In Case You Missed It:  Expansion of Services in Lafayette Private Partner Hospital Spotlighted in The Advocate

Monday, Jan. 6, 2014  |  Contact: Media & Communications; (225) 342-1532

University Hospital restoring services

Pediatric clinic reopened; 22 new doctors receiving training

The Advocate

January 05, 2014

Click here to read the full story: http://theadvocate.com/news/7951654-123/lafayette-general-enhancing-services-at

EXCERPT:

LAFAYETTE - Since Lafayette General Health took over operations of the former University Medical Center six months ago, once-shuttered patient services are being restored and more changes are in the works for 2014.

...

Plans to improve the hospital and restore services that were previously eliminated or reduced by state budget cuts are on track at the privately managed facility, said Jared Stark, CEO of University Hospital & Clinics.

"There's certainly been a lot of positives that I think Lafayette General has brought to the hospital and community in the management agreement," he said.

The former UMC's orthopedics clinic, where services had been drastically reduced, was restored to full-time status within a few weeks of coming under private management.

"The orthopedic clinic was seeing patients one day a month and now, it's full time, so that's amazing the volume of patients that we're reaching,"said Daryl Cetnar, Lafayette General community relations director.

"In addition to seeing those orthopedic patients, we are also operating on them at UHC," Cetnar said. "Prior to the transition, there were very few orthopedic surgeries (at UMC). Most patients were referred to other charity facilities across the state for orthopedic surgery."

...

Between June 24, the date of Lafayette General's management takeover, and Nov. 30, UHC clinics have received more than 42,000 patient visits, according to statistics released by Cetnar.

Its emergency department had 16,613 patient visits in the same time period.

...

Other changes enacted in the past few months at the hospital included adding eight more inpatient beds, opening a third operating room and enhancing cardiology and oncology clinic services.

The public-private partnership at the former UMC also allowed the expansion of medical training in Lafayette with LSU medical residents now receiving experience at Lafayette General Medical Center and the public hospital.

At least 22 new doctors started training at Lafayette General in July. Lafayette General invested about $2 million in contracts with private physicians to make additional training spots available to new doctors.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's blog, Twitter account and Facebook.

###