St. Charles Parish Hospital Board Meeting – March 26, 2026

The St. Charles Parish Hospital Board held a regular meeting on March 26, 2026, at 5:30 PM. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a public hearing period, which was closed after no one came forward to address the board. The board then proceeded with employee recognition, a series of unanimous motions, and reports on medical staff, quality, patient experience, clinic growth, and finances. Key announcements included a millage renewal vote and the upcoming opening of the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).

Consent Calendar

• Approved a motion to enter executive session and later return to regular session.
• Appointed Kevin Gautier to the St. Charles Parish Communication District.
• Approved an Intergovernmental Transfer (IGT) for Medical Medicaid Program support not to exceed $5,000,000.
• Approved a payment to Ochsner Health of $7,929,071 for purchased services.
• Approved the minutes from the February 25, 2026 meeting.
• Approved the Medical Executive Committee’s recommendations from the March 10, 2026 meeting, including credentialing actions for eight physicians, one physician with a waiver, one advanced practice provider, four resignations, five provisional reviews, one change of category, and 38 reappointments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public addressed the board during the public hearing.

Discussion Items

• Employee Recognition: Miss Jody Geis was awarded Employee of the Month. A summary highlighted her role as a “fixer of everything” on the behavioral health unit, her professionalism, and calming presence. Geis briefly thanked the board and said she simply comes to work and does her job with integrity.
• Medical Staff Report: The Medical Executive Committee met on March 10, 2026. Dr. Olafson presented updates on CSF and Body Fluid Laboratory and observance of Doctor’s Day. The Doctor’s Day luncheon will be held March 31, 2026. Standing reports were given, and the committee recommended approval of the meeting minutes and credentialing actions.
• Quality & Patient Experience: The facility has gone 406 days without a hospital-acquired condition. Net Promoter Score (HCAPS) exceeds goals in all areas except Telemed. Outpatient ambulatory surgeries are meeting goal. Clinic quality metrics show most targets are met or exceeded, with a 1% miss on one measure; the one-year smoking quit rate remains an area for improvement.
• Clinic Growth: As of the report, the clinic serves 22,188 unique patients, a 16–17% increase from 19,065 in 2024. The vast majority of patients are from St. Charles Parish zip codes. New providers are joining: Dr. Bartholomew (rheumatology) in April 2026, Dr. Natalie Atala (rheumatology) in July 2026, Dr. Dyer (hospitalist) in August 2026, and Dr. Kaylee Denny (inpatient psychiatry) in August 2026.
• Financial Report: February 2026 results showed therapy volumes 8% above budget, driven by Ormond and Pediatrics locations. A total of 669 infusion treatments were administered, exceeding budget and prior year. Patient service revenue was strong, particularly from infusion and surgery. Total operating revenue exceeded budget by 6.1%, and income from core operations exceeded budget by $450,000.
• Moment of Quality: A story from the emergency department: a frequent patient received coordinated help from nurses Alicia and Chris and case management to secure outpatient services at home. The patient later called to express gratitude, highlighting the staff’s compassionate care.

Key Outcomes

• All motions passed unanimously.
• The hospital announced a millage renewal vote on May 16, 2026 (early voting begins May 2). The proposed millage is a continuation of the existing tax, reduced from 2.23 to 2.13 mills. Proceeds fund facility infrastructure, EMS, ambulances, a transport van, parking lots, a new entrance and registration area, and the West Bank EMS station.
• The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 31, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
• The hospital will participate in the United Way bridge race on March 29, 2026, providing oranges for finishers and fielding a running team.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM.