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About Us

History

Tulane Medical Center, an acclaimed teaching, research, and medical facility, serving the greater New Orleans area, began in 1834 as a small, medical college with seven faculty members. The school was founded by three young physicians who had moved to New Orleans and recognized the need to study and treat “the peculiar diseases which prevail in this part of the Union,” including yellow fever and malaria. At the time, there were only 14 medical schools in the United States.

When the Louisiana Legislature established the University of Louisiana in 1847, the Medical College of Louisiana was incorporated into the school. The reputation of the medical college grew quickly, and its enrollment expanded over the years leading up to the Civil War.

In 1976, Tulane University opened its own private, 235-bed hospital to offer high quality and specialized inpatient and outpatient hospital services, as well as postgraduate medical education programs and applied research projects. This hospital is now Tulane Medical Center.

In 1995, Hospital Corporation of America acquired Tulane Medical Center. In 2005, Lakeside merged with Tulane Medical Center, changing its name to Lakeside Hospital, thus creating the multihospital system known as Tulane Health System. Most recently, in 2017, Lakeview Hospital in Covington, La, joined the Tulane Health System.

Tulane Health System, an acclaimed teaching, research, and medical system serving the greater New Orleans area. Tulane Health System includes Tulane Medical Center, Lakeside Hospital, Lakeview Hospital , and more than 25 clinics throughout the community.

About Tulane Health System

Statement of Purpose

Tulane was founded in 1834 by seven brave physicians who sought to form a medical school in New Orleans that would teach others how to care for patients in the midst of an epidemic of cholera and yellow fever. They made their bold announcement in the New Orleans Bee, and they made history through their service to their patients and the learners under their wings. From its humble beginnings in a church schoolroom, Tulane has emerged as a major academic center in the south by adhering to the aspirations of our founders. Simply put, we are in the business of caring for others and for defining the practice of medicine along the way. Tulane Health System is our hive, and these are the ways of the bee.

Vision

Our Vision is to set the standard for healthcare in our community through acts of kindness, innovation, and discovery.

Mission

Our Mission is to provide world class patient care, education, and research.

Values

When at work, we always uphold our T-CARE Values:

  • Truth: “We are honest in all we do and say.”
  • Compassion: “We embrace the whole person and respond to their physical and emotional needs.”
  • Accountability: “We hold ourselves responsible for our actions.”
  • Respect: “We treat every individual as a person of worth.”
  • Excellence: “We strive to be the best.”

Code of Behavior

We make Tulane Health System great living by guidelines we call The Tulane Health System Code; our employees sign the Code as their Commitment to Care:

Courtesy

  • We are always courteous since our patients and visitors are always present. This includes the cafeteria, elevators, hallways, waiting rooms, treatment areas, and waiting rooms.
  • We make eye contact and smile with patients, visitors, and staff. We also offer them a warm greeting such as “Good morning” when greeting them or in passing.
  • We know we are “on stage” when caring for patients and visitors, so we keep our eyes up and heart and hands out for helping others.
  • We look for “lost souls” and we escort patients and visitors to their destinations.
  • Our patients and visitors go first when getting into or out of elevators, doorways, or hallways.
  • We park in employee designated areas so that our patients and their visitors have ease of access.

Professionalism

  • We maintain a professional appearance on duty and adhere to our department/organizational standard.
  • We make certain our ID badge is visible and facing forward at all times.
  • We have good attendance and we show up on time.
  • We speak in moderate tones and are aware of the level of our voices.
  • We use personal cell phones or listening devices only during break times and in designated areas.
  • Our conversations are appropriate, respectful, and maintain the privacy of our patients and employees.
  • We demonstrate pride in Tulane Health System by keeping areas clean and safe; this is “our house.”

Respect

  • We honor each person’s privacy and dignity.
  • We knock on a patient’s door before entering and ask permission to enter.
  • We ask permission before examining a patient. We use our AIDET template so our patients and visitors know why we are caring for them.
  • We honor individual and cultural differences.
  • We never make disparaging remarks about other employees or departments.

Improvise, Adapt, Overcome

  • We display a calm and confident demeanor, even in the midst of crisis, because our patients and visitors are counting on us.
  • We solve problems; we don’t wait for someone else to do it for us.
  • We seek ways to be our best for our team, because we know this will lead to the best care for our patients.
  • We are not defeated by setbacks, because our service to our patients will not allow it.
  • We find ways to get things done and to say “yes” to our patients, visitors, MDs, and staff. If it is right for the patient and it protects their safety, we do it.
  • We do not accept the status quo because being the best means improving our service to our patients every day.

Communication Promise

We always communicate with our patients and visitors using our AIDET template:

  • Acknowledge: “We greet our patients and visitors with a smile and place our focus on them.”
  • Introduce: “We introduce ourselves by our name and role and assure our patients and visitors that we and our coworkers will take good care of them.”
  • Duration: “We always give our patients an estimate of the time it will take for us to complete a procedure, finish a test, or see a process through. We keep our patients and visitors informed of any delays and estimate how long they will be.”
  • Explanation: “We keep patients and visitors informed of what we are doing for them, why we are doing it, and how we will protect their safety. We use language that they can understand and we make certain to answer all of their questions and concerns.”
  • Thank You: “We share our appreciation for the privilege of caring for our patients and visitors by thanking them.”