Lemoine Celebrates Groundbreaking on Our Lady of the Lake Livingston Project

The memorable ceremony was attended by a large crowd of guests, including dignitaries Livingston Parish President Mike Grimmer, Walker Mayor Bobby Font, and Bishop Robert Muench who provided the blessing over the ceremony.  Hosted by Our Lady of the Lake Chief Executive Officer, Scott Wester, the event took place on the project site on Buddy Ellis Road.
 
The 140,000 square foot medical complex will include a free-standing emergency room, outpatient services such as a lab, imaging services such as CT, ultrasound, X-ray and MRI.  In addition, the facility will house physician offices, including specialists.  In addition to a 24/7 Emergency room, patients will have access to transfer services to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge when needed.  Trauma patients will be transferred via helicopter.

“Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge has about 500 team members who live in Livingston Parish, including myself,” said Dean Williams, Our Lady of the Lake Vice President of Operations and Our Lady of the Lake Livingston Project Administrator.  “When construction is complete, residents will have access to emergency care and other healthcare services in their own backyard. I am pleased to be a part of something that is bringing much needed healthcare services to my home parish.”

The decision to locate the facility in Livingston Parish is part of the organization’s strategic plan to respond to the healthcare needs of this growing community.

“Our Lady of the Lake Livingston is going to be something that hasn’t really been done yet within the state of Louisiana, and the unique aspects of our facility is really to encompass things that the community needs now,” said Scott Wester, Our Lady of the Lake Chief Executive Officer.

The facility is located just off I-12 providing easy access for the community.  “The location is just superb right there off the interstate,” said Mike Grimmer, Livingston Parish President. “Walker is almost in the center of the parish and it’s easy to get there.  It’s a blessing for the people of Livingston Parish.”
 
“It’s an ideal location. If you’re driving down the interstate you see this gorgeous beautiful lake that is just full of natural surroundings and trees. It’s an awesome piece of property and it’s going to be really pleasant to see,” said Jolene Ott, Livingston Parish Chamber Outgoing Chair.

Our Lady of the Lake Livingston incorporates the original goals of Our Lady of the Lake’s founders, the sisters of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady.

“The Sisters are celebrating 100 years in this state and they have always asked us to make sure that we provide good access to the people and knowing what Livingston is today and where Livingston will be in the future, it’s a natural connection to the ministry that the sisters have asked us to provide,” Wester explained.

The original statue of Mary that was on Capitol Lake when Our Lady of the Lake hospital was located downtown is now on the main hospital campus in Baton Rouge.  In keeping with tradition, the hospital announced today that a replica of the statue will be placed on the lake at Our Lady of the Lake Livingston.

Construction on Our Lady of the Lake Livingston is due to be complete in the summer of 2012.