By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
LACOMBE – Scott Boudreaux has watched for over 10 years as the Louisiana Heart Hospital has steadily broadened its services and expertise.
After being named last week as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Louisiana Heart Hospital and Medical Group, Boudreaux said he believes the integrated delivery system is quickly becoming a major player within the competitive St. Tammany health care landscape.
“The hospital has a lot of growth potential because of its outstanding facilities, wide range of services and a medical staff of 200 physicians representing over 35 medical specialties,” he said. “I think it’s one of the best kept secrets on the North Shore when it comes to quality health care in this region.”
The Louisiana Heart Hospital came onto the scene in 2003 as a 58-bed hospital specializing in cardiac and spine care. But for the past 13 years it has expanded and evolved into the Louisiana Heart Hospital & Medical Group integrated delivery system that includes the 134-bed general acute care Louisiana Heart Hospital and a rapidly growing multi-specialty physician group, Louisiana Heart Medical Group.
The hospital has one of the top Emergency Departments in the region, while the medical group includes over 40 physicians and mid-level providers offering a wide range of services from Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Cardiothoracic services to Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and General and Vascular Surgery. The medical clinics also provide easy access in 16 locations throughout the parish.
“The physicians on our medical staff and within Louisiana Heart Medical Group are very passionate about being successful and offering the absolute best care,” he said. “The hospital itself has been consistently ranked in the top 10 percent in patient experience and that’s one of the things that excited me about the future here.”
Boudreaux was hired by Louisiana Heart Hospital’s parent company, Cardiovascular Care Group (CCG), to lead the hospital and medical group due to his experience that has included positions as CEO, Ochsner North Shore Region and Chief Financial Officer for the Corporate Division & Ochsner Baptist Hospital. Boudreaux also previously worked in the Tenet Healthcare System-New Orleans Region, with Christus Health as CFO of the Louisiana Division and with Universal Health Services, Inc. as Regional Financial Director responsible for the financial operations of 11 acute care hospitals.
“Scott’s deep understanding of healthcare today has produced remarkable results throughout his career. He brings an impressive understanding of the market on the North Shore, and we are fortunate to have his level of expertise leading the growth of the Louisiana Heart Hospital & Medical Group integrated delivery system,” said Warren Beck, President of Cardiovascular Care Group.
Boudreaux, 59, said the only issue facing the Heart Hospital is the fact it is in the middle of St. Tammany Parish, leaving patients the question of whether they want to travel 10 to 15 minutes from the east or west side of the parish to receive the services there.
“Our emergency department has the fastest time from front door to seeing a doctor—30 minutes or less—than any emergency room in the parish,” he said. “We have many of the best doctors in the parish and physicians in every medical specialty except for pediatrics and OB services, and all physicians on staff are board certified.
“If you don’t mind driving 40 minutes across the lake to shop, or driving 30 minutes to eat at a good restaurant, why wouldn’t you drive 10 or 15 minutes to get great health care?” he said. “That’s a message we want to carry to the public.”
Boudreaux said he decided to consider the position as CEO of a hospital again because “I believe this hospital is ready to go to the next level. They have a great foundation and have had steady growth at a time when many hospitals are not experiencing growth. We are ready to step up and I am excited about the opportunity to lead them there.”
Louisiana Heart Hospital is licensed for 134 acute care beds and is recognized nationally for excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease and spine services. LHH has grown to provide comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care for orthopedics, vascular and general surgery, urology, gastroenterology in addition to its cardiovascular disease services.
The hospital’s full-service Emergency Department was the first nationally accredited Chest Pain Center on the North Shore and was also the first to hold both Chest Pain and Primary Stroke Center Accreditation in the area.
Boudreaux is a Member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. He is also a Member of the Northshore Business Council and is Past Chairman of the Northshore Healthcare Alliance. Boudreaux earned a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of New Orleans.
The Louisiana Heart Hospital Medical Group clinics are located throughout the Northshore in Covington, Mandeville, Hammond, Franklinton, Bogalusa, Lacombe and Slidell. LHMG also has clinics in Picayune and the Gulf Coast in Mississippi.