By Malcolm Butler
Northern Louisiana Medical Center is undergoing another leadership change after CEO Monica Adams resigned less than three months after taking the position, according to an announcement from the hospital Monday.
NLMC said Adams resigned for personal and family reasons. Chief Operating Officer Arnie Young has been named interim CEO effective immediately.
Adams’ brief tenure came during a pivotal period for the Ruston hospital as it worked through deficiencies identified by state and federal healthcare regulators and sought to rebuild public confidence in healthcare in Lincoln Parish.
“We are incredibly grateful to Monica for the leadership, energy and commitment she brought to NLMC,” Young said. “Although her time as CEO was brief, she helped set meaningful change in motion throughout our organization. Our leadership team is committed to continuing that work and building upon the progress already underway.”
Adams assumed leadership of NLMC earlier this summer and became one of the hospital’s primary public voices as it responded to an ongoing regulatory review by the Louisiana Department of Health, acting on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
An initial inspection in June identified multiple deficiencies, including condition-level findings involving Patient Rights, Nursing Services and the hospital’s Governing Body.
A follow-up inspection completed July 8 found progress in several areas but left the hospital out of compliance with the Medicare Condition of Participation for Patient Rights. The hospital subsequently submitted a Plan of Correction addressing the remaining deficiencies.
Earlier this month, Adams told the Lincoln Parish Journal that LDH had returned to NLMC for another follow-up inspection and that all condition-level deficiencies were reportedly cleared during that revisit, including issues involving the cardiac catheterization lab.
At the time, Adams emphasized that the hospital had not yet received the official survey report and therefore did not want to speculate about specific regulatory findings.
“Today, our processes include more structured monitoring, greater departmental ownership, increased leadership engagement, and an even stronger organizational commitment to patient safety and accountability,” Adams said following the revisit.
In announcing her resignation Friday, NLMC credited Adams with helping lead operational and cultural improvements at both the hospital and Green Clinic, particularly in communication, accountability, employee engagement and the hospital’s relationship with the community.
Young now assumes responsibility for continuing that work during the leadership transition.
According to NLMC, Young will work alongside the hospital’s executive leadership team, medical staff and employees to provide continuity.
“Our patients, employees, and community remain our priority,” Young said. “The work happening throughout NLMC does not stop with a leadership transition. We have an outstanding team of healthcare professionals, and we will continue moving forward together with the same commitment to providing safe, compassionate and high-quality care to the communities we serve.”
The leadership change comes as the future of healthcare in Lincoln Parish continues to draw significant public attention.
The Lincoln Parish Police Jury recently created Hospital Service District No. 1, whose five-member board held its inaugural meeting Monday. The district is expected to build upon a regional healthcare study commissioned by the Police Jury, City of Ruston and Lincoln Health Foundation as local leaders consider the long-term future of hospital and healthcare services in the parish.
NLMC said the hospital remains fully operational and that the leadership transition will not affect patient services or day-to-day operations.
The hospital did not provide a timetable for naming a permanent CEO, saying additional information regarding its leadership structure will be released as appropriate.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
