FFH board hears CEO’s proposed business plan; Action on chief of staff passed over without mention or action

Franklin Foundation Hospital Interim CEO Craig Cudworth unveiled a plan yesterday at the monthly board of commissioner’s meeting to ensure the hospital would remain a viable part of the St. Mary Parish community.
According to Cudworth, the plan is divided into eight areas of concentration that will help the hospital continue to thrive in the changing landscape of healthcare in the United States.
Cudworth said physician recruitment, network development, increased operational efficiency, engaging the senior management team, financial operations, updating information technology, establishing quality improvement programs and reviewing compliance programs in the clinic would be the primary areas of focus in the future.
“This is a roadmap,” Cudworth said. “This will be an ongoing initiative. Physician recruitment is critical. Network development will allow us to work with other hospitals and clinics. We also need to increase operational efficiency in the hospital.”
Cudworth noted the actions specified in the management plan were due in large part to the implementation of a controversial piece of healthcare legislation at the federal level.
“We anticipate the changes in the Affordable Care program mandated by the Obama administration will force us to cut 20 percent of our costs over the next few years,” Cudworth said. “We have to do this without adversely affecting care. We need to engage the senior management team. We need to evaluate our information technology regarding current and future needs. We need to find a way to tie our computer systems together so when the patient goes to the clinic, they don’t have to spend another 30 minutes giving the same information they just gave to the hospital.”
The management plan also includes implementing efforts to improve the experience patients have at the facility and making sure staff comply with clinic policy.
“Quality improvement plans regarding the medical staff need to be implemented,” Cudworth said. “We also need to review and implement compliance programs.”
One scheduled item on the agenda was not discussed by the board in their regular session. Under “New Business” on the agenda was an item to affirm action on the Chief of Staff. It was not immediately clear what the proposed action was but after a lengthy executive session that was closed to the public and the press, the item was dismissed by the board.
According to Franklin Foundation Hospital Board Chairman Eugene Foulcard, the item will not be coming up again.
“We didn’t take any action on that,” Foulcard said. “And we are not going to take any action on it in the future.”