History

In the early 1950s, a group of citizens led by the late Dr. Joseph Massony and Mr. George Fonseca took the first steps toward developing a small hospital to serve the citizens on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish. Those early efforts, so full of enthusiasm for the pioneers, eventually came to fruition through a citizens group and hospital committee with dozens of area families and individuals including Dr. Massony, Samuel Logan, MD, who continues to serve on the hospital's Medical Staff in an honorary capacity, Beauregard Miller, Jr. who serves on the hospital's Board of Directors today, Frank Ehret, and the late Nat Knight, Jr., George Fonseca, and Eldon Majoue.

Founded April 11, 1956, through the citizens of Jefferson Parish, West Jefferson Medical Center today is a 451-bed, full service community hospital. Located in the heart of the West Bank of the New Orleans region, this hospital service district hospital is one of the crown jewels of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

West Jefferson Medical Center opened its doors in April 1960. Through its distinguished history, it has had an amazing $13.5 billion dollar economic impact on the community. Not only is West Jefferson an important corporate entity and economic engine, today it is the major provider of healthcare for West Bank Citizens. In 1997, it received recognition as one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation and has been continuously accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. In 2001, West Jefferson Medical Center was ranked by US News & World Report as one of the Best Hospitals in America in Rheumatology and Respiratory Disorders Programs.

In 2002, West Jefferson Medical Center's Pediatric ER received honors from a local publishing company. Nationally, the Medical Center was named again in US News and World Report's America's Best Hospitals. In 2002, we were very proud to be listed in four Top 50 Honor Roll specialties by US News and World Report. In addition to second year recognition for Rheumatology and Respiratory Disorders, West Jefferson earned spots in Neurology and Neuroscience, and in Digestive Disorders. On the heels of the US News and World Report rankings in which West Jefferson Medical Center was the only Louisiana or Mississippi hospital to place, we received official notification that West Jefferson was the only Louisiana hospital to be named to the new Healthcare Employers of Choice 100 list in Health Careers USA and two other publications.
For the third consecutive year, West Jefferson is listed in the prestigious rankings. The only Louisiana hospital to be featured in U.S.News and World Report's Best Hospitals Guide, we were ranked 40 in Rheumatology for 2003. Winnowed from a field of 6,003 hospitals, the Medical Center is proud, once again, to be in the distinguished company of best hospitals across the country.

In 2003, West Jefferson Medical Center hospital and health system was selected by New Orleans City Business as one of the Top 5 Best Places to Work in the metropolitan area. West Jefferson was also named in 2004 and listed as number 4 in 2005.  This recognition was especially exciting as the honor roll of Best Places to Work comes from the tens of thousands of companies in the region across all industries.

August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina came ashore in the New Orleans area wreaking the most damage of any natural disaster in our history.  West Jefferson Medical Center was one of only 3 area hospitals that kept their doors open despite the calamity.  We continued to provide care for our patients and refuge for many in our community.

For 2006, HealthGrades, a leading independent healthcare ratings company, ranked the Medical Center #1 in the New Orleans Suburb for Overall Orthopedic Services and #1 in New Orleans for Joint Replacement Surgery.  HealthGrades recognized West Jefferson for clinical excellence in Overall Stroke Care with five- star ratings.

In 2008, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer notified West Jefferson Medical Center its Community Cancer Program received the 2007 Outstanding Achievement Award. West Jefferson Medical Center was the Louisiana hospital surveyed during 2007 to receive this distinction. Just 15% of programs surveyed nationwide by the College achieved this award.