For over 70 years, Beauregard Health Systems (BHS) has treated the low-income, rural residents of Beauregard parish and surrounding areas. Despite prior remodels to address urgent issues, BHS continued to struggle with many inadequate, poorly designed spaces. The Emergency Room handled over 20,000 patient visits per year in a space designed for 14,000. Women moved between three different areas during labor, delivery, and recovery. An aged Women’s Center was off campus. Trauma patients arrived by helicopter on a vacant lot behind the hospital requiring transport across a field and steep ditch to reach the ER.

BHS sought NMTC capital to renovate and expand its existing facility, creating a larger, redesigned ER, an adjacent helipad, and a modern Women’s Center.

The expansion project will allow BHS to handle more patient visits and increase the capacity of the emergency room by 46 percent, improving privacy, patient experiences, and outcomes. Dedicated CT scanners will improve access and time to diagnosis. A new helipad will provide a safer transportation experience for patients and staff. The state-of-the-art Women’s Health Center will improve the birthing experience. This expansion/renovation will have a large impact on staff productivity, and an even greater impact on staff safety, the safety of patients and guests, patient privacy, and patient comfort.

The project could only service a limited amount of conventional debt due to its focus of meeting the community needs and serving low-income people. The budget for rehabilitation and expansion was constrained due to lower reimbursement rates from government insurance, and construction costs increased since the initial planning for the expansion. Without the NMTC, BHS would have to continue to treat patients in an environment ill-suited for the community healthcare needs. River Gorge Capital, Community Hospitality Healthcare Services, CCG Community Partners, and AMCREF Community Capital used $30.45 million in NMTC allocation to help finance the expansion.