NEW ORLEANS (Biz New Orleans) – Ochsner Health has announced plans for the Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital, made possible by a major donation from Gayle Benson.
The new five-story, 343,000-square-foot building will be constructed at Ochsner Medical Center-New Orleans on Jefferson Highway next to the existing hospital building. Ochsner expects to break ground on the new hospital in mid-2024 and open its doors in late 2027.
“We are proud to unveil much-anticipated plans for a new home for Louisiana’s No. 1-ranked children’s hospital,” said Pete November, CEO of Ochsner Health, in a press release. “Ochsner is deeply grateful for Mrs. Benson and her unparalleled act of generosity, which will significantly impact the lives of countless families throughout Louisiana and the Gulf South. This facility will enable us to care for more children, retain and attract top pediatric physicians and care teams, and continue to set the standard of care.”
Ochsner leaders said that current and projected needs of children and families throughout the region have driven the plan for the new facility. The donation made for the new home for Ochsner Children’s Hospital will come from the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation, a private foundation founded in 2007.
“Throughout the years, my husband Tom and I have been privileged to support Ochsner’s exceptional team of physicians and caregivers in their tireless mission to assist patients and families facing health challenges in our region,” said Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans. “Together, we embark on a collective journey to forge a brighter, healthier future for the children of our city, state and region. Ochsner has become a national healthcare leader and destination for patients seeking medical care in virtually every discipline. We should all be proud of the world-class facilities and world-class doctors at Ochsner.”
Dr. Vincent Adolph, chief medical officer at Ochsner Children’s Hospital, worked with architects to design the new facility.
“We’ve built a premier pediatric program in our region, and our new home will reflect the caliber of care we provide,” he said. “This new space will provide an ideal pediatric and family experience that focuses on each child’s personalized medical needs and their emotional and psychological well-being,” he said. “It will have everything for kids in one place, designed just for them and their caregivers,” he said.
The hospital will be designed to have a child-friendly and welcoming atmosphere, with colorful decor, age-appropriate accommodations, and an easy-to-navigate layout.
Ochsner executives said the hospital’s children’s-only emergency department will feature significant enhancements to critical care, operating rooms and imaging capacity and proximity. A Level IV surgical neonatal intensive care unit will enable specialized care for babies who need surgery.
“Ochsner Children’s Hospital cares for more than 100,000 children every year. This new facility will help us better meet the needs of our communities because we know there are many more families who want their children to receive care at Ochsner,” said Adolph.
Ochsner Children’s will be the new home to more than 200 physicians specializing in over 30 pediatric specialties and subspecialties.
“Having a state-of-the-art building to match our nationally recognized programs will help Ochsner Children’s retain our highly skilled experts and attract more to Louisiana,” said Dr. William Lennarz, system chair of pediatrics, Ochsner Children’s. “Keeping and growing talent here means families don’t have to travel far from home to receive nationally recognized, state-of-the-art care their children need and deserve.”
Ochsner is not disclosing the cost of the project, but a spokesperson said it will be financed through philanthropic and private investment, including the “transformational” gift from Benson.
