A different Lake project

FMOL Health plans to invest about $70 million to renovate the former Bone & Joint Clinic into the new home of the Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute, with the project expected to open in 2028.

Why it matters: The investment is the latest sign that the Capital Region’s largest health systems continue pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into facilities and specialty care as competition for patients intensifies.

Details: Changing plans: The renovation replaces an earlier proposal for a new $100 million freestanding cancer center on the Essen Lane campus. FMOL says improved collaboration with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center allows it to focus on consolidating oncology, infusion, imaging, laboratory and breast care services under one roof while leaving radiation treatment to its longtime partner.

The bottom line: The project expands FMOL’s aggressive capital investment strategy while underscoring that Baton Rouge’s health care market is in the midst of a high-stakes building boom.