Winn Dixie (Emergency Clinic)

9/19/2008 11:06:39 AM
TERREBONNE PARISH UNIFIED COMMAND STRUCTURE
PRESS BRIEFING
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 – 10:30 A.M.

HOSPITALS

Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center resumed normal operations effective 2PM on Thursday, September 18, 2008. The following services are available: The Emergency Room will be open with Surgical Divert status – no cases requiring surgery should be transported for care. Internal Medicine Units and Intensive Care beds will be open for inpatients.

Due to the opening of Chabert, the DMAT is terminating operations.
Terrebonne General is fully operational.

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9/11/08 Update from the Terrebonne Parish Government Website:

The temporary clinic/DMAT located at the Winn Dixie parking lot on Prospect is in the process of closing and will likely be closed by Friday.

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Temporary ER to offset loss of Chabert

Nikki Buskey
Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 10:04 a.m.
HOUMA — A temporary emergency room will open in a former grocery store this weekend to help close the gap in medical services created by the temporary shuttering of the storm-damaged Chabert Medical Center.

Hurricane Gustav made landfall in Cocodrie Monday as a Category 3 with 110 mph winds.

The storm prompted the closure of several local hospitals, including Chabert and Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma. Terrebonne General’s emergency room has since reopened. Chabert is closed indefinitely.

The temporary emergency room, which will be housed in the former Winn-Dixie at Main Street and Prospect Boulevard, will house a portable medical unit provided by FEMA. Chabert employees and other medical personnel will staff it.

Lauren Mendes, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Hospitals, said Friday that officials hope to open the shelters in 48 hours, though there are “no guarantees.”

As of Friday afternoon, the Winn Dixie parking lot was empty, and there were no signs of activity.

“They’re in the staging process, and they’re bringing down the supplies and equipment and all the medical personnel,” Mendes said.

Dr. Michael K. Butler, CEO of LSU’s health-care-services division, said clinical services at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center are expected to resume Monday.

The hospital evacuated about 20 patients ahead of the storm, sending them to other LSU hospitals in Lafayette, Shreveport and New Orleans. If they still require medical treatment, they will be brought back to Chabert. If not, they will be discharged and transported home, Butler said.

At Chabert, the building’s exterior was damaged, the cover was blown off the elevator shaft and there’s water damage, he said, making the elevators useless.

Terrebonne General Medical Center opened Friday morning for emergencies only. Only employees, first-responders and one visitor per patient will be allowed in the hospital. The National Guard is on campus to help monitor security.

“Because of the compromised and inadequate power and water resources that are very necessary to treat patients safely, the hospital was unable to open fully until this afternoon,” said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO at Terrebonne General.

The hospital is fully staffed for the weekend. But surgeries will be limited to emergency cases only, and no elective procedures are being performed until further notice.

Doctors are slowly returning to the area, and physicians trained in all medical specialties are available for emergencies.

Lady of the Sea General Hospital in Galliano resumed normal operations Friday and has established a medical clinic on its third floor. The clinic will be opened from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday.

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center has electricity and offering full local emergency, inpatient and outpatient health care. The hospital never closed during the storm.

Patients who missed scheduled tests or procedures due to Hurricane Gustav can reschedule by calling 493-4304.

Oschner St. Anne General Hospital, which kept its emergency room open through the storm, is now open.