Tulane Ready With Healthcare Services

As New Orleans area residents begin returning to the city, Tulane stands ready to provide for their healthcare needs. Tulane Medical Center's downtown campus is now open for emergency visits only, while Tulane-Lakeside Hospital in Metairie, La., is open for emergency visits and some obstetrics care. Both hospitals are expected to fully reopen on Monday (Sept. 8).

The clinics of Tulane Medical Center, including ones at University Square, Tulane Institute for Sports Medicine, Tulane-Lakeview and Tulane-Lakeside, also plan to reopen on Monday. Patients are asked to contact their pharmacy if they need prescription refills.

Clinic personnel will be in place and responding to patient inquiries starting today (Sept. 5). Elective procedures scheduled for this week will be rescheduled. Call 504-988-5800 for more information on rescheduling.

"Hurricane Gustav tested our emergency planning and I believe we passed with flying colors," said Dr. Bob Lynch, chief executive officer for Tulane Medical Center. "The credit goes to the physicians, residents and staff that kept watch for approximately 72 hours straight to ensure our patients' comfort and care. The Tulane team demonstrated that we have the best healthcare professionals in the region."

In addition, the Tulane Community Health Center at Covenant House, 611 Rampart St., re-opened on Thursday (Sept. 4), temporarily providing free primary and chronic disease care for returning New Orleans residents. The center also will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday (Sept. 6).

"We are the first clinic of our kind to reopen after Gustav," said Dr. Karen DeSalvo, executive director of the Tulane Community Health Center at Covenant House. "We believe it is vital for us to be here awaiting the return of our citizens in the aftermath of Gustav just as we were in the aftermath of Katrina."

Next week the Covenant House center will resume regular hours of operation, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.; Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon. The clinic will also resume charging its normal fee of $10 for new patients and $5 for follow-up visits. Besides medical care, physicians also will be on hand to write or renew prescriptions.

In addition, the Tulane Community Health Center in New Orleans East at 4626 Alcee Fortier St., which opened for the first time on Aug. 25 to provide high quality, low-cost care for the community members in that area, will reopen beginning today from 10 until 2 p.m. and will resume normal business hours next week, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.