WFP hospital_0817
St. Francisvillians rejoice: the new, long-awaited West Feliciana Hospital will open on Monday, August 28. Years in the planning, the twenty-seven-million-dollar facility will provide access to medical and wellness services hitherto unavailable in West Feliciana, or indeed anywhere else this side of Baton Rouge. In addition to a larger and better equipped emergency room, spokesman Howard Arceneaux noted that the new facility enables the hospital to offer sophisticated imaging services including 3D mammography, MRI, bone density testing and CT scanning, all of which required a trip to Baton Rouge until now. These tools, combined with the hospital’s on-site laboratory, mean patients can expect faster results, too. As Arceneaux explained, speed is important. “The nature of healthcare today is not to keep patients in hospital for a long time. The goal is to enable folks to get in and out.” Arceneaux said he expects services to expand to include wellness classes, too. “Those offerings will grow as we learn what the community wants and needs most,” he said. “This is your hospital. They want to hear from you.” Official grand opening will be on Monday, August 28 from 1 pm–4 pm, when all are invited to tour the new facility, talk with healthcare providers and administrators, and enjoy free refreshments. Burnett Road. (225) 635-3811 or wfph.org to learn more.