History

When Alton Ochsner and four other physicians opened New Orleans’ first  group practice with multiple specialties in 1942, they envisioned providing people with the highest quality medical care, making sure patients received personalized and complete care.

Ochsner Health is the leading not-for-profit healthcare provider in the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 46 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. For 12 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has recognized Ochsner as the No. 1 hospital in Louisiana. Additionally, Ochsner Children’s has been recognized as the No. 1 hospital for kids in Louisiana for three consecutive years. Ochsner inspires healthier lives and stronger communities through a combination of standard-setting expertise, quality and connection not found anywhere else in the region. In 2023, Ochsner Health cared for more than 1.5 million people from every state in the nation and 65 countries. Ochsner’s workforce includes more than 38,000 dedicated team members and over 4,700 employed and affiliated physicians.

Ochsner is a healthcare system that always reaches out to the communities it serves and is a model for what a healthcare system should be.

Visit the interactive timeline of Ochsner's history and view archival images.