Congressman Fleming Sends Letter to Governor Jindal and Leadership in the Legislature: Don't Close Shriner's Hospital

Press Release

Congressman John Fleming sent a letter to Governor Bobby Jindal and leadership in the Louisiana legislature, urging consideration for state funding for LSU Health Sciences Center to allow Shriner's Hospital in Shreveport to continue to provide free pediatric care to children in Northwest Louisiana. The Colorado Corporation of Shriner's International will be charged with closing six Shriner's Hospitals, including the hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, in July of this year. The Shreveport facility has proven to be one of the most efficient of the 22 Shriner's Hospitals in the U.S. Shriner's Hospital began talking with LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport in 2004 about becoming part of the LSU system, but the events of Hurricane Katrina prevented a finalized deal from ever being reached.

"Now that closing the Shriner's Hospital has become a looming reality, the hospital has reentered negotiations with LSU. I understand that The LSU Pediatric Department in the Shreveport Health Sciences Center may be interested in merging with the Shriner's Hospital to offset the Pediatric Department's overburden of patients," wrote Congressman Fleming in the letter. "The Shriner's Hospital is interested in either selling the hospital to the State or negotiating a long-term lease. These solutions could save over 200 jobs in Caddo Parish and keep over 2000 children a year from relying solely on federal assistance for their medical care. I respectfully encourage Louisiana's legislators to reserve a portion of the FY2010 budget surplus to strengthen LSU's pediatric program and expand the entire Health Sciences Center to accommodate the high demand for patient care. I request your full consideration within all rules of compliance and legal guidelines of applicable program authorization."

The Shriner's Hospital in Shreveport provides pediatric specialty care to 2300-2400 children each year, free of charge, treating 2, 333 children last year alone. The Hospital focuses on pediatric services such as orthopedic care, burn care, spinal cord rehabilitation, and cleft lip and palate care. Also, this hospital supplies 210 Louisianans with specialized full and part-time employment in the health care industry. These employees receive above average salaries, which are particularly helpful for encouraging economic development in these difficult economic times.

Congressman John Fleming is a family physician from Minden, LA. He represents the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.

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