Building Our Future 2024
Board Annual Report
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
“ “
As the healthcare leader in our region, we are expanding our care blueprint, from our physical footprint to our specialty services, to give our community greater access to quality healthcare closer to home.
The construction of our new North Oaks Clinic Building II is underway. Growth and innovation are happening across our health system, from the construction of our new NOCB II to the newly renovated Labor and Delivery suites. These exciting phases of progress will enhance care options and health outcomes for our patients.
And while these physical upgrades are vital, compassionate, knowledgeable, dedicated experts and healthcare professionals are at the heart of our service evolution. So, we’re proactively addressing workforce needs with advanced programs like our graduate medical education residency program that trains the doctors of tomorrow, and our partnership with Northshore Technical Community College that expedites the path from medical assistant to Louisiana practical nurse licensure.
The successful establishment of these construction projects, specialty services and workforce development are the keys to our overarching mission to improve lives, every time, every touch. Building for our future starts now.
FACHE
Michele Kidd Sutton,
North Oaks Health System President & CEO
Leadership
2023-24
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
In Fiscal Year 2024, seven community leaders served on the Board of Commissioners for North Oaks Health System. Appointed by the Tangipahoa Parish Council, these voluntary members meet with North Oaks senior leadership monthly to discuss vision and strategic initiatives.
RON MACALUSO, JD Chairman
ANN CARRUTH, DNS, RN
TERRY HARPER Vice Chairman
MARK MOBLEY
RON ORSI
AMBER NARRO, PHD
JOYCELYN LEE, RPH
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Led by President & Chief Executive Officer Michele Kidd Sutton, FACHE, North Oaks Health System has 21 senior leaders managing the system’s operations. This dedicated team works tirelessly to guide the organization on the path of achieving the vision established in concert with the Board of Commissioners.
JEFF
JOHN DERENBECKER, JD Chief Legal / Mission Integration Officer
MICHELE KIDD SUTTON, FACHE President & CEO
JESSICA BENNETT, DBA Chief Ancillary Officer
MARK ANDERSON Chief Financial Officer
JARREAU, SHRM-SCP, SPHR Chief Human Resources Officer
ROBERT PELTIER, MD Chief Medical Officer
MICHAEL WATKINS Chief Operating Officer
KIRSTEN RINEY, MSN, MHA, BSN Chief Nursing Officer
MAC BARRIENT North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital Administrator
WILLIAM H. BRANSON, MBA Vice President, Finance
DAWN LENOX, CHC Vice President / Compliance and Privacy Officer
KILEY CEDOTAL, LCSW-BACS, MBA, FACHE Vice President, Designated Institutional Officer
REGINA SCOTT, BS, RT(M) Vice President, Diagnostics
DIANA BARBER, MPH Vice President, Cardiovascular / Oncology Service Line
REAGAN JOHNSON, MS, L-SLP, CCC-SLP Vice President, Orthopaedic / Neurosciences Service Line
SARAH E. MITCHELL, MMC, MPT Vice President, Surgical Service Line
JHERIE DUCOMBS, MD, FACC Vice President, Assistant Chief Medical Officer
COURTNEY KLEEB, MHA, BSN Vice President, Surgical Services
SALETA COSTANZA, MSPH Vice President, Primary Care / Population Health Service Line
HERBERT ROBINSON, III, MD Chief Health Informatics Officer
GINA SIMONEAUX, MSN, BSN Vice President, Patient Services
MEDICAL STAFF LEADERSHIP
NORTH OAKS MEDICAL CENTER
Ten area physicians serve on the Medical Executive Committee. Selected by their peers, these medical leaders serve as liaisons between North Oaks Medical Staff and Administration, and the North Oaks Health System Board of Commissioners.
D’ANTONI C. DENNIS, MD Chief of Staff
S. TAHSEEN RAB, MD Member-at-Large
BRAD M. LAKE, MD Member-at-Large
LORI MAYERS, NP Advanced Practitioner Appointee
GEORGES TANIOS, MD Medicine Department Chair
JAIME EDWARDS, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Pediatrics Chair
DANIEL LINARELLO, MD, Surgery Department Chair
BRANDON CAMBRE, MD Emergency Department Chair
JOHN KRIEG, MD Chief of Staff-Elect
H.A. “ROWDY” VALDES, MD Member-at-Large
MEDICAL STAFF LEADERSHIP
NORTH OAKS REHABILITATION HOSPITAL
RISHI PATHAK, MD Chief of Staff
RAINIER BATISTE, DO Member-at-Large
A. MANNAN KHAN, MD Member-at-Large
SUSAN ZACHARIA, MD Member-at-Large
Year in review
2023-24
EMPLOYEES
DEDICATED TEAM MEMBERS
North Oaks is the second largest employer in Tangipahoa Parish.
In FY24, North Oaks reinvested in its employees and committed to ensuring that North Oaks remains an employer of choice within the community. Its employees enjoy an interactive and innovative work atmosphere that includes:
• Annual Salary Reviews
• Career Ladders
• Competitive Salaries & Benefits Packages
• Continuing Education Opportunities
• Emerging Leaders Program
• Employee Recognition Programs
• Job Shadowing
• Lunch & Learn Educational Seminars
• Shared Governance Opportunities
• Stipend & Tuition Reimbursement Programs
• Wellness Programs
VOLUNTEERS
SELFLESS VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteers dedicated 10,496 hours to North Oaks Health System, improving the lives of its patients, visitors and community members.
This number includes:
• Hospice Volunteers
• Hospital Volunteers
• Junior Volunteers
• Medical Shadowers
• Student Volunteers
SERVICE HOURS 10,496
PHYSICIANS
new physicians 31
Aggressive recruitment efforts attracted to the North Oaks Medical Staff in fiscal year ending 2024, bringing North Oaks to a total of more than 280 skilled physicians in 38 specialties and subspecialties of medicine.
More than 50% of North Oaks physicians are employed by the health system rather than functioning as independent healthcare providers.
Lisa Colon, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology
Amanda Deadmond, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology
Stefanie Cheang, MD Pediatric Cardiology
Brandon Bean, MD Nephrology
Ryan Hanson, MD Hospital Medicine
Kayla Pence, MD Pediatric Neurology
Adam Podet, MD Neurosurgery
William Smith, DO Cardiothoracic Surgery
Luke Wall, MD Pediatric Allergy/Immunology
Ryan White, MD Hospital Medicine
Melissa Smith, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology
James Murray, MD Interventional Radiology
Minghua Hao, MD Pediatric Cardiology
Robin Bennett, MD Nephrology
Gabriel Tender, MD Neurosurgery
Derrick Umansky, MD Neurosurgery
Anish Shah, DO Infectious Disease
Marc Rocco, MD Diagnostic Radiology
Ingrid Roskos, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology
Haroon Iqbal, MD Hospital Medicine
Imran Shuja, MD Hospital Medicine
Palaniappan Annamalai, MD Interventional Radiology
Derek Palmer, MD Trauma Surgery
Brooke LeBlanc, MD Anesthesiology
Hongvan Le, MD Pediatric Ophthalmology
Steven Jones , MD Orthopedics
Mae Igi, MD Radiology
Geoffrey Jones, MD Interventional Radiology
Muhammed Basit, DO Hospital Medicine
Ryan Basquez, MD Hospital Medicine
Rajiv Doddamani, MD Hospital Medicine
GME RESIDENCY PROGRAM:
BUILDING THE FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE PHYSICIANS
In January 2024, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approved the initial accreditation for the first Internal Medicine Residency Program at North Oaks. Following a rigorous selection process, seven medical students from four regional medical schools joined the inaugural class of Internal Medicine residents in July.
In keeping with our Graduate Medical Education Program’s strategic plan, North Oaks is working to improve access to physicians in our community by developing four residency programs. Scheduled to roll out over the next six years, graduate medical education will bring approximately 70 residents to train annually when the program is fully implemented by 2030.
performance excellence
2023-24
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR QUALITY
National accreditations and certifications validate the expertise and care that North Oaks Health System provides its patients.
NORTH OAKS MEDICAL CENTER
• Maintained accreditation by The Joint Commission and has earned its Gold Seal of Approval®
• Certified by The Joint Commission as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center and a recipient of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for advanced certification for Primary Stroke Centers
• Received the American Heart Association’s Get with The Guidelines – Stroke Bronze Achievement Award, which acknowledged the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines and measurements with the goal of saving lives and reducing disability
• Maintained accreditation as a Sponsoring Institution by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
NORTH OAKS REHABILITATION HOSPITAL
• Maintained accreditation by The Joint Commission and has earned its Gold Seal of Approval®
• Has maintained accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) since 1995. It is currently reaccredited with no recommendations – an accomplishment achieved by only 3% of facilities surveyed worldwide. North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital is the only facility within a 30-mile radius accredited by CARF. It also is home to one of 10 CARF-accredited stroke specialty programs in Louisiana
NORTH OAKS CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE
• Accredited by American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Accredited by Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for Echocardiography Laboratories
NORTH OAKS DEPARTMENT OF LABORATORIES
Certified by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments and accredited by:
• Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies
• College of American Pathologists
NORTH OAKS DIABETES EDUCATION PROGRAM
• Recognized by the American Diabetes Association for Quality Self-Management Education*
*The American Diabetes Association recognizes this education service as meeting the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education
NORTH OAKS DIETETIC INTERNSHIP
• Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
NORTH OAKS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
• Approved by the Louisiana State Nurses Association as a provider of continuing nursing education
NORTH OAKS HOSPICE
• Maintained accreditation by The Joint Commission and has earned its Gold Seal of Approval®
NORTH OAKS INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
• Received initial accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
NORTH OAKS RADIOLOGY
Accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for Vascular Testing at the following locations:
• North Oaks Diagnostic Center
• North Oaks-Livingston Parish Medical Complex
• North Oaks Medical Center
• North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital
• Accreditation also is held through the American College of Radiology in full-field digital mammography (2D) and digital breast tomosynthesis (3D) mammography. Full-field digital mammography (2D) and digital breast tomosynthesis (3D) mammography are further certified by the Food and Drug Administration
• Accredited through the American College of Radiology (ACR) in full-field digital mammography (2D) and digital breast tomosynthesis (3D) mammography. Full-field digital mammography (2D) and digital breast tomosynthesis (3D) mammography are further certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Both ACR accreditation and FDA certification in mammography applied to the following locations:
- North Oaks Diagnostic Center - North Oaks-Livingston Parish Medical Complex
NORTH OAKS SCHOOL OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
• Accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
NORTH OAKS SHOCK TRAUMA PROGRAM
• Verified by the American College of Surgeons and designated by the Louisiana Department of Health as a Level II Trauma Center since 2016
NORTH OAKS WOMEN & CHILDREN’S SERVICES
• Achieved the Louisiana Department of Health and Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s highest designation of “Louisiana Birth Ready Plus” for the 4th consecutive year
• Also recognized by:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana as a Blue Distinction© Center+ for Maternity Care
- Louisiana Department of Health for achieving the state’s highest breastfeeding quality designation, The Gift
- March of Dimes and the Louisiana Hospital Association Research and Education Foundation for success in improving birth outcomes
MICHELE K. SUTTON, FACHE, INSTALLED
AS CHAIR-ELECT OF ACHE
In a significant development for the American College of Healthcare Executives, Michele K. Sutton, FACHE, President & CEO, was elected as the 2024-2025 Chair-Elect of the American College of Healthcare Executives in March 2024. This marks the beginning of a three-year term, during which Sutton will serve as Chair and Immediate Past Chair, further solidifying her leadership in the organization.
Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Sutton served as an ACHE Governor from 2020 to 2023 and as an ACHE Regent for Louisiana from 2015 to 2018. She has also served on several ACHE committees and was President and Vice President of the ACHE Southeast Louisiana Chapter, which later merged with another chapter to become the Louisiana Chapter of Healthcare Executives.
The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of more than 49,000 executives leading hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. ACHE’s mission is to advance our members and healthcare management excellence.
Above:
On March 23, Sutton was elected as Chair-Elect of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Left: 2023-2024 Immediate Past Chair Anthony Armada, FACHE; 2024-2025 Chair-Elect Michele Kidd Sutton, FACHE; 2024-2025 Chair William P. Santulli, FACHE; Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, ACHE President and CEO; and 20242025 Immediate Past Chair Delvecchio S. Finley, FACHE.
MARQUINN DUKE, MD
TRAUMA EXCELLENCE
Marquinn Duke, MD, was selected as State Chair for the Louisiana Chapter of the Committee on Trauma.
In addition to serving as the Medical Director of North Oaks’ Level II Trauma Center, Dr. Marquinn D. Duke is the Chairman and Trauma Representative for the Regional Commission of the Louisiana Emergency Response Network for Region 9. Most recently, Dr. Duke was selected as the State Chair for the Louisiana Chapter of the Committee on Trauma, a subset of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
I am honored to be selected, and I hope to continue the hard work of my predecessors in improving patient care.
Marquinn Duke, MD, Medical Director, North Oaks Shock Trauma Program
PROVIDERS OF THE YEAR:
DR. JOSE MENA AND CRNA JODI DOMINGUE MODELING EXCELLENCE
North Oaks recognized Dr. Jose Mena and Nurse Anesthetist Jody Domingue as 2023 Providers of the Year. The duo was nominated for their exceptional dedication, leadership, performance excellence and community involvement. The Medical Executive Committee based their selection on nominations submitted by employees, volunteers and providers. Relentless dedication and a commitment to providing the best care for patients were common themes noted among nominations received.
Dr. Mena has been on the medical staff at North Oaks and practiced on the Northshore since 2004. Certified in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Peripheral Vascular Surgery by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, he joined the North Oaks Cardiovascular Institute team in December 2022.
Domingue, our Advanced Practitioner of the Year, initially joined the team in 1990 as a registered nurse. In 1991, she left North Oaks to further her education as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). She returned to the hospital in 1994 as a CRNA and has served our community in this capacity ever since. In 2014, Domingue further specialized by joining the trauma team upon program implementation. Described in nominations as someone who “constantly seeks new challenges and personal growth” and “seizes opportunities to help her coworkers,” Domingue mentors new CRNA team members.
50 YEARS: HONORING NEXT-LEVEL SERVICE
It all started with a desire to help people. Joyce Faust came to North Oaks in 1973 as a licensed practical nurse; her career journey has taken her from floor nurse to post-operative care to the operating room, to her current role in sterile processing. Over the past five decades, Faust has witnessed the advancement of healthcare technology and the growth of North Oaks from a small community hospital to an integrated healthcare system serving the Northshore region. Through it all, her focus on putting patients first has never wavered.
In February, Faust was honored as the longest tenured employee at the 2024 Years of Service Ceremony. Team members like Joyce Faust are truly the heart of our healthcare service.
The celebration also recognized an additional 345 North Oaks employees for their years of service ranging from five to 50 years.
WORKFORCE ECONOMIC IMPACT:
CREATING THE FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHCARE JOBS
As the second largest employer in Tangipahoa Parish, North Oaks not only has a positive impact on healthcare, but also on the economic development of the region. In recognition of our vast contribution to the economic vitality of the community, North Oaks was awarded the Curt Eysink Excellence in Workforce Development Impact Award in 2023 from the Louisiana Community & Technical College System. The award underscores our high-level commitment to improving healthcare workforce opportunities in the region. Our partnership with Northshore Technical Community College to develop a Health Sciences Center of Excellence will give graduates a career jump-start in the healthcare field.
Facing industry-wide healthcare workforce shortages, North Oaks is meeting these challenges by engaging with business and education resources and working together toward proactive solutions. Working with like-minded, dedicated community partners is just one of the many ways we are building the next generation of healthcare heroes while ensuring a prosperous future for the Florida Parishes.
GET WITH THE GUIDELINES:
CONSTRUCTING QUALITY STROKE CARE
North Oaks has received the American Heart Association’s Get with The Guidelines – Stroke Bronze Achievement Award, which acknowledges our commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines and measurements with the goal of saving lives and reducing disability.
Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival rates, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times. Our focus on excellent stroke care has resulted in North Oaks being placed on the Get with the Guidelines Stroke Honor Roll, with 75% of applicable patients experiencing doorto-needle times of 60 minutes or less.
NEW MASCOT, OakLee:
ENGINEERING COMMUNITY CONNECTION
OakLee, our new golden leaf mascot, joined the North Oaks family in late 2023 as a symbol of our heroic mission of improving lives, every time, every touch.
OakLee has kept a full schedule of in-demand appearances, from supporting Southeastern Louisiana University athletic events to participating in Patient Safety Awareness Week to leaping for Leap Day babies. OakLee reminds North Oaks team members that we are all heroes each day, and has been known to warm a few hearts and hug a lot of staff members at holiday season festivities, the NICU Reunion, and other health system and community special events.
FIRST FALL FEST: STRENGTHENING
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
The strength of a community healthcare organization is its people. On October 12, 2023, the first Fall Festival dubbed The Nightmare on Oak Street was held at North Oaks Diagnostic Center. With hot dogs, soft drinks, chips and cookies, along with trick-or-treating and a costume contest, the festival supported North Oaks’ goal of encouraging camaraderie and fostering team building.
The Employee Engagement Council (EEC) People Group staged the event with over 300 team and family members participating in an evening of games, treats, face painting and family bonding. North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology students offered free face painting and a Barbie box photobooth to capture memories.
EMPLOYEE HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR:
D ESIGNING A BLUEPRINT FOR WELL-BEING
Because healthcare workers are by nature selfless – often putting their own wellness needs to the side – as part of our strategic mission, North Oaks has committed to taking care of our caretakers with multitiered initiatives and expanded wellness resources that champion the whole person: mind, body and spirit.
With that in mind, an Employee Health and Wellness Fair was held on Wednesday, May 11, 2024, connecting team members with benefits and resources for their overall health. Coordinators were on hand to assist the team in establishing a primary care provider, making maintenance appointments for routine care, and conducting blood pressure, glucose and vision screenings. Opportunities to learn stress management, nutritional counseling, meal prepping, proper body mechanics and how to combat burnout were offered, along with complimentary back and neck massages.
MOTHERHOOD & BIRTH FAIR:
BRACING FOR BUNDLES OF JOY
Some 220 enthusiastic moms, mothers-to-be, families and community members flocked to our inaugural Motherhood & Birth Fair – the first of its kind in Tangipahoa Parish – on May 18, 2024. The fair was sponsored by North Oaks to promote and support healthy pregnancies and postpartum experiences; 34 volunteers and 44 community partners took part in the event. Attendees browsed vendor booths and registered to win one of 25 door prizes. Tours of North Oaks Medical Center’s newly renovated Labor & Delivery suites were offered.
Educational breakout sessions included An Open Forum on Adoption in Louisiana, Nutrition for Pregnancy and Postpartum, Postpartum Mental Health, and The Continuum of Care: Before, During and After Pregnancy and Delivery, presented by North Oaks’ Magnolia Obstetrics & Gynecology clinic and community partners from North Oaks Obstetrics & Gynecology clinic.
community reinvestment
2023-24
6 TH ANNUAL TRAUMA SYMPOSIUM:
P REPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED
North Oaks Foundation co-sponsored the 2023 Trauma Symposium Prepared for the Unexpected for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, healthcare professionals and nursing students – all of whom play a vital role in trauma care. Following a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, this on-site, in-person event in 2023 was attended by approximately 135 people. Continuing education credits were available for qualified attendees.
The event was co-sponsored by Southeastern Louisiana University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences and held on the SLU campus in November; the event featured seven trauma-specific topic speakers and one trauma survivor.
• Jeffrey E. Carter, MD, FACS, FABA, Medical Director, University Medical Center Burn Center
• Marquinn Duke, MD, Medical Director, North Oaks Shock Trauma Program
• John Fortner, NRP, RN, Acadian Air Med Certified Flight Paramedic and Associate Quality Supervisor
• Matthew C. Lafleur, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon, North Oaks Orthopaedic Specialty Center
• Kevin Mixon, APRN, FPMHNP, Nurse Practitioner, New Leaf Psychiatry and Counseling Center
• Dawn Simmons & Katie DeRouen, Victim Impact Speakers
• Camilla Wong, MD, FRCPC, MHSC, Associate Professor, University of Toronto, and Geriatric Trauma Specialist, St. Michael’s Hospital
From left to right: Acadian Air Med John Fortner, NRP, RN; North Oaks Anesthesiologist Kathryn Dorhauer, MD; St. Michael’s Hospital Geriatrician Camilla Wong, MD, FRCPC, MHSC; North Oaks Shock Trauma Manager Jodi Gennusa, MSN, BSN, RN; University Medical Center New Orleans Burn Center Medical Director Jeffrey Carter, MD, FACS, FABA; North Oaks Shock Trauma Center Medical Director Marquinn Duke, MD; and North Oaks Trauma Education Nurse Ashley Simmons, RN.
Victim Impact Speakers Dawn Simmons and Katie DeRouen
North Oaks Orthopaedic Surgeon Matthew Lafleur, MD
MA-TO-LPN PROGRAM:
B RIDGING THE NURSING GAP
The MA-to-LPN Bridge graduated 23 Licensed Practical Nurses from the pilot program in 2023. Aimed at elevating current medical assistants to higher certifications, the 12-month accelerated LPN curriculum enabled clinical rotations for practical application of skills experience by eliminating the semester breaks of traditional 18-month coursework.
The program is a significant milestone for North Oaks Health System’s workforce development initiative.
The mutually beneficial partnership between Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) and North Oaks resulted from the collaboration of Christi Marceaux, Associate Provost of Health Sciences and Nursing for NTCC, and Jeff Jarreau, Chief Human Resources Officer at North Oaks. It is designed to address healthcare worker shortages, build a pipeline of talent for the system, and give healthcare students and graduates hands-on experience. Graduates have contributed about 121 years of service in total to North Oaks prior to graduation.
MA-to-LPN Bridge allows us to invest in our dedicated employees. When you think about workforce shortages and the need for the best employees to care for our community, why wouldn’t we look internally to our shining stars.
Michele Kidd Sutton, FACHE, President & CEO North Oaks Health System
HEART WALK:
S TEPPING UP FOR HEART DISEASE
As healthcare providers, our constant focus is on improving lives. Spreading awareness and taking steps to prevent heart disease, North Oaks participated in the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk with a powerful call to action: Stomping Out Heart Disease. More than 65 members stepped out in their favorite sneakers on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the Covington Trailhead. North Oaks sponsored the event and provided a hydration station to underscore the health system’s commitment to educating the community about heart disease. North Oaks received the first place award for our Stomping Out Heart Disease T-shirt design.
EMPLOYEE GIVING CAMPAIGN:
R AISING THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
There’s no end to the generosity of our healthcare community. Our employees kicked off the new year by kicking in donations to the North Oaks Foundation. In fact, a record number of employees participated in the annual Employee Giving Campaign, with employees donating $92,740 in 2023 – $15,000 more than in 2022. The deep dedication of our team members in support of North Oaks’ mission is exemplified by these donors, who also give selflessly in service to our patients every day. Giving options included payroll deduction over several pay periods with $50, $140 or $160 tiers. Depending on the level of donation, employees received a T-shirt and/or a zippered fleece as a small thank you for their generosity.
Seeing our employees give back to North Oaks shows how much they care about the community and each other.
Staci Arceneaux, Volunteer Services / Foundation Director
$92,740
CLINIC BUILDING II:
B REAKING GROUND ON THE FUTURE
The five-story, 95,809-square-foot North Oaks Clinic Building II (NOCB II) began construction in late 2023. It represents a nearly $50 million community investment in design, construction, equipment, furniture and fixture costs to increase space for providers and services while ensuring there’s room to grow for future needs. Upon completion in spring 2025, the building will encompass 12 clinics with 115 patient examination rooms, 47 offices and 13 nurses stations. A coffee shop and an exterior canopy joining NOCB I to NOCB II are among the new amenities.
Designed by Washer Hill Lipscomb Cabaniss Architecture, LLC with construction by The Lemoine Company, LLC, the facility will improve patient access and centralize care for several service lines. NOCB II will house North Oaks Hematology and Oncology Clinic and Infusion Therapy with 32 infusion bays. North Oaks Eye Care Clinic, Optical Shop and the Prescription Center, along with such areas as Diabetes Education, Endocrinology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Pain Management, Primary Care, Pulmonology, Rheumatology and Smoking Cessation, will also relocate to NOCB II.
LOCATION:
North Oaks Clinic Building II will be located on the main campus of North Oaks Medical Center. It will be constructed between the North Oaks Office Plaza and North Oaks Clinic Building I.
PROJECT AT-A-GLANCE:
• 115 Patient Exam Rooms
• 47 Office Spaces
• 13 Nurses Stations
• 32 Infusion Bays
• Prescription Center
Relocation & Expansion
• Coffee Shop
• Optical Shop
Relocation & Expansion
• Drop-Off area for Clinic
Building I
• Canopy between Clinic Building I and Clinic Building II
• Canopy extension to create covered walkway from North Oaks Diagnostic Center to North Oaks Office Plaza
• Second floor interior connection from Clinic Building II to North Oaks Office Plaza and North Oaks Medical Center
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS NORTHSHORE:
S HORING UP CHILDREN’S CARE
The grand opening of North Oaks Pediatric Specialty Clinic builds upon the existing relationship between Children’s Hospital of New Orleans (CHNOLA) and North Oaks, enhancing access to pediatric specialty care in the community. It’s a significant step toward a shared vision of both healthcare entities to provide exceptional pediatric care and top-notch pediatric subspecialty care closer to home for Tangipahoa Parish and Northshore families.
Subspecialty offerings include allergy and immunology, neurology and urology, along with some subspecialty surgeries performed at North Oaks Medical Center supported by a team of nurses, scrub techs, anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists who specialize in delivering care to infants and children. CHNOLA will continue to provide neonatology, pediatric hospital medicine and pediatric cardiology coverage for the Neonatal Intensive Care and Pediatric units at North Oaks Medical Center.
North Oaks Health System and Children’s Hospital New Orleans officials and providers, along with local dignitaries, participated in a ribbon-cutting program to mark the opening of North Oaks Pediatric Specialty Clinic as follows: First row (from left): North Oaks Service Line Vice President Sarah Mitchell; North Oaks Board of Commissioners members Terry Harper (Vice Chairman) and Amber Narro; North Oaks President & CEO Michele Kidd Sutton, FACHE; North Oaks Board of Commissioners member Joycelyn Lee; Children’s Hospital New Orleans President & CEO Lou Fragoso; Tangipahoa Parish Council members David Vial (Chairman), Brigette Delatte Hyde (Vice Chairman) and Louis Nick Joseph; and North Oaks Women & Children’s Services Director Tamara Mitchell. Back row (from left): City of Hammond Mayor Pete Panepinto; North Oaks Surgical Service Line Operational Director Eve Allen; Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon Tony Gonzales, MD; LCMC Health Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Lindsey Casey, MSN, RN, NEA-BC; Tangipahoa Parish Councilman John Ingraffia; LCMC Health Assistant Vice President of Ambulatory Services Nicole LaBorde; Pediatric Allergist & Immunologist Luke Wall, MD; and Tangipahoa Parish Councilmen Lionell Wells and Darrell Sinagra.
BIRTHING EXPERIENCE:
LABORING WITH LOVE FOR SPECIAL DELIVERIES
When it comes to delivering healthy pregnancies, birthing and postpartum experiences, North Oaks continues to set the standard on the Northshore. With a focus on the future needs of new moms and their babies, North Oaks’ Labor and Delivery wing renovation this past summer resulted in the combination of a high level of care in a comfortable environment with modern amenities that cater to new moms, newborns and families.
Birthing suites, obstetrical rooms, medication rooms, guest bathrooms, nurses stations, cesarean section rooms and waiting areas have been enhanced with a fresh contemporary look.
These upgrades, along with advanced technology and medical care, have created a memorable, exceptional birth experience at North Oaks for expectant mothers and their newborns.
EXPANDING REHABILITATION SERVICES:
COMING SOON TO MEET OUR COMMUNITY’S NEEDS
North Oaks purchased a 35,325 square-foot building in Hammond on June 28, 2023, and began planning to transform this jewel in the heart of Downtown Hammond into the new home of North Oaks Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, currently located at 2101 Robin Avenue in Hammond Park Professional Plaza, by May 2025.
The new center will more than double the space of the current 15,000 square-foot center, touted as the largest, most comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation program on the Northshore.
BUILDING A HEALTHIER NORTHSHORE
In Fiscal Year 2024, North Oaks forged partnerships with nearly 100 civic, business and service organizations, cementing a solid foundation for a healthier Northshore. Each collaboration was instrumental in crafting a blueprint for community engagement and wellness. From providing first aid coverage at local fairs and festivals to promoting healthy lifestyles and driving economic development, North Oaks and its partners improved lives, every time, every touch.
PARTNERSHIPS VALUED AT
$591,000
Partnerships include, but are not limited, to:
• American Case Management Association
• Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Greater New Orleans Chapter
• Bayou Woodturners
• Brain Injury Association of Louisiana
• Butler’s African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
• Central Tangi Soccer League
• Chambers of Commerce: Amite, Livingston, Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa
• Charlie Landry Memorial Scholarship
• Child Advocacy Services
• City of Hammond
• City of Ponchatoula
• Courtney Christian School
• Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa
• CRP Mentorships
• Fairs and Festivals: Holy Ghost Parish Fair, Independence Sicilian Heritage Festival, Italian Festival, Krewe of Erin Celtic Festival, Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, St. Joseph Spring Fair
• FeLions
• First True Love World Outreach Ministries
• Hammond Area Recreation Department #1: Chappapeela Sports Park, C.P. Mitchell Memorial Park
• Hammond BBQ
• Hammond Downtown Development District
• Hammond Northshore Airshow Foundation
• Hammond Police Department
• Hogs for the Cause
• Independence Summer Baseball
• Independence Volunteer Fire Department
• Kiwanis Clubs: Amite, Hammond, Ponchatoula
• Krewe da Cha Chas
• Land Trust for Louisiana
• Leadership Livingston
• Leadership Tangipahoa
• Lion Athletics Association
• Livingston Chamber Foundation
• Livingston Economic Development Council
• Livingston Parish Children’s Choirs
• Livingston Parish Public School System
• Louisiana Athletic Trainers Association Foundation
• Louisiana Children’s Discovery Center
• Louisiana Emergency Nurses Association
• Louisiana Hospital Association
• Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative
• Louisiana United Methodist Children & Family Services
• Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Northshore College Enhancement Foundation
• Northshore Families Helping Families
• Oak Forest Academy
• OPTIONS
• Pilot Club of Denham Springs
• Ponchatoula Area Recreation District #1
• Restoration House
• Rotary Clubs: Hammond, Kentwood, Ponchatoula, Sunrisers
• Sisters Serving Sisters
• Southeastern Louisiana University
- Southeastern Alumni Association
- Southeastern College of Business
- Southeastern College of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Southeastern Department of Music and Performing Arts
- Southeastern Foundation
- Southeastern Louisiana University Golden Pride
- Southeastern Louisiana University Women in Business Student Organization
• Southland Conference
• South Tangi Youth Soccer Association
• Special Olympics Louisiana
• Strawberry Castle Preschool
• Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum and Veterans Archives
• Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court
• Tangipahoa Parish Public School System
• Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office
• Tangipahoa Professional Women’s Organization
• TARC
• The AGAPE Project
• TRIAD / Seniors and Law Enforcement Together
• Vennie L. Burton Operation of Blessings Outreach
• Westside Church of God
• Women on Missions
financials
2023-24
PHYSICIAN GROUP VISITS
231,961
220,398
SURGERIES
ADMISSIONS
OUTPATIENT REGISTRATIONS
(Including Cardiology, Diagnostic Radiology, Infusion Therapy, Laboratory and Rehabilitation)
120,664
137,220
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS
(Includes Left Without Treatment)
66,523 69,364
TOTAL EXPENSES:
AWARDS & CERTIFICATIONS
OUR PATIENTS CAN BE CONFIDENT IN THE EXPERTISE $435,097,786
TOTAL LABOR ALL OTHER
SUPPLIES
$3,209,719,527
$2,524,027,632
LONG-TERM DEBT
$131,647,156 $128,908,875
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Named one of the largest employers in Tangipahoa Parish by the Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation, North Oaks is a major economic engine for our region. $346,559,986 $431,283,656
DIRECT SPENDING & CAPITAL INCOME $38,815,529 INDIRECT SPENDING
TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT
$2,684,356,834 $1,867,697,663 INDUCED IMPACT
Reinvestment of excess revenue, combined with buying power of our work force, has an economic impact of approximately $2.7 Billion to our region’s local economy.
IN MEMORY OF DR. CHARLES DICORTE, CARDIOVASCULAR & THORACIC SURGEON
Charles “Chuck” DiCorte, MD, leaves an indelible imprint on North Oaks Health System. In appreciation of his 23 years of dedication as a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon, North Oaks honored Dr. DiCorte on November 17, 2023, by dedicating Operating Room 13 in his memory. A skilled lung surgeon, Dr. DiCorte provided lifesaving care to patients and served as a Surgical Medical Director, co-director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and trusted mentor.
A plaque outside that operating room hangs in his honor, providing a reminder of his legacy and a symbol of excellence for those who follow in his path.
North Oaks Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. Language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Call 1-985-230-1346 (TTY: 7-1-1).
ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-985-230-1346 (TTY: 7-1-1).
ATTENTION : Si vous parlez français, des services d’aide linguistique vous sont proposés gratuitement. Appelez le 1-985-230-1346 (ATS : 7-1-1).