While Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards has not chosen sides in the legal battle over who controls LSU’s hospitals in Monroe and Shreveport, Gannett Louisiana reports he has signaled at least some support for current operator Biomedical Research Foundation.
LSU wants to oust BRF, which secured the contract to operate University Health in Shreveport and University Health Conway in Monroe in 2013 as part of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s plan to privatize the state’s former charity hospital system.
“I’m just going to be fair,” Edwards tells Gannett Louisiana, noting he has toured the Shreveport hospital and met with those from the Monroe facility. “There’s almost universal praise from Monroe (for BRF), so it’s hard to understand how (BRF) would have the expertise to manage Monroe and not Shreveport. But I haven’t made a decision.”
The feud between LSU and BRF spilled into court earlier this fall. In a 44-page lawsuit filed in September, LSU accuses BRF of seeking to undermine the leadership of LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport by allegedly trying to have the chancellor and vice chancellors removed; failing to support and promote the hospital’s academic mission; failing to act collaboratively and cooperatively with LSU; and failing to establish a sustainable and competitive business model, among other allegations.
Last week a Baton Rouge judge ruled against LSU’s request to have BRF removed immediately, saying LSU hadn’t negotiated in good faith or followed protocol spelled out in the contract.
Though Edwards can’t technically order LSU to stand down, he will certainly have sway with his appointments to LSU’s governing board.
Steve Skrivanos, chairman of the BRF board, says he met with Edwards during the campaign.
“We’re pleased about the results of the election and appreciate Gov. Edwards going forward with open mind,” Skrivanos says. “We look forward to working with Gov. Edwards and with LSU to build on the improvements we’ve made in patient care in northern Louisiana.”
