Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport has increased adult ICU capacity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to CEO Chuck Daigle, the increased capacity requires multiple moves and expansion.
“Working together with Governor John Bel Edwards and following the guidance of state public officials that we improve surge capacity for COVID-19 patients, we are rapidly modifying our St. Mary Medical Center, located in the Highland neighborhood of Shreveport, La., to accommodate the inpatient pediatric, labor and delivery units currently at our Academic Medical Center on Kings Highway,” Daigle said.
“By creating a new location for these inpatient areas, we can increase our capacity at the Academic Medical Center to allow for an additional 100 patients requiring intensive care, which is critical to supporting COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms. Construction for the project at St. Mary Medical Center is scheduled to begin this week, and the initial phase is expected to be operational in less than two months.
“Currently, we are also transforming a number of existing rooms to intensive care capability to meet the state’s increase in patients needing intensive care due to the COVID-19 virus.”
