Catholic hospital in Bogalusa dedicated

The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System has assumed the management and operations of Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa.

The hospital, formerly known as LSU Bogalusa Medical Center, offers 98 beds and will continue health care services and graduate medical education.

Our Lady of the Angels employs more than 500 people, has 125 physicians and offers two graduate medical education training programs.

At a dedication ceremony March 17, John J. Finan Jr., president and CEO of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, said the hospital has served “as an invaluable resource providing critical care access to Bogalusa, and continues important services to preserve care and medical education in the community.”

Seamless transition
All current patients in the medical center have been discharged from the LSU system and admitted to Our Lady of the Angels Hospital with no disruption to care. The LSU Family Medicine rural track residency program will maintain education and teaching experiences at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital for future physicians.

“Continuing access to quality health care is essential for our community, and we are grateful for a bright future with our transition,” said Kurt Scott, president and CEO of Our Lady of the Angels Hospital. “We are thrilled to be joining the Catholic mission of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and expand our network of resources and improve processes across our operations.”

Our Lady of the Angels joins four other hospitals as part of the health system that has established a strong presence in Louisiana for more than 100 years. These hospitals include St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Our Lady of Lourdes in Lafayette and St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe.

“The past 12 months have seen our organization achieve many milestones in which we have strengthened our mission of providing care for those most in need,” said Sister Kathleen Cain, provincial of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. “We are privileged to offer our healthcare ministry to another community in Louisiana.”

Robert Burgess, president and chief executive officer of St. Elizabeth Hospital, is the executive responsible for the transition for the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System. He said the collaboration extends the healing ministry of the health system to the citizens of Bogalusa and Washington Parish.