New Pediatric Subspecialty Clinic Opens in Lafayette as Part of Ochsner Strategic Partnership

Lafayette General Health and Ochsner Health System hosted a ribbon cutting and open house on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, to celebrate the opening of a new pediatric subspecialty clinic, a joint venture between Lafayette General Medical Center and Ochsner Hospital for Children.

Lafayette General Health (LGH) and Ochsner Health System (Ochsner) formed a strategic partnership in 2015. Working together, LGH and Ochsner continue to look for opportunities to expand access to high-quality care for people in Acadiana. Ochsner Hospital for Children is the first and only Children’s Hospital in Louisiana or Mississippi to be ranked by U.S. News and World Report. The addition of pediatric subspecialty services in Lafayette, delivered by a renowned team of physicians, further strengthens the partnership.

“This type of collaborative effort is what we envisioned from our relationship with Ochsner,” said LGH President David L. Callecod, FACHE. “Access to specialists is paramount, and we are thankful Ochsner is helping us provide local options. Asking patients, especially children, to travel for care is not ideal.”

The new clinic currently offers pediatric specialties including cardiology and plastic surgery with plans to add gastroenterology and neurology early next year.

The pediatric cardiology division of Ochsner Hospital for Children provides medical and surgical care for infants, children, teens and young adults born with complex heart problems, as well as those who develop cardiac-related illness in childhood.

Patients and their parents will be able to self-refer to the clinic, and local pediatricians will have the benefit of referring their patients to a pediatric program that is nationally recognized in subspecialty care.

Ochsner Hospital for Children is ranked among the top 50 children’s hospitals in the country for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery specialties in the new 2017-18 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. Ochsner Hospital for Children is the only hospital in Louisiana and Mississippi to be recognized and offers one of the largest pediatric cardiology programs in the Gulf South.

“Meeting the growing demand for some pediatric services is a challenge, forcing families to travel long distances for the care their children required,” said Dr. William Lennarz, System Chair of Pediatrics and the Associate Medical Director (AMD) of Pediatrics at Ochsner Hospital for Children. “Partnering with Lafayette General allows us to offer families exceptional and convenient care close to home.”

The new Ochsner Health Center for Children– Lafayette is located, at 1460 S College, Lafayette, LA 70503. To book an appointment, call (337) 443-6100.