As Jefferson Parish Council members on Friday awaited a draft report from Inspector General David McClintock on the parish's hospital lease process, the medical staff of one of the two public hospitals involved in the deal pushed to have its voice heard. Among other things, the East Jefferson General Hospital Medical Executive Committee wants the council to solicit a...
As Jefferson Parish Council members on Friday awaited a draft report from Inspector General David McClintock on the parish's hospital lease process, the medical staff of one of the two public hospitals involved in the deal pushed to have its voice heard. Among other things, the East Jefferson General Hospital Medical Executive Committee wants the council to solicit a recommendation from consulting firm Kaufman Hall, which has assisted the hospitals in the search for a private operator to lease East Jefferson General and West Jefferson Medical Center.
EJGH Chief of Staff John Lindsey notified council members on Friday of a Sept. 5 committee resolution calling for the recommendation, as well as the Medical Executive Committee's "full participation in the future negotiations with respect to such matters that impact the medical staff."
Lindsey, in an email attached to the resolution, reminded council members that he had sent the resolution after it passed last week but had received no confirmation that it had been received.
Kaufman Hall started its work on the Jefferson Parish hospital lease deal nearly 18 months ago, initially recruiting 17 private firms to submit proposals. The list was eventually narrowed to three finalists: Ochsner Health System, Louisiana Children's Medical Center and the HCA conglomerate. East Jefferson General's board has voted to endorse HCA, while West Jefferson Board members prefer Children's.
The East Jefferson Medical Executive Committee, which represents the hospital's medical staff, joins the East Jefferson General governing board in pushing for a recommendation, which Kaufman Hall has said it will not provide without the consent of both hospitals. The boards of the two hospitals, acting as a single umbrella entity, voted on Sept. 9 not to ask for a recommendation.
Parish Council members Ben Zahn and Cynthia Lee-Sheng, whose districts are contained within the East Bank, also want Kaufman Hall's recommendation, a position echoed by the Jefferson Business Council. Parish Council Chairman Chris Roberts, meanwhile, has questioned whether a Kaufman Hall recommendation would be impartial. Roberts, along with fellow Councilman-at-large Elton Lagasse, has endorsed Children's.
McClintock's draft report was due by close of business Friday, and council members were still awaiting it as of 5 p.m. McClintock's announcement this week of his upcoming report caused Roberts to put off a final vote on the lease selection indefinitely.
