While we've been focusing on exposing the folly of abandoning Charity Hospital for a costly, uncertain, and destructive medical complex in Lower Mid-City, we've come to realize that LSU has been threatening public hospitals throughout the state. Check out this article from yesterday's Advocate about the proposed closure of Earl K. Long Medical Center in Baton Rouge.

State Senate Pro Tem Sharon Broome's concerns sound quite familiar don't ya think?

“Right now I cannot put my stamp of approval on this,” said Broome, D-Baton Rouge. “Certainly this Our Lady of the Lake merger is one alternative. … I want us to use this opportunity to also look at some other alternatives.”

The proposal being pushed by LSU would create a new hospital based on a public-private partnership that would lead to the closure of the public Earl K. Long Medical Center and new expansion at the private Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Senator Broome's concerns are enumerated throughout the article.

“I’m just worried we are giving them (OLOL officials) way more than we will actually gain in the process,” said Broome.

Dr. Fred Cerise of LSU responded in a somewhat cryptic fashion:

“If everybody behaves like everybody indicates they want to behave in this deal, the potential at the Lake is to provide the most services to people and provide the most ability to expand graduate medical education,” said Cerise. But, he said, “It’s a big change, a big leap. I understand it. Believe me.”

Cerise got into a heated confrontation with Treasurer John Kennedy earlier this month after Kennedy testified about the serious deficiencies in LSU's so-called business plan for the development of a new medical center in New Orleans in front of a House Committee considering HB 780.