Tangi Health

There is an acute care critical access medical center just south of Independence on Highway 51 that many people have passed by hundreds of times without realizing the tremendous service they provide for families in Tangipahoa Parish and southeast Louisiana.

That facility is Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center and did you know: • Lallie Kemp Hospital opened in 1954 making it the oldest continual service hospital in Tangipahoa Parish. • Lallie Kemp is the only state-owned hospital in Louisiana. • Lallie Kemp has 24 beds and an Emergency Room that's open 24-7. • Lallie Kemp is mistakenly known as a “charity hospital,” but today, a vast majority of their patients have some type of health care insurance.

Now that you know, it’s time to realize what Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Office Lisa Bruhl tells everyone. “Lallie Kemp is a hidden jewel in Tangipahoa Parish.”

With that in mind, the Lallie Kemp Foundation will be sponsoring a Veterans Day Appreciation and Health Fair on the campus of Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, November 16.

The Veterans Appreciation Program will begin at 10:30 am in front of the hospital where the hospital employee veterans and community veterans will be recognized. Louisiana Secretary of Veterans Affairs Col. Joey Strickland will be the keynote speaker.

Following the program, the Foundation will provide a veterans health fair that is free and open to all the veterans in the community.

There will be blood pressure screenings, diabetes screenings, Adult Protection information from the Louisiana Department of Hospitals, Foundation information, organ donation information, and one of the most important tables will be hospital pharmacists providing information about the hospital’s participation with medications on the 340B List.

“As a patient of Lallie Kemp Hospital, we can provide substantial medication savings to the community with drugs on the 340 List,” said Thompson. “We know it works and we have saved the community millions of dollars on drug costs. In fact, we had one patient spending $700 a month for their medication, and after joining our program, that patient now spends $8.00 every three months for the same medication.”

This vital information is being provided to all the veterans and the community with the help from the Lallie Kemp Foundation.

“Our veterans and our community are very important to everyone at Lallie Kemp,” said Bruhl, “And with the continued support of our Foundation, I know we will be able to provide ongoing and critical medical services to the community we love and serve.”

Over the years, the hospital has grown and evolved to be a major access point for thousands of patients for outpatient and diagnostic services.

“One of our major focuses is outpatient services,” said Chief Financial Officer Chad Thompson. “We serve so many people on a daily basis with access to healthcare that helps our community be a healthier community.”

Bruhl and Thompson both agree that in order to continue to provide these services, it is important to have a foundation to help with acquisitions and employee-related services the hospital cannot purchase as a stateowned facility.

“The Lallie Kemp Foundation is extremely important to our hospital,” said Bruhl. “They are able to fill in the gaps during tough economic times when our budget is tight.”

The Lallie Kemp Foundation is comprised of twelve volunteers who realize the importance of having a fully functioning and fully staffed hospital in the community.

Foundation Board Member Cheryl Brumfield said the entire Foundation Board is proud to work with such a dedicated and committed staff.

“We are happy to provide funding for special events, special purchases, and special employee recognition that the administration would like to provide but cannot due to the state regulations since the hospital is owned by the state.”