by Malcolm Butler
As concerns continue to mount over the future of healthcare in Lincoln Parish, Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says maintaining quality healthcare is essential not only for residents but also for the city’s continued economic growth.
Those concerns have intensified in recent months after state and federal regulators cited Northern Louisiana Medical Center for multiple deficiencies, including an Immediate Jeopardy finding in July, while local officials have explored ways to preserve long-term access to healthcare in Lincoln Parish.
Walker said one of the biggest challenges facing the city is the growing strain placed on Ruston’s emergency response system when Northern Louisiana Medical Center is unable to provide certain services, forcing local ambulances to transport patients to hospitals outside Lincoln Parish.
“When we pick somebody up, by law we have to take them to the hospital,” Walker explained. “If Northern Louisiana Medical Center cannot take that patient because they don’t have a doctor, equipment isn’t working or they can’t provide the service that’s needed, then we have to divert that patient to Monroe, Shreveport or wherever care is available.”
Diversions have become an increasing concern for local officials because they remove ambulances and firefighters from Lincoln Parish for extended periods while patients are transported and transferred to hospitals in neighboring communities.
Walker said those diversions have a ripple effect that extends well beyond the individual patient.
“When that happens, that ambulance and those firefighters are out of our parish,” Walker said. “If we have a major accident or a fire while those units are gone, it impacts our ability to respond. It also costs the city more money because those crews can be tied up for hours before they can return.”
Walker said the city’s emergency personnel often spend significant time waiting for patients to be admitted after arriving at hospitals outside Lincoln Parish.
“People think it’s just a quick trip to Monroe and back, but that’s not how it works,” Walker said. “Sometimes those crews are tied up for three, four, five or six hours.”
Walker said quality healthcare remains one of the few significant obstacles facing a city that continues to experience unprecedented economic momentum.
“Twelve years ago, when I literally was sitting in this chair researching, ‘How do I build a great city?’ healthcare was one of five components,” Walker said. “There’s no doubt. I mean, where Ruston is right now is unbelievable. The one weakness is our healthcare system.”
Walker pointed to private investments either underway or planned in Ruston, saying the city’s continued success depends on providing quality healthcare that businesses, physicians and residents expect.
“We’ve got over $900 million worth of private investment coming into our town,” Walker said. “Healthcare is critical to continuing that growth.”
Walker said improving the quality of care is the top priority but believes better communication from hospital leadership, specifically owner Rock Bordelon, would also help restore public confidence.
“Rock needs to get in front of every civic organization here,” Walker said. “He needs to be telling the story of what they’re going to do to improve the hospital.”
Walker suggested two questions he believes Bordelon should answer publicly: What is his plan to improve the quality of care at Northern Louisiana Medical Center, and what specific steps will he take to convince residents that meaningful change is coming after years of promises?
City officials have also held discussions with Bordelon regarding the future of the hospital. While Walker said the city has the legal authority to purchase a hospital, he does not believe operating one should become a municipal responsibility.
“We looked at buying it 11 years ago, so yes, we could,” Walker said. “Is that in our wheelhouse? No. Somebody else needs to buy it — somebody that’s in that business.”
Instead, Walker said the city’s role is to support efforts that ultimately restore quality healthcare to the region, regardless of who owns the hospital.
Earlier this month, the Lincoln Parish Police Jury created Hospital Service District No. 1 to establish a framework that could help preserve hospital services and recruit future healthcare providers if needed. The ordinance itself does not impose any new taxes or fees.
Ultimately, Walker said ownership is secondary to restoring public confidence and ensuring residents have access to the level of healthcare they deserve.
“We want to do whatever we can do, just like I’m sure the Police Jury wants to do whatever we can do, to have the very best healthcare in the parish,” Walker said. “My hope and prayer for our hospital is that whoever owns it — whether it’s Rock or whoever — we provide quality healthcare for everyone in our parish and the surrounding areas to come to Ruston for healthcare that is of the highest level there is.”
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