Ochsner Health Systems has been in discussions with officials from Baton Rouge General Medical Center regarding a possible collaboration between the institutions that, at the very least, could involve Baton Rouge General joining a newly created Ochsner Health Network.
Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas declines to discuss any specifics about talks with Baton Rouge General, but he confirms the institutions have discussed possible partnerships in the past and may continue to do so in the future.
“We are always looking at new partnerships and have discussions under way in a number of different markets throughout Louisiana,” Thomas says. “We’ve historically had discussion with the General, but I cannot comment on them and what we may or may not be doing now.”
Last week, Ochsner announced the creation of the Ochsner Health Network, which includes St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Lafayette General Health, Terrebonne General Medical Center and the six-hospital CHRISTUS Health. The institutions will collaborate on patient care, technology and services. No hospitals in the Capital Region, outside of Ochsner’s existing facilities here, are in the network.
“We believe with all the changes going on in health care it’s important for us to work together with like-minded partners to drive a common agenda so we’re sharing best practices to achieve quality across the network,” Thomas says.
As to whether Baton Rouge General is interested in partnering with Ochsner, president and CEO Mark Slyter says the hospital is open to collaborating with other institutions.
“We welcome the opportunity to explore collaboration with like-minded, innovative organizations that advance our mission of exceptional health care,” Slyter says.
What that means as a practical matter remains to be seen. Baton Rouge General shut down its Mid City emergency room in March, saying it could no longer afford to keep it open. In the months since, consultants have been evaluating alternative uses for the Mid City campus, which remains open as a much smaller acute-care facility.
—Stephanie Riegel
