Partners Open PICU

Level II PICU Opens at St. Tammany Parish Hospital
Partnership Collaboration Completes Health System for Children Strategy at STPH

COVINGTON – The June opening of St. Tammany Parish Hospital’s level two pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) caps a focused, years’ long effort to complete world-class pediatric services for west St. Tammany families.

“We’re excited to cut the ribbon on our beautiful PICU and pediatrics unit at St. Tammany Parish Hospital,” Kerry Milton BSN RN MSHA, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, said. “In partnership with Ochnser Hospital for Children, we are elevating the level of pediatric specialty care available close to home, now providing the most comprehensive health system for children along the I-12 corridor.”

Staffed by Ochsner Hospital for Children pediatric intensivists, the new PICU delivers a team with specialized training in caring for patients age 18 and under in need of higher-acuity care. The same physicians will also care for patients in STPH’s newly renovated inpatient pediatrics unit adjacent to the PICU.

Ochsner provided specialized training for the STPH pediatrics team to prepare them for young patients with respiratory infections, diabetes, seizure disorders and other conditions that may require the use of a ventilator, continuous cardiac monitoring or other highly specialized pediatric care.

“Ochsner Hospital for Children is proud to partner with St. Tammany Parish Hospital to further advance pediatric care throughout the Northshore Region,” Israel Temple MD, Ochsner pediatric intensivist. “This new Level II PICU is state-of-the-art, and our Ochsner physicians are excited to be providing the care. The children in west St. Tammany Parish deserve the best, and that’s what they will get through this partnership.”

Ochsner Hospital for Children subspecialists in the Covington pediatric specialty clinic provide a full schedule of appointments in pediatric cardiology, endocrinology, otolaryngology, nutrition, general surgery, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, plastic surgery (including hand), orthopedics, pulmonology, urology and other specialties.

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A full-service acute care facility committed to providing world-class healthcare and the latest technology, St. Tammany Parish Hospital delivers today’s life-improving procedures with the utmost care to area residents with emphasis on wellness, preventive care and disease management close to home. STPH is recognized for quality, safety and the patient experience by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. St. Tammany Parish Hospital is an independent service district in a clinically integrated partnership with Ochsner Health System. Together, the two organizations focus on aligning their healthcare offerings to best serve patients and families in west St. Tammany and surrounding areas. Under their agreement, the two organizations retain their autonomy; neither partner manages nor owns the other. STPH is a self-supporting not-for-profit community hospital; it receives no tax funding. Learn more at stph.org.