Ochsner St. Mary honored for respiratory care

\Ochsner St. Mary Hospital has been named the 2026 Hospital of the Year for facilities with fewer than 200 beds by the Louisiana Society for Respiratory Care . The statewide honor recognizes the hospital’s strong performance in patient care, clinical innovation, staff satisfaction and community impact, the hospital said in a news release.

The LSRC Hospital of the Year Award recognizes health care organizations that meet high standards in respiratory therapy. The award considers factors including advanced staff credentials, therapist-driven protocols, employee retention and community health involvement.

Respiratory therapists are licensed healthcare professionals who assess, treat and care for patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders. Across hospital settings, they support emergency care, oxygen therapy, ventilator management, diagnostic testing and patient education, and help patients breathe easier and receive the care they need at every stage of treatment.

Ochsner St. Mary’s respiratory therapy team includes 13 therapists. Of those team members, 75% hold the advanced registered respiratory therapist credential, and half maintain active membership in the American Association for Respiratory Care.

“Open communication and a positive work environment have helped our hospital achieve a 100% retention rate on the respiratory therapy team,” said Jennifer Wise, chief nursing officer and hospital administrator at Ochsner St. Mary. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team to delivering a high standard of cardiopulmonary care, and we are so proud to see their work recognized.”

The department delivers care across inpatient respiratory services, emergency response, sleep lab diagnostics, EKG and EEG services, pulmonary function testing, smoking cessation programs and rapid response support. Ochsner St. Mary also serves as a clinical education site, helping train the next generation of respiratory therapists in the region.