The new year has opened up with some exciting news in Northern Louisiana.

CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System announced it is launching a $43 million investment project to meet growing demand and the community’s evolving health care needs.

For the next two years, you can expect to hear the name “Highland 100” uttered quite a bit when talking about expansion, improvements and renovations at the valuable facility that is CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center. That hospital will undergo a beautiful transformation that will mean much to the families and patients CHRISTUS serves.

The project is anticipated to continue to build upon the economic growth for a community of about 450,000.

“We are calling this Highland 100 because it builds on our legacy of more than a century of service to the people of this region. Construction will touch more than 100 patient care areas in the hospital, and brings a total investment in this ministry to more than $100 million since our strategic repositioning in 2013,” said Isaac Palmer, CEO CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System.

The Highland 100 plan includes some major projects such as rebuilding, relocating and doubling the size of the emergency room, adding hospital rooms and expanding the cardiac catheterization laboratory where patients go for life-saving imaging and heart treatment. There will be a dedicated entrance for heart patients, renovated waiting areas and patient rooms, and the outpatient physical therapy will find a new home when it relocates to a convenient standalone facility offering patients the best in access.

The project is extraordinary for many reasons. Especially because most construction will happen in what could be considered the belly of the hospital, not easily visible to anyone just passing by the building. And rarely does a construction renovation have such an impact on so many lives, impacting future generations.

“This project is future-focused and patient-centered, enabling us to provide improved health care access for generations to come and the compassionate, faith-based care for which we are known,” said Palmer.

The sweeping transformation will occur in a phased approach, ensuring no interruption of health care services. During construction, all hospital departments will remain open and operational.