Another LSU System health care leader replaced

Another top leader of LSU’s health care system has been replaced, as the Jindal administration pushes the university-run network of hospitals and clinics to change its approach to providing services. Roxane Townsend will no longer lead the LSU Health Care Services Division, which runs seven of the 10 university public hospitals. LSU announced the leadership change today, without explanation as to why Townsend is out the door. The move comes fewer than two weeks after the LSU System’s top health care leader, Dr. Fred Cerise, was ousted from his job after clashing with the Jindal administration about budget cuts. Townsend was a close ally of Cerise, who was replaced by Frank Opelka. Townsend wouldn’t say whether she was asked to leave, but did say that Opelka needs to have people with him that he and the governor’s office will trust. Dr. Michael Kaiser was named as Townsend’s replacement as CEO, on an interim basis; he will also continue in the role of the Chief Medical Officer of the LSU HCSD. “These are very difficult times for the LSU public hospital system,” Kaiser says of his new position in a prepared statement. “Despite a very challenging budget situation, we are obligated to continue training future health professionals for our state while also assuring continuity of care for the hundreds of thousands of patients who depend on LSU Health for their medical care. New models must be identified to meet this dual mission.”