Steward Healthcare under fire by Louisiana legislators for causing the downfall of Glenwood Regional Medical Center

MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Officials with the Louisiana Department of Health suggested Glenwood Regional Medical Center is a “financially distressed hospital” in a dire situation. The hospital’s services continue to decline due to mismanagement by its parent company Steward Healthcare.

After being put on immediate jeopardy status three times in a 120-day period, Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe is facing a major fallout that could be detrimental to the residents of Northeast Louisiana.

On Tuesday, April 9, Louisiana legislators raised questions and concerns about the hospital and its parent company during a Health and Welfare Committee hearing. In the hearing, Representative Michael Echols (R- District 14) is heard asking Glenwood’s interim CEO, Jonathan Turton, “Do you feel personally responsible for any deaths or declining care at your facility?” Turton then responded “Yes.”

Turton not only confirmed that deaths have occurred because of Steward Healthcare’s mismanagement, but he also highlighted the immoral actions of Glenwood’s parent company.

Rep. Michael Echols asked Turton, “Do you feel it’s wrong for those executives to steal from the organization and not funnel the resources you need to care for patients?” A long pause is heard before Rep. Echols follows up with, “That’s a yes or no, is that wrong?” Turton responded by saying “Yes.”

One former employee was emotional during her testimony as she accused Steward Healthcare of lying to the community. She listed the facilities that have closed since Steward took over five years ago.

The Women’s Center, Labor and delivery unit, skilled nursing facilities, Long-term acute care (LTAC), one medical surge unit, one critical care unit, the rehab center, and the imaging center have all ceased to exist under Steward Healthcare’s management.

“So whenever they go to the public and they tell them ‘we’re operating in full force’, there’s nothing full force about this hospital anymore, it’s the saddest thing I’ve ever been around,” the former employee said.

The former employee also mentioned how she had been in the process of treating patients when she found out that they no longer had a $5 piece of equipment in stock to complete the procedures.

In an interview, Rep. Echols said the Executive greed and corruption is unacceptable.

“It’s just a big Ponzi scheme. They bought an asset, they shuffled the asset to another entity, they then in turn, have cash flow moving to an operating entity, they loot that entity, and then try to hold the community hostage with the asset being another separately held resource. And so that, to me, is the criminal nature of this. It’s very structured, it’s very organized. And this has happened not only in our community but multiple communities across America,” Echols said.

Beyond not allocating money to provide resources and staffing necessary to operate, the hospital is also facing the potential of losing its license with the Louisiana Department of Health since it continues to violate compliance.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have put Glenwood on a “termination track”. If Glenwood is unable to get off that track before June 11, it will lose the ability to accept Medicare and Medicaid payments. Since Medicare and Medicaid are a large portion of the money the hospital brings in, this would ultimately shut down the facility.

Rep. Echols believes the actions of Steward Healthcare officials are “killings and maiming” patients that come to its hospitals.

“When I accuse these people of being healthcare terrorists, I mean it,” Echols said.

Echols said the nurses and doctors who are currently still working at Glenwood are doing everything they can to keep the hospital afloat, however, they’re dealing with a corporate monster.

“I’m pissed. I’m pissed that my constituents are getting hurt and I’m going to do everything within my power working with the Attorney General, the civil and any other authorities that I can to ensure that these injustices are made to be just,” Echols said.

KNOE reached out to Glenwood’s spokesperson and interim CEO, as well as Steward Healthcare for comment. Neither have responded.

As for right now, the quality of care is continuing to dwindle as KNOE’s investigations have revealed over the last five months.

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