Ochsner Health announced plans for The Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital, made possible through a transformational gift from Gayle Benson.
“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, Ochsner Health. “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."
"I am truly humbled to announce today The Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children's Hospital,” said Gayle Benson, New Orleans Saints owner and Pelicans governor. “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. 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.”
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 with the purpose to make the community stronger by giving back and making a positive impact.
“We’ve built a premier pediatric program in our region, and our new home will reflect the caliber of care we provide,” said Vincent Adolph, MD, chief medical officer, Ochsner Children’s Hospital, and Ochsner Health board member. Adolph and fellow pediatric specialists worked alongside architects to design the new facility.
“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. It will have everything for kids in one place, designed just for them and their caregivers,” he said.
The Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital is designed to have a child-friendly and welcoming atmosphere, with colorful and engaging decor, age-appropriate accommodations, and an efficient, easy-to-navigate layout.
Each floor is themed after an animal native to the Gulf South, with natural sunlight pouring in through large windows.
Designed as a family destination, parents and caregivers will find respite in areas including open air patios, kitchens, lounges, family resource centers, and private rooms.
The placement of departments, guided by patient and provider movement routes, reflect Ochsner Children’s collaborative care approach. The new organization of space speeds up time-sensitive processes and better enables multidisciplinary care teams to work seamlessly together, improving patient experiences and outcomes.
Wayfinding, in the form of imaginative and colorful signage and other elements, ensures patients get where they need to go using the shortest, easiest routes possible.
“The weight of a parent's heart is heavy when they’re caring for a sick child. It's an indescribable burden, navigating a storm of emotions while relentlessly fighting for their child’s health,” said Robert Hart, MD, chief physician executive, Ochsner Health and president, Ochsner Clinic. “This new space will give parents places to rest, recharge, work, and care for young siblings while remaining close by their sick child.”
Ochsner Children’s new home will have a children’s-only emergency department, with significant enhancements to critical care, operating rooms, and imaging capacity and proximity. A Level IV Surgical Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) will enable highly specialized care for babies who need surgery, which is uniquely challenging because of their small size and complex conditions
The new five-story, 343,000- square foot building will be constructed at Ochsner Medical Center-New Orleans on Jefferson Hwy, next to the existing hospital building. Ochsner Children’s expects to break ground in mid-2024 and open the doors to its new home in late 2027.