2019 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 161
BY SENATOR BOUDREAUX
A RESOLUTION
To commend Kenneth Joseph Cochran, president and chief executive officer of Opelousas
General Health System in Opelousas, Louisiana, upon being recognized by the
National Rural Health Association (NRHA), the American Hospital Association
(AHA), and Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) for his
leadership at the hospital and the entire health system.
WHEREAS, Dr. Kenneth Cochran holds a doctor of science degree in healthcare
leadership (DSc.), is clinically trained as a Registered Nurse (RN), is a fellow of the
American College of Health Executives (FACHE), and is, since July 1, 2015, the president
and chief executive officer (CEO) of Opelousas General Health System; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth Cochran's more than twenty years of healthcare leadership
experience includes fifteen years of hospital leadership as president and CEO of
River Valley Health Partners in East Liverpool, Ohio, and, prior to that, he was CEO of
Cibola General Hospital in Grants, New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, in Louisiana, Dr. Cochran is one of only two healthcare leaders who
were recognized by these national healthcare leadership organizations and only sixty
individuals were recognized nationally; and
WHEREAS, the recognition highlights leaders who possess extensive experience in
healthcare management, demonstrating their commitment to providing high quality,
accessible care to rural populations, but also who involve themselves in economic nonprofit
organizations and community and state organizations; and
WHEREAS, the NRHA, AHA, and HIMSS look beyond the leadership of the
hospital where these healthcare executives are employed, and require attention to the
surrounding community and state by involving themselves in chambers of commerce and
state hospital associations, exhibiting a broader scope of influence than that indicated by the
mere leadership of a rural hospital; and
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WHEREAS, Dr. Cochran is deeply involved in his community and his parish, serving
as the president of the Rotary Club of Opelousas Sunrise and chairman of the St. Landry
Chamber of Commerce; he is a committee member of the St. Landry Parish Strategic
Planning Committee, a member of Vision St. Landry, and the Louisiana State University at
Eunice advisory board; and
WHEREAS, at the state level, Dr. Cochran was recently appointed to the Louisiana
Hospital Association (LHA) board of directors, is a trustee of the LHA's research and
education foundation, and is a member of the legislative review and policy committee; he
has been recognized nationally by the American College of Healthcare Executives with their
Regent's Award and Early Career Healthcare Executives; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cochran has led Opelousas General's two hundred nine bed,
two-campus facility at a time when all the indicators signaled a dubious future for the
facility, with negative revenue and fewer admissions; however, he reshaped the system such
that revenues grew significantly and he expanded the health system by building an eleven
thousand square foot cancer center, bringing twenty new physicians into the healthcare
system as a whole; and
WHEREAS, since 1957, Opelousas General Health System has been dedicated to
providing quality healthcare through its high standards and strong commitment to serving
the rural area surrounding Opelousas, and while serving as the area's referral medical center,
advanced its commitment to state-of-the-art technology; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth Cochran, DSc., RN, FACHE brought experience in the rural
hospital industry to his leadership at Opelousas General Health System; his expertise gained
through both education and experience, but, perhaps most importantly, he brought a
commitment to providing exceptional rural healthcare and a belief that investing in people
and technology would best serve the people who expect and depend on exceptional and
accessible healthcare.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Kenneth Joseph Cochran, president and CEO of Opelousas General
Health System in Opelousas, Louisiana, upon being recognized by the NRHA, the AHA, and
HIMSS for his leadership at Opelousas General Health System and hospital.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Kenneth Cochran, DSc., RN, FACHE, and president and CEO of Opelousas General Health
System.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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