St. James Behavioral Health Hospital holds open house

St. James Behavioral Health Hospital held an open house Feb. 11 in recognition of the grand opening of their new 24-bed acute care psychiatric in-patient treatment facility in Gonzales.

The hospital, which provides intensive, short term psychiatric care for adults 18 years and older, is re-locating from its former site of operations in St. James Parish to its new address at 3136 South St. Landry Road in Gonzales.

Festivities included tours of the new state of the art facility and a hot buffet, cake and beverages.

The guest list was comprised of local dignitaries, industry professionals and area health care providers.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was highlighted by the key note address from Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Deputy Secretary Sybil Richard.

She praised SJBH’s commitment to psychiatric service.

“This is a wonderful facility, but more important than the aesthetics of the facility is the service they will provide,” Richard said.

Chief Financial Officer Gopi Gopalam echoed Richard’s sentiments by stressing the extra lengths SJBH pursued to insure quality patient care, safety and confidentiality.

“We have taken many extra steps to provide the finest quality care for our patients,” he said.

Chief executive officer Wendell Smith stressed the economic viability of the new facility to Ascension Parish noting that the hospital will employ over 200 staff members, many of them local residents. 

Located near the Tanger Outlet Center along Interstate 10, the new hospital is positioned to serve the adult psychiatric inpatient needs of the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and river parishes communities. 

Attending the ribbon cutting for St. James Behavioral Health Hospital were Assistant Director of Nursing Denise White, Administrator Candy Lewis, CFO Gopinath Gopalam, Deputy Secretary Sybil Richard, PhD Director Jan Kasofsky, Director of Nursing Donna Curran, CEO Wendell Smith, Rama Kongara, MD, Lance Bullock, MD, Marketing Director Rick Bennett, City of Gonzales Mayor Barney Arceneaux, City of Gonzales Councilmen Terrance Irvin and Kenny Matassa, Ascension Chamber President/CEO Sherrie Despino and many fellow Chamber members.

For more information on hospital, call 225-647-7524.  For more information on the Ascension Chamber of Commerce, visit www.ascensionchamber.com, e-mail info@ascensionchamber.com or call 225-647-7487.