By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – While there is friendly talk on the surface between competing health care companies in the region, you don’t usually think of major hospitals and other healthcare providers as trying to help each other succeed.
But that is the apparent goal of the newly announced Northshore Healthscape endeavor, described as “A collaborative enhancing the pulse of our regional healthcare economy.”
St. Tammany Corporation CEO Chris Masingill headed a press conference to announce the plan that included many of the major hospitals in the three-parish region, including St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington.
Among those who have signed on to the Northshore Healthscape are North Oaks Health System, Ochsner Northshore-Mississippi Gulf Coast Region, Our Lady of the Lake Northshore, Slidell Memorial Hospital, and St. Tammany Health System.
Considering the fact the healthcare industry is a major driver of the economy here and across the country, Masingill said his agency saw the need, and the opportunity, for forming a regional coalition that would present a single healthcare destination to businesses considering locating near such an enterprise, as well as to draw more individuals for services here.
“We began with an invitation to major healthcare partners whom St. Tammany Corporation already had existing strong relationships,” said Masingill. “It started with a quarterly roundtable meeting to discuss solutions-focused dialogue about healthcare-related needs.”
Since February 2021, these quarterly virtual meetings were an opportunity to discuss strategic priorities for collaboration, workforce development, and talent retention. Northshore Healthscape is the outcome of these engagements and represents formalization of the collaboration among industry, workforce, and economic development.
Masingill said they began with the major hospitals and providers in a three-parish area and are continuing to invite other healthcare entities. To date, he said, none has declined to join in.
Hospital leaders stated repeatedly at the press conference that “this is not about competition; this is to bring in the right business for all of us.”
Masingill explained that when other companies are looking for a place to locate, the draw of a regional health care cooperative will be attractive.
“There are other areas in the country where they have done this—even one in Mississippi where they created a healthcare incentive zone within five miles of the hospital. It would be an advantage for many companies to have their business near a region like this,” he said.
Additionally, the promotion of the extensive and advanced health care services between all the hospitals involved will be key to drawing more business to this region, as opposed to people going elsewhere for services.
Dr. Bryan Miller, the physician executive and interim president with Our Lady of the Lake Surgical Hospital in Slidell, said it will also help with the critical situation of staffing shortages.
“We’ve had to send nurses to other states to train and sometimes they decided to stay there,” he said. “But now we have a situation where we can work together to keep those nurses or other staff in the region, even if they train at a hospital other than our own, which should help keep our nurses and other staff here.”
Slidell Memorial CEO Sandy Baddinger noted that “this focuses on keeping care local—the meetings forced us to look at ways to move health care forward for all of us. It will improve our mission to provide the best health care right here.”
One of the first steps for the new organization is to conduct a healthcare infrastructure assessment, which will be directed by VisionFirst Advisors. Then, Masingill said, they will address immediate and short-term workforce and talent needs, followed by developing a branding campaign for Northshore Healthscape, and then to produce an industry impact report.
Who pays for all of this? So far, St. Tammany Corporation, Slidell Memorial Hospital, St. Tammany Parish Health System, Our Lady of the Lake and North Oaks Health System have all contributed $25,000, with Ochsner Northshore putting in $30,000.
Masingill said that health care contributes more than $1.5 billion to the three-parish regional GDP, with over 22,000 jobs in the area. That demand will continue, as he noted there were 5,000 job postings for health care positions in the past 12 months. Projections indicate that jobs in this sector will increase by 11 percent by the year 2026.
“Ochsner Health values strategic partnerships and regional collaborations to advance the health and well-being of our communities and align with our vision to inspire healthier lives and stronger communities,” said Corwin N. Harper, Chief Executive Officer for Ochsner Northshore and Gulf Coast Region. “Northshore Healthscape represents the dynamic relationship between the healthcare industry, economic development, and workforce with the desired outcome of enhancing access to quality care, increasing awareness of career opportunities in the healthcare industry and related fields, and showcasing the world-class healthcare services provided right here on the Northshore.”
Masingill said there will be further announcements in the future as the vision develops and expands.