FFH marketing rep says staff strives for best care

New leadership and the existing staff at Franklin Foundation Hospital strive to provide the best possible health care available.
That was the message delivered to the St. Mary Parish Council Wednesday by Dawn Kaiser, the hospital’s new development marketing coordinator.
Kaiser introduced Craig P. Romero, the hospital’s new chief nursing officer, and noted that Craig Cudworth is also on board as the new chief executive officer.
“We’re addressing the community needs,” she said. “One of the things we’re focusing on is health and wellness.”
She said the hospital’s fitness program for its employees is being offered to local businesses.
“A healthier employee is a happier employee, a more productive employee and therefore it makes a better common place for everyone to work,” she said.
She said she’s been calling on local businesses to encourage employers “to look at health and wellness in their organizations and we have an occupational health program that we will be rolling out.”
She said the hospital offers drug screenings, physicals and health plan development.
“What’s that going to do?” she asked. “That’s going to increase their bottom line effect, that’s going to increase their productivity, reduce absenteeism, it’s going to reduce tardiness and they’re going to retain employees, enhance employee morale and they’re going to reduce health care costs.”
Other programs under way include development of community leadership round tables to identify health care needs and as well as hospital staff recruitment.
“Health care is one of the strongest pillars of the community,” she said. The same way that the Chamber of Commerce promotes shopping at home, “there’s a way for you to have a relationship with your health care provider, too.”
Kaiser concluded by saying that Cudworth would be addressing the council soon to layout upcoming plans for the year.
In related business the council approved increasing the cap on mediation services for the hospital from $10,000 to $25,000. The council has retained attorney Gary McGoffin of the Durio, McGoffin, Stagg & Ackermann law firm at a rate of $300 per hour to reach contract agreements between Hospital Service District 1 and physicians Steven McPherson and Donna Tesi.
The council also heard from Albert A. Alexander representing VFW Post 4201/10016 who announced plans to host a luncheon for emergency first responders on March 26 at the Franklin Recreation Center. He said plans for that event are in the works and added that he would be asking for the council’s support when they are more firm.
Business handled by the council included:
—Passage of resolutions approving the 2014 state compliance questionnaire; authorizing a memorandum of understanding with Consolidated Gravity Drainage District 2 on pumps safe rooms; endorsing participation in the Enterprise Zone Program by Conrad and Bollinger companies; approving a change order to extend the completion date by 60 days on the wind retrofit project by Acadiane Renovations Ltd; executing an agreement with E.P. Breaux Electrical Inc. for campsite improvements at Kemper Williams Park; and authorizing an agreement with Miller Engineers on infrastructure improvements at Centerville Park.
—Appointment of Jared Cunningham to the Boat Landing and Waterways Committee and Mike M. Ortiz to the Sewer District 8 board.