LAPLACE — Dozens of River Parishes Hospital employees worked their final shift Friday as the sale and transition to Ochsner Health System became official Saturday.

Visual evidence of the sale was obvious Friday to motorists passing along Airline Highway, where Ochsner officials said the Ochsner Medical Complex — River Parishes will operate for now.

David Gaines, senior vice president of public affairs for Ochsner, said in September an assessment into traffic patterns and parish growth would be taken into account if a facility relocation were to take place.

River Parishes Hospital served residents of the River Region since 1982 as an acute-care facility.

Ochsner officials said the vision in LaPlace is to develop a new, modern medical facility focused on emergency care, primary care, laboratory and radiology services.