Woman’s expects higher volume, expanded service at new hospital

Officials with Woman’s Hospital, which moves to its new campus Sunday, say new hospitals typically see a demand spike of about 10% to 15%, and they say the larger facility near the corner of Airline Highway and Pecue Lane will be ready. “There are some services we offer that are not well-known, and we’ve not promoted them extensively, because we were so limited on space,” says Woman’s President/CEO Teri Fontenot. Two general surgeons will be housed in the medical office building on the new campus, and an orthopedic surgeon who has been on staff for over a year will have more clinical space in which to see patients. Gastroenterology, particularly colonoscopies, and bariatric surgery also likely will be more common at the new location. The new hospital carries a $24 million a year mortgage, and Woman’s is not adding beds. It also faces revenue challenges as the state cuts Medicaid payments. However, the hospital’s more efficient layout and better technology should lead to savings on operating costs, officials say. —David Jacobs