New Community Health Center Aims to Promote Health Equity for All

By Ryan Richard | Photo: Jamie Orillion

In January 2022, Ochsner Lafayette General opened the doors to its newly renovated Community Health Center located at 1317 Jefferson Street. The Community Health Center, which is designated as a historical landmark, has the distinction of being Lafayette’s oldest medical facility, built in 1937. It is also the first site in Lafayette to provide medical care to the Black community as St. Anne’s Infirmary. Currently, it serves the Downtown, Port Rico and Freetown communities of Lafayette— areas that have been sorely lacking healthcare resources.

“Our goal was to work in collaboration, not competition, with other community partners to provide greater access to care,” stated Kevin Green, Ochsner Vice President of Clinic Operations for Community Health Centers. “Meeting patients where they are to help proactively manage any chronic diseases will help us improve overall health and well-being.”

The facility covers 9,700 square feet and features 12 exam rooms staffed by four primary care providers. Ancillary services include a lab draw area, X-ray, EKG and other point-of-care testing.

The $3 million renovation project was supported by the Ochsner Lafayette General Foundation with a lead gift from LHC Group and other corporate support from VieMed, SCP Health, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Acadian Companies and Gachassin Law Firm.

With a goal of providing and promoting health equity for all, the Community Health Center was designed to deliver primary care as well as behavioral health and social services, and to ultimately improve Louisiana’s ranking among the top 40 healthiest states by 2030. In this pursuit, the Health Center, its providers and partners embrace opportunities to provide access to care and work together to enhance the overall health and quality of life for all Louisianans.