St. Tammany Health System cut the ribbon on a new family medicine clinic in north Covington that, in addition to expanding access to medical care for local residents, will educate the region’s next generation of family medicine physicians as part of the health system’s first-in-the-region family medicine residency program.
“With one snip of the scissors today, St. Tammany Parish and the rest of the Northshore just got significantly healthier,” St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “The realization of years of work and planning, this clinic is a sterling embodiment of our commitment to serving the community, as well as a symbol of the power of the partnership between St. Tammany Health System and Ochsner. What a blessing.”
“The St. Tammany Health System/Ochsner Family Medicine Residency Program is giving local families in our community access to high-quality, compassionate healthcare, by providing an integrated and holistic approach to their care,” said Timothy Riddell, MD, chief executive officer of Ochsner Health's Northshore and Mississippi Gulf Coast Region (NSMGC).
“By opening the region’s first residency program for family medicine physicians, Ochsner is also continuing our legacy of excellence as the region’s leading academic healthcare system. As a family physician, I know firsthand that it is critical that we address the state’s physician shortage by training the next generation of clinicians in areas needed most.”
Located at 17240 Heartbeat Circle, near the intersection of U.S. 190 and Louisiana 25, the St. Tammany Physicians Network North Covington Clinic is an 18,000-square-foot, purpose-built facility that includes onsite X-ray, lab draws and physical therapy capabilities.
In addition to longtime local physicians including Drs. Christopher Foret, Gabrielle Givens, and Catherine Pechon – who are already seeing patients – beginning July 1, the clinic will be home to the inaugural class of residents in the newly established St. Tammany Health System/Ochsner Family Medicine Residency Program.
Lisa Casey, MD, will oversee the ACGME-accredited residency program as its director.
“Our clinic marks a tremendous health opportunity for the families of St. Tammany Parish,” Casey said. “Simply put, the mission of the program is to train residents and to take exceptional care of our patients. As family medicine physicians we care for their wellness just as much as we care for their illness. We do this by focusing on ‘whole-person’ care and creating strong and continuous relationships with patients and families. In supporting this program in such a robust way, St. Tammany Health and Ochsner have reinforced their commitment to this community and to positively impacting the landscape of healthcare for generations to come. It is truly a privilege to be part of it.”
“This isn’t just another healthcare clinic,” said St. Tammany Health System Chief Medical Officer Patrick J. Torcson. “Family medicine is the Swiss Army Knife of medical disciplines, and its practitioners boast expertise in a variety of fields to effectively and compassionately care for the whole family, from newborns to seniors. The opportunity to better our community by bringing this level of expertise into it is as exciting as it is important.”
To learn more about the St. Tammany Health System/Ochsner Family Medicine Residency Program, visit www.sttammany.health/medresidency.
To learn more about eligibility requirements or to apply for the residency program, visit education.ochsner.org.