NEWS RELEASE

CHRISTUS Ochsner Health Southwestern Louisiana to Resume

Some Surgeries April 27
Lake Charles, Louisiana, April 22, 2020 – CHRISTUS Ochsner Health Southwestern Louisiana
is preparing to begin phasing in a number of procedures and surgeries on April 27, consistent
with the provisions of the Governor John Bel-Edwards original order on April 20.

The revised guidance from the Louisiana Department of Health initially covers medical
procedures and surgeries performed in order to treat an emergency medical condition, to avoid
further harms from an underlying condition or disease, and for time sensitive conditions.

State officials have outlined the process will begin with allowing for procedures that have
already been postponed for 30 days to be reassessed. If the physician feels further delay would
cause an adverse effect to the patient and is able to document that, then the procedure would be
allowed to proceed. As these procedures resume, state officials will monitor the situation closely,
including for an increase in ICU patients and/or ventilator utilization.

Our facilities have secured the personal protective equipment (PPE) and excess capacity
necessary to safely care for the full spectrum of medical conditions and patient needs that we
have worked so hard to address in our communities for more than 100 years.

We are working with physicians now to reschedule their patients for a number of medical and
surgical procedures they were forced to postpone due to the initial order. While we all
understand the reason that these procedures had to be postponed, waiting has imposed a hardship
on many of these patients, as many can no longer delay care for heart disease, cancer, pain,
vision problems and other conditions. We are working to avoid a surge in illness and suffering as
a result of deferred and delayed care.

“The procedures that have been delayed or deferred are often issues related to quality of life,” said
Kevin Holland, President and Chief Executive Officer, CHRISTUS Ochsner Health Southwestern
Louisiana. “In some cases, these procedures will even help patients live longer. That’s why we
have to get them back to our operating rooms when medically necessary as quickly as possible.
But just as we’ve always done with our surgeries and other procedures, we must also ensure our
patients, Associates and physicians are safe. That’s what we’ve done at CHRISTUS Ochsner
Health Southwestern Louisiana for so many years,” Holland said.

CHRISTUS Ochsner Health Southwestern Louisiana practices infection prevention every day. In
addition, the CHRISTUS Health system is leading the Southwestern Louisiana community, and
the country, by recently announcing the rolling out of antibody testing for some patients,
Associates and physicians in its ministries. This new screening tool allows the hospital to test
these groups for antibodies related to the COVID-19 virus, helping it to identify how each patient
should receive care and how to keep its caregivers safe.
Not only that, but CHRISTUS Ochsner Health Southwestern Louisiana has been steadily
working and planning to continue providing necessary, non-COVID care to keep people safe and
healthy. To keep all who enter our facilities safe, CHRISTUS Ochsner Health Southwestern
Louisiana continues to have these following precautions in place:

• Limiting visitors;
• Screening everyone who comes through our doors;
• Isolating COVID-19 patients to one area of the facility;
• Temperature checks for all Associates;
• Requiring everyone on our campuses to wear masks;
• Using telemedicine to treat active COVID-19 patients, so their caregivers and support
staff limit the number of times they enter their rooms.

This may be an unprecedented time, but we have experienced many of these since CHRISTUS
was founded 154 years ago. In fact, the first three Sisters who started the CHRISTUS ministry in
Galveston faced an epidemic of Yellow Fever within the first six months of opening the very
first hospital. Epidemics and tragedies have been part of CHRISTUS’ history, and so too has the
resolve, after each of those challenges, to move on in love and service to those in need.

“CHRISTUS Ochsner Health Southwestern Louisiana is answering the call to help our
community – today and tomorrow. In all that we do, we are devoted to keeping patients, their
families, our caregivers and our Associates safe. And we are here when you need care. We are
ready, and it is a privilege to serve this community,” Holland said.

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CHRISTUS Ochsner Health Southwestern Louisiana, an integrated partnership of CHRISTUS Health and Ochsner Health System, is composed
of CHRISTUS Ochsner Lake Area Hospital, CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital, CHRISTUS Ochsner Imperial Surgical Center, Physician
Clinics, Imaging Services, an Athletic Club and other health-related services. With the CHRISTUS Health mission of extending the healing
ministry of Jesus Christ, the partnership uses the strength and combined resources of both partners to provide greater access to high quality care
close to home in Southwest Louisiana.