Brightside Clinic, Everso Systems to create combined 20 jobs in mental health services, technology
Baton Rouge, La. (November 6, 2020) – Today, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) joined Gov. John Bel Edwards and CEO Evon Roquemore of Brightside Clinic and Everso Systems in announcing that mental health clinic Brightside and behavioral health software-development firm Everso will create a combined 20 new direct jobs at their respective facilities in Bogalusa and Denham Springs.
The new direct jobs will provide an average annual salary of $45,000, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the expansions will result in 25 new indirect jobs in Livingston and Washington parishes, for a total of 45 new jobs in the Capital and Southeast regions of the state. The firms also will retain 24 existing jobs.
Brightside Clinic in Denham Springs and Bogalusa are mental health outpatient clinics, and the adjoining Everso offices provide access to health care using real-time electronic visit verification, telehealth technology and compliance software tools. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Brightside has seen 25 percent month-over-month increases in patient referrals.
“In times of challenge and uncertainty, it is important for all Louisianans to take particular care of their mental health and well-being,” Gov. Edwards said. “The expansions of Brightside Clinic and Everso Systems are designed to allow their organizations to serve a larger number of Louisiana residents and to allow our citizens to take better care of themselves and their loved ones.”
At the Brightside Clinic, the new roles to be created are clinical social worker, mental health counselor and licensed clinical director. The jobs at Everso Systems include psychiatrist, registered mental health nurse practitioner, office manager, billing and coding manager, and operations manager.
“Brightside Clinic, coupled with the innovative and collaborative support of Everso, is a progressive pivot for mental health, utilizing leading technology,” Roquemore said. “We envision a world where mental health treatments are proactive and preventive – reducing the rate of crisis intervention as a treatment plan, where both annual mental health and physical exams are standard practice. Brightside and Everso are engaged, innovative and intentional in our actions. We are committed to making whole-person wellness a reality for the communities and individuals we serve.”
Brightside’s office in Denham Springs will create five new direct jobs, which LED estimates will result in three indirect jobs in the region. The Everso office in Denham Springs will also create five new direct jobs, which LED estimates will result in 10 new indirect jobs.
“We are pleased that Brightside Clinic and Everso will add to the growing health care sector with their expansion in Denham Springs,” said Mayor Gerard Landry of Denham Springs. “The additional healthcare capacity created to serve our residents is welcome.”
“We are excited to see the expansion of both companies, because small business is important to sustained economic growth in Livingston Parish,” said David Bennett, President and CEO of Livingston Economic Development Council. “The owners have demonstrated their ability to develop synergies in existing and emerging markets that will drive economic prosperity in the parish.”
“The value of telemedicine to social services and mental health has never been more critical, and we are thrilled to support this expansion and the invaluable benefit it brings to the Capital Region,” said President and CEO Adam Knapp of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. “Our team has had the pleasure of working with Evon over the past year and looks forward to supporting her continued success with our partners at the Livingston Economic Development Council.”
Everso and Brightside have participated in LED Growth Network programs facilitated by the department’s Small Business Services team. In 2019, LED earned the International Economic Development Council’s Gold Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, based on the strength of LED’s suite of small business programs. To facilitate the additional growth of Brightside and Everso, the companies are expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs Program.
About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) leads economic development in the nine-parish Baton Rouge Area, working to grow jobs and wealth and to improve the business climate and competitiveness in the region. Today, BRAC investors include more than 1,400 small businesses, midsize firms, large industry and entrepreneurial startups, as well as individuals and organizations that support business and economic development. In this capacity, BRAC serves as the voice of the business community, providing knowledge, access, services and advocacy. More information is available at brac.org.
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