It seems that Ochsner Hospital is everywhere these days and now LCMC and East Jefferson General Hospital are entered into an agreement to discuss some sort of strategic affiliation according to E.J. What does this means for the hospital industry? Could it eventually come down to 2 main competitors battling it out for health care dominance in the market?
"I think, broadly speaking, in the area of healthcare, what you are seeing is a lot consolidation between various hospitals and hospital groups across markets, and I don't think that is something that is unique to New Orleans," said Faimon Roberts with The Advocate. "I don't know what we are going to end up with in the New Orleans, necessarily, but I think the consolidation trend is one that has been going on around the country."
Roberts says as of now East Jefferson remains a stand-alone as the parish has been trying to lease it out, surrounded by much larger entities like LCMC and Ochsner.
"What you hear over and over is that it is difficult to compete as a stand-alone hospital when you are surrounded by much larger competitors, and that is certainly what East Jefferson leadership has consistently said," according to Roberts.
Roberts says it may take months to find out if any deal will be worked out between LCMC and E.J. and we'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out.