LCMC Health buys 3 HCA Healthcare hospitals in Louisiana


LCMC Health has acquired three HCA Healthcare-owned hospitals in southeast Louisiana for $150 million, following approval by state regulators, the nonprofit system announced on Tuesday. 

Tulane Medical Center, Tulane Lakeside Hospital and Lakeview Regional Medical Center are part of New Orleans-based LCMC and have transitioned to nonprofit ownership through the deal. The approximately 1,900 employees at the facilities will continue to have jobs, in addition to “new and expanded opportunities for growth and advancement,” according to a news release. LCMC has agreed to invest $220 million over five years in the three facilities.

HCA acquired Tulane Medical Center in 1995 and merged its Lakeside Hospital a decade later, forming Tulane Health System. Lakeview Regional joined the system in 2017.

A larger partnership announced in October between LCMC and Tulane University will focus on specialty care, academic medicine, innovation and training in southeast Louisiana. Tulane will integrate its facilities with LCMC within the next two years. During that time, Tulane Medical Center will shift most of its services to East Jefferson General Hospital and University Medical Center New Orleans. 

The current Tulane Medical building will house a new nursing program, clinical research and educational space. Tulane University has agreed to invest about $600 million into downtown New Orleans, a project that also includes revitalization of the Charity Hospital building.

“I can’t overstate how important this partnership will be to improving healthcare and boosting medical research in our community,” Tulane President Michael Fitts said in the release. 

The partnership received some pushback from nurses, including members of National Nurses United, who questioned how it would affect patient care and healthcare costs in the region. The deal leaves just two healthcare providers in the area—LCMC and Ochsner Health. 

 

 



Source link