A Medical Center Opens, and the Healing Continues
Sister Mary John Code (third from right) cuts the ribbon for the new Daughters of Charity Health Center on Wednesday. (Taylar Barrington/NYT Institute)
For nearly five years, New Orleans residents have had to travel as far as Baton Rouge for medical care, since Hurricane Katrina closed so many of the city’s health care centers. But on Wednesday, a new medical facility was dedicated on South Carrollton Street, a move that helps alleviate the shortage.
The Daughters of Charity Medical Center, a 34,000-square-foot facility, is one of the few new health centers to open in New Orleans since Katrina. The Catholic order, whose mission is to care for the sick and poor, also built the first new medical center that opened following the hurricane, the St. Cecilia Center in Bywater.
Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Archbishop Gregory Aymond called the new center an emblem of progress and growth.
“The challenge is to continue to make smart decisions like this one, and to build a health care system all around New Orleans, in every neighborhood,” Landrieu said.
“It’s a sign of hope to the city of New Orleans,” Aymond said. “Hope that we are rebuilding, and hope that we have a future.”
The center is intended to serve patients regardless of income or need. “We want this building to be a sign to all people, especially those who are in need, that we the city, the people of New Orleans and the church are here to be with them,” Aymond said.
The new facility will provide pediatric and primary care, as well as eye and dental care. It has 20 exam rooms, dental chairs, special procedure rooms, optometry exam rooms, medical labs and a pharmacy. Michael Griffin, CEO of the Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans, said the center would eventually employ around 100 staff members, 15 of them health care providers. The first patients are expected in early June.
Griffin said he believed the center would strengthen the community and attract residents who fled the area following Katrina.
“Word gets out, people will say it’s OK to go back to New Orleans,” Griffin said. “It’s OK, we have a health center and doctor in our community.”
Construction on the building began in September 2009. The facility’s opening was originally scheduled for March, but was pushed back two months. Griffin said the record rainy season in November and December stalled construction just as the foundation was being put in.
Daughters of Charity Services also operates a health care center in Metairie.
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