Privatization negotiations continue with LSU Hospital
By: Stephanie Claytor
Updated: March 18, 2013
Negotiations on the privatization of LSU Health in Shreveport continue.
The Biomedical Research Foundation submitted a memorandum of understanding to the LSU Hospital's Board of Directors Friday.
The memorandum asks to enter negotiations for the foundation to manage and operate LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport and E.A. Conway Medical Center in Monroe, LA.
The Board of Supervisors met Monday. On the agenda is the memorandum, and the supervisors have to decide if they want to approve it.
St. Rep. Roy Burrell said he has mixed feelings about privatizing the hospital.
"If privatization is going to save the state money, provide more operational efficiency, and if privatization is not going to fire a lot of people, then I can enter a conversation for privatization," said Rep. Burrell.
Burrell said an advantage of Biomedical Research Foundation taking over the hospital is that it's local and it could mean the profits the hospital is making would stay here, instead of being sent down state to other state run hospitals.
If the memorandum is approved, Jay Meyers with the Biomedica Research Foundation said the non-profit would negotiate with the Board of Supervisors for about four to five months, to see if it's a worthwhile endeavor.