LAFAYETTE – (PRESS RELEASE) Through a multi-phase approach, Lafayette General Health (LGH) has transformed Lafayette General Southwest (LGSW) into Lafayette General Orthopedic Hospital (LG Ortho), an orthopedic center of excellence and post-acute facility.
This transition allows LG Ortho the ability to use staff dedicated exclusively to orthopedic care, including general orthopedic and reconstructive surgery as well as sports medicine. LG Ortho, located at 2810 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., will maintain its emergency department and continue to provide full imaging and diagnostic services.
Lafayette General is recognized as the only center of excellence to have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in three joint replacements certifications- knee, hip and shoulder – in a four-state area: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas.
In order to establish LG Ortho, Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC) has absorbed all cardiac services previously performed at the former LGSW campus. With a catheterization (cath) lab renovation and expansion project recently completed, LGMC now offers seven cath lab suites and 27 short-stay patient rooms.
Simultaneously, LG Ortho has undergone an upgrade to the operating room (OR) and ancillary space. These improvements have allowed for any OR to accommodate orthopedics. In addition, two ORs will be dedicated to the use of the Mako Robotic-Arm assisted surgical technology for knee and hip replacement. LGH is currently the only health system in the Acadiana region to use Mako.
“These changes will result in more patient care at both campuses and add needed inpatient capacity at LGMC,” stated Patrick W. Gandy, Jr., LGMC CEO. “The move enables orthopedic services to centralize and adds greater convenience for patients by providing all care on one campus, from pre-operative services to post-surgery needs, such as physical therapy and rehabilitation,” continued Gandy.
Moving all cardiology to LGMC and all orthopedic services to LG Ortho will boost coordination of resources and improve clinical protocols. Similarly, LHC Group has relocated its existing long-term acute care (LTAC) hospital from LGMC to LG Ortho. Also, LHC Group will open a skilled nursing facility inside LG Ortho early next year. LHC Group will manage LG Ortho’s physical rehabilitation unit as well.
“Aligning all of our post-acute services with a partner like LHC Group that focuses on person-centered care emulates very successful health systems across the U.S. and leads to better patient outcomes,” said David L. Callecod, FACHE, LGH President. “Through these moves and transformations, we’re expanding access to care and creating a better care model for our patients, which furthers our mission to restore, maintain and improve health.”
With an operating room geared toward orthopedics, orthopedic surgeons will receive dedicated OR time at LG Ortho. For patients, this means less time waiting to schedule surgical procedures. This will also free up OR time at LGMC to better optimize patient care. Orthopedic trauma will continue at LGMC, which houses the region’s only Level II trauma program.
“Coming together as a team to deliver the best care to our patients will result in better patient experiences,” said John Schutte, M.D., LGMC Principle Medical Director of Orthopaedic Services. “We are creating the best orthopedic facility in our region, and with the type of care, technology and experience we provide, patients will make us the go-to destination.”
Surgeries at LG Ortho started in May, and orthopedic physician clinics will make the move to the facility’s campus in early fall. Renovations continue at LG Ortho and the attached medical office building, but patients will not be impacted during beautification efforts.
