Ribbon cut for new Emergency Department at AGH

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Staff members were joined by more than 100 local and area officials, dignitaries and well-wishers Friday morning for ceremonies marking the opening of the new Emergency Department at Acadia General Hospital.
Construction of the new $4 million facility began in December, 2017, and it more than doubles the size of the hospital’s former E.R.
“I’ve held a healthcare leadership role since 1989 and I’ve had $50 million, $75 million projects completed. This is a $4 million project and I’ve never had this many people show up,” said David Callecod, president of Lafayette General Health System. “This is a testament to the support this community has for Acadia General Hospital.”
Callecod had particular praise for Joe Mitchell, CEO of Acadia General.
“Joe did a remarkable job seeing this project through on budget and ahead of schedule,” Callecod said.
Callecod pointed out that the new facility “is 150 percent larger than the old” emergency room and is filled with “state-of-the-art healthcare technology to give personnel the tools they need to do their jobs.”
Mitchell called Friday “a great day for Acadia General Hospital, for the people of Crowley and Acadia Parish and for Lafayette General Hospital.”
He pointed out that Acadia General currently has 311 employees and an annual payroll o f about $16 million. The Emergency Department alone has 30 employees with an annual payroll of “just under $2 million,” he added.
The old emergency room, Mitchell noted, was designed to treat 600 people a month. “We’re currently seeing 1,850 people a month. This new facility expands our department from 3,000 square feet to right at 7,500 square feet. We now have 10 private treatment rooms replacing curtained bays to enhance patient privacy, two triage units, two holding rooms for those patients who might pose a risk to themselves or others, and so much more to benefit our patients now and for years to come.”
Nancy Broadhurst, executive director of Lafayette General Foundation, served as mistress of ceremonies for the morning’s activities. She recalled that her association with this project began in 2016 when, as a volunteer, she was asked to chair the Spring Gala as a fundraising event for the new emergency room.
“The opening of this facility will be of great benefit to Acadia Parish, both in terms of services it provides and also with regards to the infrastructure for patients and staff both in the immediate future and in the years to come,” she said.
Broadhurst pointed out that this was the first public campaign in the hospital’s 117-year history and, “Thanks to your commitment and generosity, we are now capable of serving thousands more patients per year in the emergency room with state-of-the-art equipment to handle everyday emergencies.”
She said the facility would not have been possible if not for the generous donations from numerous individuals and groups in the community, and she offered special thanks to American Legion Post 15, “who contributed the very first lead gift.”
Broadhurst said a permanent “Wall of Donor Blessings” will be established in recognition of the generosity and support of the facility’s benefactors.
The emergency department will open to patients in the next two weeks.
Dedication
Broadhurst choked up when she personally thanked B.I. Moody III, Dan Packer, Randy Haynie, former Sen. John Breaux, Clancy DuBos and Bill Kearney “for spearheading a $1 million memorial tribute campaign” in the name of her late husband, William “Bill” Broadhurst, “for whom the emergency department will be named.”
“I like to share the story about how Bill was a real caring person who was often a source of inspiration to others in need,” Nancy Broadhurst said. “His sage advice was sought by powerful business and political leaders, friends, business colleagues and family, who often reached out to him in their own time of personal or business emergencies.
“He was a valued and trusted individual and he never failed at trying to help others. When his closest friends wanted to memorialize him after his untimely death, we thought it was poignant to have an emergency room named after him.
“I know that Bill would be honored and humbled by this tribute.”
Broadhurst closed the ceremony by reminding that, although construction of the new emergency department is completed, “we will always need to continue to support Acadia General Hospital, your community-owned, not-for-profit hospital. Giving, helping and caring is what it is all about – making a difference in the lives of others.”
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, those gathered were invited back inside to continue tours of the new facility.