Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health in Baton Rouge, La., and Children's Hospital New Orleans said they have signed a non-binding letter of intent to explore a collaboration to improve pediatric healthcare.
The potential partnership would focus on the delivery of Baton Rouge-based services of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, as well as services in New Orleans and the scope of Childrens Hospital New Orleans, according to the hospitals.
"This collaboration would enable us to do more together for Louisiana’s children," Kevin Cook, COO of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, which operates Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health, said in a May 2 news release. "With recent, significant investments in pediatric healthcare made by both organizations, we believe that we can align respective expertise that will continue to transform the health of our children."
Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health, which operates Children's Hospital New Orleans, also pointed to the commitment from both organizations to improve pediatric health.
"This strategic partnership will enhance quality of care across the state and expand access to highly specialized health services for kids," he said in the news release.
Children's Hospital New Orleans is a 222-bed, nonprofit academic pediatric medical center with more than 400 physicians.
Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health includes hospital-based services in Baton Rouge, Monroe and Lafayette as well as pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists at clinic locations in those areas.
Both organizations said they will continue discussions over the next few months.
Ultimately, the organizations expect that they will affiliate with each other and share specialists and services, Mark Kline, MD, physician-in-chief of Children's Hospital New Orleans told nola.com.