St. Charles Parish Hospital Celebrates Opening of New Education Center & Simulation Lab

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A video news release can be downloaded here

LULING, LA – St. Charles Parish Hospital held a ribbon cutting Tuesday to officially open its new Education Center & Simulation (SIM) Lab, a high-tech facility that will serve as a regional hub for clinical training, emergency preparedness, and workforce development.

Located within the hospital’s Education Center, the SIM Lab features high-fidelity mannequins that can mimic the human body at a very high level, fully equipped training stations, and advanced audiovisual capabilities. The lab is designed to provide hands-on, real-world training to healthcare professionals, first responders, and industry partners across the River parishes and greater New Orleans region.

“This facility represents a major step forward in our commitment to exceptional patient care,” said Keith Dacus, CEO, St. Charles Parish Hospital. “By investing in this level of clinical training, we’re preparing our teams to respond quickly, think critically, and deliver the highest standard of care in every situation. We’re proud to bring this resource to our community and to the entire Ochsner Health system.”

The new facility will train approximately 400 Ochsner team members annually, including every new nurse and medical technician entering Ochsner Health in the South Shore region. In addition to its role in new hire orientation and advanced clinical training, the Education Center will also serve local paramedics, EMTs, and emergency responders through partnerships with volunteer fire departments, Valero, and other industry partners.

“This is more than just a classroom. It’s a place where we simulate real-life emergencies, teach lifesaving skills, and sharpen our team’s clinical thinking,” said Jarrett Fuselier, Interim CNO, Ochsner River Region. “We’re not only preparing our staff, we’re raising the bar for emergency response across the parish and the southeast Louisiana region.”

The event was attended by hospital leadership, board members, Ochsner Health leaders, health professionals and community leaders, including St. Charles Parish President Matthew Jewell, who praised the new Education Center and SIM Lab as a win for both healthcare and the parish.

“The opening of the Education and Simulation Lab at our local hospital is a tremendous opportunity for both local and regional healthcare providers,” said St. Charles Parish President Matthew Jewell. “I am grateful for Ochsner’s continued partnership with our Hospital Service District and for all of the community partners who helped make this facility a reality.”

The ribbon cutting included a virtual demonstration of the SIM Lab’s capabilities, showcasing how training scenarios in the lab can be broadcast to classrooms in the hospital’s Education Center. Following the event, guests toured the facility and met nurse educators leading its programs.

St. Charles Parish Hospital is a 59-bed facility that has provided quality care to the community since 1959. With seven advanced ambulances, its paramedics and EMTs deliver critical emergency response and transport services. Strategically located to serve both sides of the Mississippi River, the hospital is minutes from Kenner and surrounding areas. Managed by Ochsner Health, the hospital has implemented advanced technologies and shared best practices to improve care quality and expand access to services.