Seven decades of care

(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted by Jackie Riché, Savoy Medical Center Physician Liaison.)
Savoy Medical Center began its legacy as a healthcare leader on December 20, 1950, 30 years after Dr. Frank Savoy Sr. graduated from Tulane Medical School. Dr. Frank married Edna Robin following his graduation and came to Mamou to start his medical practice. Being the doctor of patients in this rural area required Dr. Frank to make house calls five or six days a week, treating common illnesses or delivering babies. Those patients needing to be hospitalized were admitted to the Eunice Clinic 10 miles away. Thus the vision for a hospital of his own for his patients in Mamou began.
Dr. Frank Savoy Jr., born on June 29, 1924, was destined to not only follow in his father’s footsteps, but to surpass all expectations of his father’s dream of a local hospital for the people of Mamou and the surrounding area. Following his medical school graduation, Frank Jr. and his wife, Bobby, two children, and one on the way, came to Mamou in 1950. He established his practice in conjunction with his father.
Frank Jr. also shared his father’s vision, and helped with the planning and construction of the new hospital.
The formal dedication of the hospital was on December 28, 1950. The original hospital building, now Savoy Care Center, was growing and in a short time, simply could not keep up with the demand for more patient beds. Thus the size of the hospital was doubled in just two years, including a larger kitchen and dining area, known as Chapel hall, as well as 14 additional patient beds.
Just less than 10 years later, Dr. Frank Savoy, Sr. met with an untimely death on September 4, 1960.
But the vision continued through Dr. Frank Jr. A second addition to the hospital was completed in 1964, and a third addition, known as the East Wing was completed in 1968. Dr. Greg Savoy joined the medical staff after his surgical training was completed in 1973. Dr. Greg brought new surgical techniques learned from his training at Ben Taub Hospital in Houston. Together the two brothers continued to build on their father’s vision. In 1975, the West Wing, a two-story addition was initiated, including an operating suite and the first ICU in the area. Shortly thereafter, the ownership of the hospital was transferred to the Town of Mamou and the name was changed to Savoy Memorial Hospital Foundation.
A non-profit organization ran the hospital, and through Dr. Frank Jr.’s leadership the town became owners of an 11 million dollar facility with no expense to the town.
In the fall of 1984, the ground breaking for the new three-story addition began with a new modernized lab, X-ray, CT Scan, angiography unit, emergency department, and pharmacy. At this time, the old East Wing and Chapel Hall became a much needed nursing home for the elderly, now Savoy Care Center.
Even with all the additions and numerous services available at Savoy Memorial, the brothers were focused on the community and its needs. In 1989, the New Horizon Behavioral Health Hospital was opened. The Frank P. Savoy Jr. Cancer Center was opened in the summer of 2001, and has proudly served the Mamou community and its surrounding parishes for the past 19 years. The Cancer Center was also named Evangeline Parish Chamber Business of the Year in 2018.
Savoy Medical Center entered a management agreement in 2015 with CHRISTUS Health, but is still owned by the Town of Mamou. Savoy Medical Management Group now includes five Rural Health Clinics located in Elton, Basile, Eunice, Mamou, and Ville Platte. The hospital services today include the Cancer Center and Infusion Center including Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy, a Physical Rehab Unit, Behavioral Health Inpatient/Outpatient and Detox Services at New Horizons, Surgery Department, Med-Surge Unit, Laboratory, Radiology Department, Respiratory Department, Emergency Department,
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and most recently opened, the Sleep Lab and the Spravata Clinic for treatment resistant depression.
On behalf of the entire staff and SMC Administration, we sincerely thank you for allowing us to take care of you and your family’s healthcare needs for the past 70 years. And we look forward to continuing our mission daily, “to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.”