Press Release: University Medical Center New Orleans Celebrates Dedication

NEW ORLEANS, LA –­ Hundreds of community members, industry professionals, business leaders, and elected officials congregated this afternoon to celebrate the dedication of University Medical Center (University Medical Center) New Orleans. University Medical Center New Orleans, located in the heart of New Orleans’ BioDistrict, opened on Aug. 1 and serves as a key center for quality, patient-centered healthcare, academic training, and research.

“This is an exciting and pivotal moment for healthcare in New Orleans,” said Gregory C. Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health. “With the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina commemorated this week, the nation’s attention has been on this city and even on this institution. University Medical Center New Orleans is a story of resilience and a symbol of rebirth. Together, we have reimagined what could and should be, instead of what once was. It took leadership, perseverance, many partnerships, and 10 years to bring us to this moment.”

University Medical Center New Orleans offers comprehensive primary care and specialty care, cutting-edge research, and the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center. Home to the Avery C. Alexander Academic Research Hospital, University Medical Center New Orleans has a capacity of 446 beds, including 60 behavioral health beds. As the state’s largest teaching hospital and training facility for many of the state’s physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals, University Medical Center New Orleans plays an integral role in shaping the future of healthcare for the region. It serves as a key partner of LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, Tulane University School of Medicine, and other academic institutions.

"Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we’ve worked diligently to rebuild a stronger, more resilient Louisiana,” stated Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. “One of the integral parts of that process was the move to completely revamp our healthcare system with a new, more modern model of care. University Medical Center New Orleans represents another shining example of the high-quality care, innovative research, and exceptional resources that have risen from our public-private partnerships in Louisiana. This $1.1 billion medical complex will use innovative technology to care for our citizens while creating thousands of great new jobs for our people. I’m proud to be a part of such a remarkable project because it truly represents how far we’ve come as a state since the storms."

Speakers who joined Feirn and Governor Jindal for the celebration included New Orleans Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Acting Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Karen DeSalvo, State Senator David Heitmeier, State Senator Karen Carter Peterson, State Representative Walt Leger, State Representative Helena Moreno, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Kathy Kliebert, and New Orleans City Councilmember LaToya Cantrell; who praised the medical center for its transformation of Mid-City New Orleans, job creation and its focus on making New Orleans a medical tourism destination.

“Over the last ten years, we have transformed the healthcare delivery system in New Orleans with neighborhood clinics and massive investments in state-of-the-art hospitals,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “Today, I am thrilled to see the University Medical Center project come to fruition. This is another facility that will offer exceptional quality patient care for the people of our great city, and create thousands of new jobs for people in the neighborhood - everything from doctors and technicians to nurses and administrators. The biomedical corridor in New Orleans is continuing to grow, positioning the city as a laboratory for research and innovation.”

University Medical Center New Orleans, which created thousands of construction jobs throughout the build, currently employs more than 2,100. Hundreds of additional full-time positions are expected to be created in the next few years. In addition to the direct jobs created by University Medical Center New Orleans, the medical hub serves as a catalyst, spurring economic development in the area and attracting new retailers to the neighborhood.

LCMC Health, which operates Children’s Hospital, Touro, New Orleans East Hospital, and, soon, West Jefferson Medical Center, entered into a public-private partnership with the state in 2013. Interim LSU Hospital, University Medical Center New Orleans’ predecessor, is closed and new patients are now being accepted solely at University Medical Center New Orleans.

For more information about University Medical Center New Orleans and LCMC Health, visit www.umcno.org and www.lcmchealth.org, respectively.