Groundbreaking Held for North Oaks Clinic Building II

A groundbreaking ceremony took place Wednesday, Nov. 29, for an additional clinic building on the campus of North Oaks Medical Center.

The 5-story, 95,809-square-foot “North Oaks Clinic Building II,” represents a nearly $50 million community investment in design, construction, equipment, furniture and fixture costs. It has been designed by Washer Hill Lipscomb Cabaniss Architecture, LLC (WHLC) and will be constructed by The Lemoine Company, LLC—both of Baton Rouge.

“Our investment in this new clinic building and the growing provider network is a testament to our commitment to meet the healthcare needs of this region and that of fulfilling our mission of improving lives through access to new providers,” asserts North Oaks Health System President/Chief Executive Officer Michele Kidd Sutton, FACHE.

Michael Watkins, who is the health system’s Chief Operating Officer, notes, “Once completed in the spring of 2025, this facility will significantly increase the space for new providers and services, while ensuring we have room to grow for future needs.”

A prime example is North Oaks Hematology and Oncology Clinic. This clinic will relocate from the second floor of North Oaks Diagnostic Center to the entire fifth floor of North Oaks Clinic Building II. This move is part of the health system’s significant investment in cancer care. Joining this clinic will be Infusion Therapy. It will relocate from North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital and expand to offer 32 infusion therapy bays.

North Oaks Eye Care Clinic and its Optical Shop, along with North Oaks Prescription Center, will likewise relocate and expand in response to growing patient demand.

Other areas slated to occupy the new building include diabetes education, endocrinology, neurology, neurosurgery, pain management, primary care, pulmonology, rheumatology and smoking cessation.

All told, North Oaks Clinic Building II will house 12 clinics encompassing 115 patient examination rooms, 47 office spaces and 13 nurses’ stations. A coffee shop and an exterior canopy joining Clinic Building I to Clinic Building II are counted among the amenities.

In addition, a second-floor interior hallway will connect the new clinic building to North Oaks Office Plaza and North Oaks Medical Center. New and extended canopies will create a covered walkway spanning the distance between North Oaks Office Plaza, North Oaks Clinic Building II, North Oaks Clinic Building I and North Oaks Diagnostic Center. It will serve to protect patients, visitors and staff while traveling between the buildings.

Finally, expansion of a portion of Paul Vega, MD, Drive in front of North Oaks Clinic Building I will create a wider drop-off/pick-up area for patients.

“When we talk about investing in Tangipahoa’s future, one of the premier partners making that happen is North Oaks Health System. This new clinic building represents not only a nearly $50 million investment in our parish’s infrastructure, but also an investment in jobs for professionals serving our community,” notes Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller. “Most importantly, it represents an investment in the health and welfare of this community—our friends, families and neighbors. This is one more reason why I always say that Tangipahoa is the best parish in the state.”

From left are: North Oaks Chief Operating Officer Michael Watkins; Tangipahoa Parish Council Chairman David Vial; City of Ponchatoula Mayor Bob Zabbia; Senator Patrick McMath; Representative and Member-elect to the Louisiana Senate Bill Wheat; Parish Councilwoman and Member-elect to the Louisiana House of Representatives Kim Landry Coates; North Oaks Board of Commissioners members Dr. Ann Carruth and Ron Orsi; North Oaks Board of Commissioners Chairman Ron Macaluso; North Oaks Board of Commissioners member Mark Mobley; North Oaks President/CEO Michele Kidd Sutton, FACHE; North Oaks Physician Group Network Operations Council Chairman, Dr. Jaime Edwards with Magnolia Obstetrics & Gynecology; Tangipahoa Economic Development Executive Director Ginger Cangelosi; Representative Nicky Muscarello; Dr. Georges Tanios with North Oaks Hematology & Oncology Clinic; City of Hammond Mayor Pete Panepinto; WHLC Architecture Partner Matthew Caillouet; and The Lemoine Company Vice President of Healthcare Wills Hover.