Center of Excellence coverage is only offered through select employers. Reach out to your employer’s Human Resources department to determine if this program is available. A referral is required from your employer’s third-party administrator to confirm coverage for this program.

Within the Center of Excellence Program, the third party administrators (TPAs) provide the health plan coverage associated with your employer. In some cases, they act as a temporary insurance company for a set of services to treat a clinical condition or procedure. They may also provide a temporary insurance card for that set of services. For example, if a patient needs a total knee replacement, covered services may include pre-operative and post-operative appointments, imaging, labs, the surgery itself, and your hospital stay. All medical coverage varies by employer. Additional coverages also vary but may include coordination and expenses related to travel, lodging, food and more. If your employer offers a Center of Excellence program, the Human Resources department will connect you with their contracted TPA.

The first step is to contact your employer’s Benefits department to see if this program is available to start the referral process.

Once your referral has been received by the appropriate department at Ochsner, you will receive an initial welcome call from one of our Concierge Access Navigators within 1-2 business days. At that time, they will provide you with additional details about the program and guide you through the next steps. It is important that you have an established Primary Care Provider at home as we will be asking for their assistance preoperatively and post operatively.

The initial step will be for us to receive all your medical records and images. Once all necessary records and images have been received, the RN (Registered Nurse) Navigator will contact you to review your medications and ask questions related to your medical history. Next, a Center of Excellence surgeon will review all your medical information to determine if you meet the criteria for the program. If so, the RN Navigator will work with you to coordinate all necessary appointments or surgery and submit a plan of care to your employer’s third-party administrator (TPA) for approval. Our staff will work closely with your home provider to coordinate any testing needed prior to travel.

Your TPA will then contact you directly to coordinate appropriate travel arrangements for your visit.

Our Concierge Access Navigators will work closely with you when you arrive. They will arrange your transportation from the airport (if you are from out of town) to the Brent House Hotel. They will also escort you to your appointments and will be accessible to you 24/7 while you are onsite to answer any questions you may have.

During your visit, you will meet with your care team for a comprehensive evaluation to ensure all treatment options are considered. If surgery has been recommended, you will learn more about the surgery including what to expect on the day of your surgery and what to expect after surgery and answer any questions you may have.

If no changes have been made to your surgery after your evaluation visit, you will proceed with surgery as planned. If any changes to your plan occur, we will discuss it with you in detail and communicate the new plan of care to your TPA. In some programs, you will return for a second visit to have your surgery. Once your surgery is complete, if you are a travel patient, you will spend several days at our Brent House Hotel. Your nurse will check on you during your stay until your post-op visit where it will be determined if you are clear to travel home.

All records will be forwarded to your home provider for follow up care management after discharge. If a provider does not recommend surgery, an alternative treatment plan will be communicated to you and your home physician.

There are several factors that can affect the date of your surgery which includes: the specialty, type of surgery, procedure duration, and availability. In some cases, an evaluation or several pre-requisite appointments are needed before surgery can be recommended or scheduled. There are also instances when your surgeon may not recommend surgery, in which case we will work with your home provider to communicate conservative treatment recommendations. Once your referral has been received by the appropriate department, you will receive a call from an Ochsner team member who can assist with additional information.

Our Center of Excellence coverages only offers in-person evaluations. This is to ensure our providers can give you a detailed exam and provide expert recommendations.

Once your appointments or surgery have been scheduled, Ochsner will provide the dates of travel to the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) associated with your employer. Travel expenses and accommodation coverage vary by employer, but all travel arrangements are coordinated by your TPA. Your TPA’s contact information will be provided to you during your benefits enrollment, during the initial intake process, or by contacting your Human Resources department.

Ochsner Health is innovating healthcare by investing in innovative technologies and research to make world-class care more accessible, affordable, convenient, and effective. Ochsner Health is a national leader, named both the top hospital and the top children’s hospital in Louisiana by U.S. News & World Report, as well an international leader in innovation, patient experience, and holistic care from a multidisciplinary team of physicians and advanced practice providers.

Our experienced multidisciplinary team provides the most sophisticated procedures and therapies around, including less invasive surgical and nonsurgical treatments and new therapies not offered anywhere else in the region. Additionally, our concierge and convenience services mean you will have access to everything you need for a successful healing journey. Our team works to coordinate every aspect of your visit and provide services tailored to the unique needs of our patients. We make a continued effort to better understand our patients’ lifestyles, cultures, and health needs, which allows us to deliver care that promotes complete healing and continued wellness.

Located right on the Ochsner Medical Center campus, the Brent House Hotel is the ideal place to stay when you are traveling for care or need to be near loved ones who are receiving care at Ochsner. Brent House is conveniently located between Louis Armstrong International Airport and Downtown New Orleans, close to many local attractions.

Our guest rooms are designed to provide comfortable accommodations for patients and caregivers to rest, recover and heal during their healthcare journey. Need help during your stay? Our hospitable and bilingual staff are happy to offer any assistance needed.

At the Brent House Hotel, making you feel at home is our top priority.

Our location offers several convenient amenities. Guests can take a quick walk down the hall to dine at Bistro 42, read a book on a bench in the calm of our atrium, or indulge in a warm cup of coffee or tea at PJ’s Coffee Shop while listening to the soothing sounds of live piano music.

Hotel features include:

• Newly renovated rooms and suites
• Extended stay rooms with kitchenette
• Free covered self-parking and valet parking
• Outdoor heated pool and 24-hour fitness center
• Restaurant and coffee shop
• Laundry facilities
• Business center
• Pharmacy
• Gift shop
• Barbershop and beauty salon
• Brent House Market convenience store
• Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout our guest rooms and facilities

Book your stay at the Brent House Hotel

Ochsner Health offers 24/7 interpreter services for patients without charge and in every language. Ochsner medical interpreters are experienced and can attend appointments, translate educational material for patients, and offer other necessary help. Whenever patients schedule an Ochsner appointment they will be asked if they need interpreter services.

*Referrals are required from your employer and cannot be started by Ochsner. Please contact your employer to see if this program is available and to start the referral process.