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LAPLACE – For nearly 60 years, the LaPlace Medical Center on West Fifth Street has prioritized the health and wellness of the St. John the Baptist Parish community with modern medical practices and old fashioned, neighborly care.

Becoming part of the Ochsner Health System in 2014 gave LaPlace Medical new tools and resources to get patients more engaged in taking charge of their health close to home.

Dr. Andrew St. Martin has practiced at the location since 2002, and a calling to the medical field seems to run in the veins in his family. His uncle, Billy St. Martin, founded LaPlace Medical in July 1960 and worked for many years.

His father, Tommy St. Martin, became the patriarch of St. Martin’s Pharmacy and celebrated his retirement in 2018 after 55 years of serving the community. Billy and Tommy were inspired by their uncle Charles St. Martin, who opened a pharmacy in the space that now houses LaPlace Medical.

Despite the pull toward the medical field, Andrew St. Martin first went to college to major in construction and went to work in Atlanta and then Los Angeles. After returning home, he went into the Catholic Seminary in New Orleans for three years to study medicine and theology. Two years at the University of New Orleans prepared him for a rigorous medical school experience and allowed him to follow in the footsteps of his uncle.

St. Martin said becoming a physician has changed his life for the better.

“I enjoy meeting the people and taking care of their physical and mental needs,” St. Martin said. “We try to give personal attention to give people the confidence they had in the traditional hometown, old school physicians, while also practicing with medicine and technology that’s up to date.”

Welcoming patients with warmth and sincerity is the first step to making them feel comfortable in a medical setting, according to St. Martin. He said the front office staff, nurses and medical assistants are the friendly faces that link LaPlace Medical to the community.

“The majority of the people we treat are our friends and neighbors or acquaintances of those people,” St. Martin said. “We are treating our own family, for the most part, and I think that makes us special.”

Since LaPlace Medical opened 60 years ago, there has been a great shift away from treating acute illnesses and toward proactive care.

“We used to treat people when they came to the doctor for a cold, cough, pneumonia or some other malady,” St. Martin said. “Now the focus is on two things: prevention of problems and treatment of chronic diseases.”

Primary care offered at the LaPlace location is essential to keeping patients in good health and preventing disease by identifying risk factors for more serious medical issues. Should patients need more complex care, they have the benefit to the entire Ochsner Healthcare System and its team of trained specialists.

Stephen Robinson, CEO of Ochsner Medical Center- Kenner and the River Region, said people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart problems and high blood pressure benefit from regular check-ups with a family physician. This type of management helps patients live more comfortably and longer.

“Your primary care physician will see patients for annual check-ups and also be available to handle most conditions,” Robinson said. “We’re offering immunizations in the practice as well as making sure that we’re doing health risk assessments so we can assure patients are set up with the right resources and care plan.”

Robinson said primary care is especially important because of the relationship between patients and physicians.

“It’s someone who knows more about you and your family history; someone you can connect with and trust to help guide you through the healthcare systems as well as be there to help make important decisions about your healthcare needs,” he said. “Having primary care means you go to more appointments regularly.”

One of the largest changes has been the number of physicians practicing in the location. Dr. St. Martin, Dr. Colin Bailey and Dr. Jose M. Cusco continue to serve the local community. Dr. Becky Hollibaugh has since joined the practice, and Robinson said two new physicians are expected to join the team in the next year.

LaPlace Medical also offers medical screenings, smoking cessation programs and diabetic education.

“This location is really special,” Robinson said. “The staff there really connect with people. It’s created such a family like environment in the practice.”