Emergency Room expansion heads big plans for $51.5 million proposal
By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – Voters will go to the polls again on Saturday, May 3, to consider several important issues, including a request by the Slidell Memorial Hospital Board of Commissioners to renew a millage that will allow the hospital to expand and improve several critical services at the community hospital.
Following most other millage or tax renewals in recent years with a skeptical public voting against seemingly reasonable requests, SMH is taking the approach of offering to slightly reduce the millage that is already on the books. The present millage is 6.75, and it will be reduced to 5.99.
The request for SMH is not asking for any additional tax money, and will actually lower property tax bills by a few dollars if passed.
The existing 20-year millage is still scheduled to be on the books for 16 more years, but Slidell Memorial CEO Sandy Badinger said the board is asking for a four-year extension to this millage, which will bring in an additional $51.5 million that the hospital will immediately spend for several important projects.
Leading the way and of great interest to the public is a plan to expand the always packed emergency room, something Badinger didn’t shy away from acknowledging.
“We all know how full the emergency room has become, and we know there are frequently long wait times,” she said, noting the two emergency rooms in Slidell at the SMH Main and SMH East campuses are currently averaging close to 200 visits a day.
If the millage is approved, the hospital will increase capacity and privacy in the SMH emergency room on Gause Boulevard, as well as enhance the ER structure to optimize patient flow. The funds will also allow for replacement to more advanced imaging equipment.
It wasn’t that many years ago that Slidell Memorial opened the current ER in 2013 with a much larger capacity for patients. But in only 12 years the visitors continue to increase.
“The good news is that we have some non-clinical space that is in the ER, and we’re going to utilize that. But this millage is also important since we have equipment that needs updating, and a ‘yes’ vote will allow us to do that,” she added.
Also planned with the $51.5 million will be:
–Expand the Comprehensive Cancer Care Clinic with additional exam rooms and advanced imaging equipment.
–Equip a new Women and Infants Center with advanced imaging equipment and technology.
–Construct a new family-centered Pediatric & Primary Care outpatient center to increase access to care.
–Improve ease of access with additional parking on the SMH campus.
The Comprehensive Cancer Care Clinic began their new approach to care only three years ago when Medical Director Dr. Matt McElveen and his team coordinated several different providers to all work the same day at the Cancer Center. It was a huge improvement in care for cancer patients who could then be diagnosed and have a treatment plan created in one day. Most of all, answers to the patient concerns and worry were alleviated in a day, compared to what used to be weeks to visit various doctors.
The Comprehensive Cancer Care program was already being utilized for breast cancer, lung cancer, esophagus, pancreas and liver cancers, but now aims at adding other forms of cancer.
Expectant families will be thrilled to hear about the plans for the “new baby rooms,” as Badinger calls them.
The new Women and Infants Center will offer state-of-the-art birthing options, and have 15 new private rooms.
“They are considered ‘family style’ where families can be together for the entire time having a new baby,” she said. “We will even have a special room if you are having twins, and all the rooms will have entirely new equipment.”
The Pediatric & Primary Care clinic will have aspects of the comprehensive cancer clinic in that patients will have more specialists there, upgraded equipment, and also be as close as possible to a “one stop shop” for whatever care is needed.
For Badinger, who has continually voiced her intent as CEO to keep care local, these improvements are all about that.
“Our goal as an SMH board and administration is to keep care local, and the more improvements like this that we make are helping achieve that,” she remarked. “People want to see government agencies being more efficient, and that is what we are trying to do.
“We are well aware of the challenges with any tax or millage issues, but we believe the people have continually supported our work here, and the many improvements we have brought in. So, I am continuing to trust the public will support us in this new effort since I know we have kept our promises,” she said.
SMH is just coming off its largest expansion in history with a $52 million, three-story tower that brought in cutting-edge medical technology, a new set of operating suites, an Intensive Care Unit and inpatient Medical/Surgical Unit with private rooms, and enhanced ability to treat airborne illnesses.
The May 3 vote is open to all residents of Wards 6, 7, 8 and 9, which means the entire east St. Tammany area, as well as west to Lacombe, Hickory and Talisheek.
Early voting is currently underway until this Saturday April 26, before the actual voting day on May 3.