New St. Bernard Hospital in Chalmette prepares for opening with ribbon-cutting and open house

The new St. Bernard Parish Hospital, which in September is expected to complete its licensing process and be ready to admit patients, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Tuesday, July 31, showing off a facility boasting the latest technology for medical care and diagnostic testing. The opening of the hospital, which will start with 40 beds and have room to expand and will have more than 200 employees is the culmination of a long process that began after a private hospital which flooded in Hurricane Katrina never reopened after the storm. Archbishop Rev. Gregory Aymond is shown cutting the ribbon with Wayne J. Landry, chairman of the hospital Service District Board, surrounded by numerous parish elected officials and representatives of the hospital, the parish Chamber of Commerce and the Franciscan Ministries of Our Lady Health System. Sheriff James Pohlmann is shown leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the ceremony, standing next to Parish President David Peralta and, at left, hospital CEO Tim Burke. In the foreground is a member of the Honor Guard for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office. The Archbishop is shown delivering a blessing to Dr. Bryan Bertucci, the parish’s elected coroner and a driving force in trying to get a hospital built. Wayne Landry is shown receiving a plaque from Jim DiFatta, longest serving member of the hospital service district board. Guests are shown at the open house in the hospital, following the ribbon-cutting.