New Hospital To Fill Void In Iberville Parish

PLAQUEMINE, La. (AP) — Iberville Parish President J. Mitchell Ourso has released architectural renderings of the parish's $22 million medical facility.

The parish has been without a hospital since 2008, when River West Medical Center closed because it was heavily damaged by Hurricane Gustav.

Ourso told The Advocate the loss has forced residents with major medical issues to seek treatment at medical centers in the Baton Rouge area.

The new 43,000-square-foot medical center, to be operated by Ochsner Health System, is being built on 27 acres off La. 1 in Plaquemine.

Ourso said he hopes to begin advertising for construction bids before the end of the year, pending approval from the Office of Community Development.

Ourso said officials are shooting for a projected completion date around the first quarter of 2014.