Louisiana Hospitals Directory

According to U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026 rankings, Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans is the best hospital in Louisiana for the 14th consecutive year. The hospital ranks #1 in the New Orleans metro area and has earned national recognition for its women's services (#13 nationally) and children's hospital (#1 in Louisiana for five years). Ochsner features six nationally ranked specialties including gastroenterology, geriatrics, neurology, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology. Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center ranks as #4 in Louisiana overall for Southwest Louisiana.

For true life-threatening emergencies, always call 911. The ambulance will transport you to the nearest appropriate hospital. For severe trauma injuries, Level I Trauma Centers offer the highest level of care: University Medical Center New Orleans (southern Louisiana), Our Lady of the Lake Regional (Baton Rouge/central Louisiana), and Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport (northern Louisiana) are your three Level I trauma centers with 24/7 trauma surgeons and critical care specialists. Your location determines which is nearest, but emergency dispatch will route you to the appropriate facility.

All Louisiana hospitals accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. Before treatment, you should verify coverage with your insurance provider, especially for non-emergency procedures. Most hospitals accept multiple insurance plans from national providers (Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, etc.) and HMO/PPO plans. If you don't have insurance, ask about charity care programs and financial assistance - federal law (EMTALA) requires hospitals to provide emergency care regardless of ability to pay. Many hospitals offer payment plans for uninsured patients. Call the hospital's financial counseling department to discuss options.

Ochsner Health is Louisiana's largest non-profit healthcare system with 46 hospitals and 370+ health centers statewide, headquartered in New Orleans. It ranks #1 in Louisiana according to U.S. News and operates Ochsner Medical Center, Ochsner Children's Hospital, and dozens of other facilities. LCMC Health is the second major system in New Orleans with six major hospitals including University Medical Center New Orleans (Level I Trauma), Children's Hospital, East Jefferson General, Touro, West Jefferson Medical Center, and New Orleans East Hospital. Both systems are among the best in Louisiana. Your choice may depend on which network your insurance covers, physician affiliations, or location convenience. Both offer excellent emergency care and specialized services.

Yes, Louisiana has multiple children's hospitals. Ochsner Children's Hospital in New Orleans is the #1 hospital for kids in Louisiana (five consecutive years) and offers comprehensive pediatric services including trauma, surgery, oncology, and specialty care. LCMC Health's Children's Hospital in New Orleans is a full-service pediatric facility. Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital in Baton Rouge opened in 2019 as Louisiana's second free-standing children's hospital with 99 beds. Manning Family Children's Hospital in New Orleans offers 247 beds of pediatric care. Each system also provides pediatric care within their main hospitals throughout the state.

Yes, for non-emergency elective surgeries and planned procedures, you typically have the right to choose your hospital. However, several factors may influence your options: (1) Your physician's hospital affiliations - your surgeon may have privileges at specific hospitals, (2) Insurance coverage - your plan may have preferred hospitals with lower out-of-pocket costs, (3) Network requirements - some insurance plans require in-network facilities, (4) Specialty services - different hospitals may offer different specialty programs, (5) Availability - some hospitals may have scheduling limitations. Discuss your preferred hospital with your physician when scheduling elective procedures. For emergencies, you don't have a choice - ambulances transport you to the most appropriate facility.

A Level I Trauma Center is the highest designation for emergency trauma care. These hospitals must have trauma surgeons available 24/7/365, emergency physicians, critical care specialists, operating rooms immediately available, comprehensive diagnostic imaging, and meet strict American College of Surgeons standards. Louisiana has three Level I Trauma Centers: University Medical Center New Orleans (southern Louisiana), Our Lady of the Lake Regional in Baton Rouge (central Louisiana), and Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport (northern Louisiana). If you suffer severe trauma injuries (major motor vehicle accidents, falls from height, gunshot/stab wounds, multiple injuries), transport to a Level I center provides the best chance of survival. For serious trauma, the 911 system will route you to the appropriate Level I center for your location.

Several resources help you find hospitals and doctors in Louisiana: (1) Hospital websites - Major systems like Ochsner (ochsner.org), LCMC Health (lcmchealth.org), and Our Lady of the Lake (fmolhs.org) have physician directories and facility locators, (2) Louisiana Department of Health (ldh.la.gov) maintains official state hospital directory, (3) Insurance provider directories - Your insurance company website lists in-network hospitals and physicians, (4) Medicare.gov Hospital Compare - Compare hospital quality and safety measures, (5) Healthgrades.com and Zocdoc.com - Find doctors and read reviews, (6) 411 and Google Maps - Search by location and read ratings. When possible, ask your primary care physician for recommendations based on your specific medical needs.

When admitted to a Louisiana hospital, bring these important documents and items: (1) Insurance information - Insurance cards and policy numbers, (2) Identification - Driver's license or state ID, (3) Medical information - List of current medications, allergies, previous surgeries, medical conditions, (4) Medical records - Previous test results, imaging, or records from other doctors, (5) Contact information - Phone numbers for emergency contacts and family, (6) Personal items - Comfortable clothes, toiletries, phone charger, medications (if not contraindicated), (7) Advance directives - Living will or power of attorney if you have one, (8) List of providers - Names and contact info for your doctors. Call ahead to ask what items are allowed - some hospitals restrict certain belongings.

If you have concerns about care quality or safety at a Louisiana hospital, take these steps: (1) Talk to hospital staff first - Discuss concerns with nurses, doctors, or patient advocates, (2) File a formal complaint - Ask for your hospital's complaint process and patient rights office, (3) Contact state health department - Louisiana Department of Health (ldh.la.gov) investigates hospital complaints, (4) Report to CMS - Medicare.gov has reporting process for hospital quality concerns, (5) Check hospital ratings - Compare your hospital to others on Medicare Hospital Compare, Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, and CMS quality ratings, (6) Request medical records - You have the right to access your complete medical records, (7) Seek legal consultation - For serious safety issues or potential medical malpractice, consult an attorney. Most hospitals have patient advocate offices to help resolve concerns quickly.