BATON ROUGE — Gov. John Bel Edwards highlighted Ochsner Health’s plans to develop a super clinic of comprehensive health care services in the former Sears location at Clearview City Center in Metairie. Ochsner Health President and CEO Warner L. Thomas and Clearview City Center Managing Partner Thomas Richards announced plans to convert the 185,000-square-foot former retail store into a super clinic and micro-hospital at Clearview City Center, which is being redeveloped from a traditional shopping mall to a mixed-use site of more than 1 million square feet of residential, office, retail, grocery, hotel and entertainment space.
Opening in two years, the Ochsner Health facility will serve as an anchor for the $100 million Clearview City Center redevelopment. The super clinic will create 200 new direct jobs, with an average annual salary of $70,000, plus benefits, and result in an estimated 209 new indirect jobs, for a total of more than 400 new jobs in Louisiana’s Southeast Region. A key element will be patient-safety features built into the design, including socially distanced waiting areas, virtual doctor visits and patient check-in via phone.
“COVID-19 has forced Louisiana to look at how we can conduct consumer business, industrial production, education, healthcare, agribusiness, the arts and every kind of economic and social activity in a more resilient way,” Gov. Edwards said. “As we deal with one of the greatest public health emergencies in our lifetime, this Ochsner project is a great step toward resiliency. It focuses on preventive health, outpatient care and total wellness in one comprehensive location, while at the same time spurring significant economic growth and job creation through the redevelopment of Clearview City Center.”
The new Ochsner facility will be known as a super clinic due to the breadth of health care services provided. Women’s services, men’s health and behavioral health will be joined by a sinus center; sports medicine and physical therapy; digestive health and gastroenterology; neurology and brain health; pain management; cardiology; and ophthalmology and vision services. The facility will also feature a 10-bed micro-hospital to accommodate overnight stays.
“Ochsner is excited to create a patient-centered healthcare destination that brings a multitude of services, amenities and wellness offerings into one convenient location,” said President and CEO Warner L. Thomas of Ochsner Health. “Healthcare and retail are two industries that have greatly evolved, and this super clinic concept and the Clearview City Center redevelopment are both designed to meet the needs of today’s consumers. By bringing technology, specialties and services together, patients will have a comprehensive healthcare experience in one location to meet their healthcare needs.”
Other features will include same-day surgery, diagnostic imaging, a drive-through pharmacy, medical spa, and Ochsner’s O Bar of digital health tools staffed by technology professionals. The Ochsner Health facility will become one of the anchor tenants for the 35-acre Clearview City Center redevelopment, which broke ground in September.
“We’re thrilled to announce the addition of Ochsner’s innovative super clinic concept to Clearview City Center,” said Thomas Richards, the development’s managing partner. “When we shared our plans to fully redevelop the Clearview footprint just one year ago, these are the type of tenants and services we envisioned would be integral to Clearview City Center becoming one of our region’s pre-eminent live, work and play destinations. Ochsner is the premier healthcare provider in this region, and the level of commitment they are making reinforces the quality, caliber and credibility of this entire redevelopment.”
“We are so grateful to Ochsner Health for developing a comprehensive health care destination at Clearview City Center,” said Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng. “Creating a modern and convenient destination for health and wellness will make accessing resources easier than ever before for our residents and businesses. I want to thank Ochsner for their strong partnership, especially during this past year as we continue to deal with COVID-19 in our community.”
Clearview City Center, which announced Regions Bank as its first new tenant in September, anticipates further tenant announcements in the near future. The developers estimate an economic impact of $123 million and creation of 1,608 jobs during construction alone.
“This partnership provides for an excellent re-use of the space formerly occupied by Sears,” JEDCO President and CEO Jerry Bologna said. “Ochsner’s decision to create a multipurpose super clinic in the heart of Jefferson Parish further solidifies our community as a destination for health care. The joining together of Ochsner and Clearview City Center speaks to the exciting reimagined vision for this property, which will provide a mix of residential, commercial and retail offerings. Ochsner and Clearview City Center should be commended on this bold initiative and the immense impact that this project will have on Jefferson Parish.”
Ochsner Health operates 40 owned, managed and affiliated hospitals, along with more than 100 health centers and urgent care centers. Through the facilities, Ochsner employs approximately 30,000 people as one of Louisiana’s largest private-sector employers.
“Ochsner Health continues to not only respond to the corona crisis, but to lead the way to the healthcare of the future,” said President and CEO Michael Hecht of Greater New Orleans Inc. “Moreover, the super clinic demonstrates that healthcare is economic development, as it will create jobs, revitalize a dormant asset, and ensure a healthier workforce. GNO Inc. thanks Ochsner Health and partners for their leadership and investment in Jefferson and Greater New Orleans.”
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