2009 - A Thriving Year for Teche Regional Medical Center
1/1/2010
Morgan City, LA • Expanding its psychiatric unit, improving the appearance of the facility, welcoming four new physicians to its medical staff, and beginning construction of a new medical office building were all accomplishments of Teche Regional Medical Center over the last year.
Throughout 2009 Teche Regional spent $3.3 million dollars preserving and improving the appearance of the hospital, such as revitalized interior furniture, walls and floors, replacing the existing roof, and cleaning and sealing the exterior brick. Additional patient parking was also added to make parking more convenient for patients and visitors. A vital renovation was the expansion of the psychiatric unit on the 7th floor with the addition of eight beds. This investment enables the hospital to better assist with the behavioral healthcare needs of the area. The staff remains dedicated to providing safety, security, stability, and structure within the context of a therapeutic environment and specialized treatment programs.
Teche Regional remains committed to the community and supporting its continued growth. Throughout 2009 the hospital gave over $40 thousand dollars in local sponsorships and donations, along with $1.5 million dollars to local vendors. In addition, over $9 million dollars of uncompensated medical care was provided throughout the year.
Teche Regional Medical Center continued to build its medical staff with the additions of a Cardiologist, Podiatrist, and two Internal Medicine Physicians. "Physician recruitment has been a great accomplishment for the hospital this year. This success is primarily due to our current medical staff's positive involvement in the recruiting process. Our current physician satisfaction score is 92% positive. This is exceptional as it is a 44% improvement over the last four years," said Scott Smith, Teche Regional's Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Juan A. Escarfuller, MD, FACC, FACP with Sacred Heart Cardiology joined the active medical staff in June. Dr. Escarfuller is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in the subspecialty of Cardiovascular Diseases and Vascular Cardiology. "Louisiana has a high rate of heart health issues, some brought on by our diet, some genetic and some by behavior. Dr. Escarfuller will enable us to provide exceptional heart care to our patients," said Scott Smith, CEO.
Along with Cardiology, the hospital has been joined by Adam Ziegenbusch, DPM, with The Foot Specialists of Acadiana. Dr. Ziegenbusch, specializing in Podiatric Medicine and surgery, provides a broad range of health services related to feet and ankles. "Podiatry will provide a welcome medical service to our community while helping our area residents avoid travelling to receive care for health concerns of the feet and ankles," added Smith.
Continuing the expansion of its hospital medical staff, Teche Regional Medical Center added two Internal Medicine physicians. Eric Melancon, MD with Tiger Island Medical Clinic and Trenton Hinds, MD, Ph. D with Teche Internal Medicine Clinic.
"We are pleased to welcome these physicians to Morgan City and to St. Mary parish," said Smith. These practice's will fill a much needed area in the field of healthcare, helping fulfill our ongoing commitment of bringing necessary, and accessible healthcare services right here close to home," he adds.
Finally, groundbreaking was held for the new 14,000-square-foot medical office building and the project is in full swing. The $4.3 million dollar construction project will consist of two buildings to house eight physician offices. It is expected to be completed March 2010.
Looking ahead there are many exciting things happening for Teche Regional Medical Center this year. The hospital is once again setting the standard for state-of-the-art heart care, thanks to the brand new, modern Cath Lab which will open in May 2010. Soon, instead of the inconvenience of an out-of-town facility, patients will be able to take advantage of convenient, local access to a comprehensive program of diagnostic, invasive/interventional cardiac procedures close to home. With an expert team of board certified cardiologists and a friendly, caring staff, the hospital has the advanced training necessary to continue to raise the level of cardiac care in this area.
The hospital also added two free childbirth preparation classes for moms to be as part of the commitment to keep community members educated, healthy. The first class, a preparation class is designed for both first-time parents and experienced parents who have not had previous Lamaze or prepared childbirth instruction. This class is a one day class offered on the second and third Tuesday of each month. In addition, the hospital is offering free breast feeding education classes on the first Monday and Friday of each month. The course will include practical advice on getting started, avoiding problems, and building confidence with nursing your infant. For more information or to schedule a class, call 380-4499.
Teche Regional is committed to supporting and having a positive impact on the lives of the people in the community. The employees, physicians, and board of trustees are focused on one goal, which is to create a culture where patients and employees feel valued and appreciated. It is because of the continued support and positive perception of the community and surrounding areas, the success of the hospital is achieved.