Iberia Medical Center and Lafayette General Health Announce Clinical Affiliation

Iberia Medical Center (IMC) has joined Lafayette General Health (LGH) system as part of a clinical affiliation agreement ratified at the IMC board meeting held on August 3. IMC’s affiliation with LGH also enhances their relationship with the Ochsner Health Network, a partnership of the region’s leading health systems and hospitals. The clinical affiliation between LGH and IMC is neither a purchase nor an acquisition. While each organization’s ownership and governance structure will remain the same, the affiliation will enhance the economies of scale for both organizations and allow for sharing of best practices.

As health care moves from payments for volume to value-based reimbursement, this affiliation will strategically position IMC for continued success. Those that can deliver care more efficiently and cost-effectively, leading to better patient outcomes, will see increased financial stability and long-term viability.

The goal of the agreement is to produce a partnership that focuses on producing high-quality, coordinated care to the residents of Iberia Parish. The intent is to keep as much care as possible at IMC, only transferring patients to a Lafayette General facility if the scope of care requires.

Lafayette General Health currently owns or manages Lafayette General Medical Center, Lafayette General Surgical Hospital, University Hospital & Clinics, St. Martin Hospital, Acadia General Hospital and Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital, and has a collaboration agreement with Opelousas General Health System. LGH has clinical affiliations with Franklin Foundation, Abbeville General, Savoy Medical Center and Bunkie General.

“We are excited about this clinical affiliation with Lafayette General Health,” stated IMCPresident & CEO Parker Templeton, FACHE. “This will strengthen Iberia Medical Center in continuing to care for the people in Iberia Parish and offering the services our residents need right here.”

Like IMC, many of LGH’s facilities are not-for-profit community hospitals. The partners share a similar mindset of reinvesting excess margins back into the hospital through expanded technology, upgraded facilities and improved operations.

“The addition of Iberia Medical Center gives LGH a partner in all five parishes surrounding Lafayette,” said LGH President David L. Callecod, FACHE. “We continue to help these parishes retain their patients and further solidify their place within each respective community. We look forward to a great relationship with Iberia Medical Center.”

About Iberia Medical Center

From its beginnings as a project of the local Lions Club, Iberia Medical Center was created through the establishment of Hospital Service District No. 1 in 1951. Over the next nine years, the Lions Club worked with the Iberia Parish Police Jury, culminating with Iberia Parish Hospital opening on September 13, 1960.

In 1981, the facility expanded a fourth wing to the building, becoming Iberia General Hospital. During the 1990s, services expanded to include home health, behavioral health and rehabilitation, and the facility became Iberia Medial Center reflecting the broader services provided.

The hospital is licensed for 99 acute care beds accommodating medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric and critical care patients. The hospital offers inpatient, outpatient and emergency services 24 hours a day. Iberia General also provides outreach and primary care services through the Jeanerette Rural Health Clinic and physician practices for Cardiology, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Neurology and Otolaryngology. Medical specialists include cardiologists, gastroenterologists, hematologists, nephrologists, neurologists, oncologists and pulmonologists. Other hospital-based physicians include anesthesiologists, radiologists, pathologists, emergency medicine physicians and hospitalists.

As a not-for-profit, community hospital, all profits are invested back into the community through expanding technology, upgrading facilities and improving operations.

About Lafayette General Health

Lafayette General Health (LGH) is a non-profit, community-owned regional healthcare system committed to always delivering excellence. LGH serves the south-central region of Louisiana by aligning with facilities across a 10-parish area known as Acadiana.

LGH’s flagship hospital, Lafayette General Medical Center, in operation since 1911, is a 501©(3) not-for-profit corporation that does not pay out any revenue to shareholders as for-profits do. LGH also owns or manages Lafayette General Surgical Hospital, St. Martin Hospital, University Hospital & Clinics, Acadia General Hospital and Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital, and has several affiliations with facilities across the region.

Both Lafayette General Medical Center and University Hospital & Clinics are major teaching hospitals, providing graduate medical education across many disciplines.
LGH owns LGMD, a non-profit corporation that operates and manages several physician clinics including Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, as well as many specialists and surgeons.

In 2014, LGH offered charity services in excess of $250 million. LGH property and assets total nearly $450 million, employing approximately 3,500 staff. For more information about LGH and its affiliates, visit LafayetteGeneral.com.