LSU asks foundation to step aside as hospitals' operator

LSU will likely take the first official step toward an attempt to remove Biomedical Research Foundation as the operator of University Health hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe, BRF Chairman Steve Skrivanos confirmed Friday.

Skrivanos, who said BRF will fight to continue operating the hospitals, met with LSU administrators Dan Layzell and Dr. Frank Opelka in Baton Rouge Thursday.

"They told us they would like for us to step aside, and when we said we had no intention to do so, they made it clear that they intended to provide notice of breach (of contract)," Skrivanos said.

Biomedical Research Foundation earned the contract to operate the northern Louisiana hospitals in 2013 as part of Bobby Jindal's privatization of the state's charity hospital system. Together University Health in Shreveport and University Health Conway in Monroe are charged with being the health care safety net for all of northern Louisiana.

If LSU does file breach notice, it would likely lead to litigation and could take years to resolve.

"We believe we have honored every part of the (cooperative endeavor agreement) and plan to continue to do what I believe has been an outstanding job in serving the northern Louisiana community and its most vulnerable residents," Skrivanos said.

Louisiana Gannett has reached out to Layzell and Opelka for comment.

LSU and BRF have had a fractious relationship from the start.

Skrivanos and others believe that stems in part because of what Skrivanos said is Willis Knighton Health System's desire to control University Health in Shreveport and to a lesser extent St. Francis Medical Center's initial attempt to become the operating partner for Conway in Monroe.

State Sen. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi, said he is "deeply disappointed" in LSU's efforts to sever the partnership with Biomedical Research Foundation, which is headquartered in Shreveport.

"I think it's uncalled for," Thompson said. "I'm concerned that it might have a dire impact on health care in northern Louisiana, especially if the hospitals are divided and the medical education system is disrupted."

LSU operates its medical school at University Health in Shreveport.

"I'm opposed to this happening, but if it does we have to demand to see a master plan that will ensure any new partner or partners can't downsize the scope of what these hospitals do or take away the medical education program.

Follow Greg Hilburn on Twitter @GregHilburn1