HLS 10RS-5048 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 129
BY REPRESENTATIVE BARROW
HOSPITALS/CHARITY: Urges and requests the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana
State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College to provide a written,
detailed overview and time line for the closure of the Earl K. Long Medical Center
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana State University and2
Agricultural and Mechanical College to provide a written, detailed overview and3
time line for the closure of the Earl K. Long Medical Center, including specifics4
relative to the transfer of its medical education and inpatient hospital care to Our5
Lady of the Lake Medical Center.6
WHEREAS, the Earl K. Long Medical Center is a state-run, acute care medical7
facility that serves East Baton Rouge Parish and the seven surrounding parishes within its8
designated coverage area: Ascension, West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, Iberville,9
Livingston, and Pointe Coupee; and10
WHEREAS, the Earl K. Long Medical Center's mission is to provide quality care to11
residents in East Baton Rouge Parish and the surrounding parishes, regardless of their12
financial status; and13
WHEREAS, as a public hospital, the Earl K. Long Medical Center has maintained14
the public's trust through competent care and service to the community; and15
WHEREAS, the Earl K. Long Medical Center supports the community it serves16
through health education and preventive services; and 17
WHEREAS, the Earl K. Long Medical Center serves as a teaching hospital for18
physician education; and 19 HLS 10RS-5048 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 129
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WHEREAS, the Earl K. Long Medical Center's organizational philosophy and core1
values are access, advocacy, respect, knowledge, excellence, and quality; and2
WHEREAS, the cooperative endeavor to close Earl K. Long and move its graduate3
medical teaching facilities and inpatient care to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical4
Center was approved by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget on March 19, 2010;5
and6
WHEREAS, Bill Holman, the president and chief executive officer of the Baton7
Rouge General Medical Center expressed concern that the closure of Earl K. Long Medical8
Center could increase the number of uninsured and poor patients visiting other hospitals in9
the area without sufficient resources to adequately compensate these hospitals for their care;10
and 11
WHEREAS, the Earl K. Long Medical Center has served as a primary source of care12
for generations of underprivileged people in the area who will be forced to search for13
alternatives to the quality of care that the Earl K. Long Medical Center has provided over14
the years; and15
WHEREAS, many residents of East Baton Rouge Parish and the seven surrounding16
parishes that the hospital serves have lingering questions concerning its closure, including17
the time line of the closure, patient education about the transfer, continued quality of care18
to indigent patients, transportation of patients to other hospitals, and the future employment19
of current Earl K. Long Medical Center employees; and20
WHEREAS, many of the residents in these parishes have become active in the group21
Citizens for Equitable Healthcare which encourages citizen engagement to ensure the22
equitable delivery of health care; and23
WHEREAS, the surrounding community needs some assurance that the core24
principles upon which the Earl K. Long Medical Center was founded will continue at Our25
Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.26
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana27
State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College as part of the Louisiana State28
University Health Sciences Center should provide a written, detailed overview and time line29
for the closure of the Earl K. Long Medical Center, including specifics relative to the30 HLS 10RS-5048 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 129
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transfer of its medical education and inpatient hospital care to Our Lady of the Lake Medical1
Center.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the3
chairman of the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and4
Mechanical College.5
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Barrow HR No. 129
Urges and requests the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana State University and
Agricultural and Mechanical College to provide a written, detailed overview and time line
for the closure of the Earl K. Long Medical Center, including specifics relative to the
transfer of its medical education and inpatient hospital care to Our Lady of the Lake Medical
Center.