About Ochsner

Ochsner Foundation Hospital Awarded 2000 Consumer Choice Award

Ochsner Foundation Hospital has been named the National Research Corporation's 2000 Consumer Choice Award winner for the New Orleans area for the 5^th year in a row.

National Research Corporation (NRC) provides annual Consumer Choice Awards for the most-preferred hospitals in more than 100 U.S. markets. Winners, named in Modern Healthcare magazine (October 23, 2000), are selected from the nation's largest and most comprehensive, nationwide consumer healthcare profiler, the NRC Healthcare Market Guide (HCMG). Winners are determined by consumer perceptions on multiple quality and image ratings collected in the company's annual HCMG. Data found in the HCMG represent consumer surveys from over 160,000 households in the U.S.

National Research Corporation (NASDAQ: NRCI) has nearly 2 decades of experience in healthcare performance measurement. This is the 5^th year the NRC has awarded hospitals for providing quality healthcare services. Of the 2500 hospitals rated by consumers in the study, the winning 122 rank highest in their metropolitan statistical areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Ochsner Opens New Critical Care Expansion Facility

In October, Ochsner Foundation Hospital dedicated the Louis J. Roussel, Jr. Pavilion and Ochsner Critical Care Tower. The 140,000 square foot, state of the art, critical care tower houses new surgical, intensive care and emergency treatment centers, a 32-bed intensive care unit, and 10 new operating rooms.

The all new emergency and trauma center, which opened December 1, features 24 suites for emergency observation and treatment. Ten state-of-the-art operating rooms on the second floor occupy 625 square feet each. The 32-bed ICU features all single-patient rooms with a nurse between every two rooms for near-constant visual contact. Each room has a family space with seating, phone and data port access, and sleeping and storage areas. Children's spaces are located throughout the tower.

Extras include X-ray facilities located directly adjacent to the examination rooms, the only hospital decontamination room in New Orleans, and particular care taken in the use of allergy-friendly building materials.

The new facility should be fully operational by the end of January.