is for the people of Southwest Louisiana. By bringing together two strong organizations, we’re building on our respective strengths and bringing greater access to care for Lake Charles and the surrounding communities,” explained Ernie Sadau, president and CEO of CHRISTUS Health. “One of the most beneficial aspects of the joint venture will be our collective ability to recruit additional physicians and make a continued investment in critically needed service lines such as pediatric services, women’s services, cancer services including expanded clinical trials, and specialty care for our aging population such as oncology and neurology.”
The partners will focus their efforts on integrating care, implementing innovative technology solutions, enhancing population health management initiatives, and collaborating with physicians in Southwest Louisiana to enhance access to high quality, affordable healthcare services for residents in the Lake Charles region. CHRISTUS and Ochsner will build upon their relationship that included bringing telemedicine and cancer clinical trials to Lake Charles.
“We are committed to ensuring that more access to care is available locally and to serving the people of Southwest Louisiana,” said Warner Thomas, president and CEO, Ochsner Health System. “Ochsner feels a great sense of responsibility to work closely with our partners across the Gulf South to implement innovative technology that allows for new, integrated care delivery options while also enhancing population health, including a focus on empowering patients through our digital health offerings to effectively manage chronic disease.”
Pictured at the announcement are, left to right, Father Brian King, director of pastoral care, CHRISTUS SWLA; Dr. Dana Smetherman, medical director – Lake Charles Region, Ochsner Health System; Jeff Puckett, executive vice president and chief operating officer, CHRISTUS Health; Warner Thomas, president and CEO, Ochsner Health System; Kevin Holland, CEO, CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana; and Nic Hunter, Mayor, City of Lake Charles.