LSU outlines grievances about hospitals' management

LSU outlined three primary claims of why it believes Biomedical Research Foundation has failed to live up to its contract responsibilities as the operator of public hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe in a 10-page breach notice.

The three primary claims from LSU against the foundation include: failure to work collaboratively with LSU; failure to support and promote LSU Health Science Center-Shreveport's academic mission and reputation; and failure to establish a sustainable and competitive business model.

Biomedical Research Foundation Chairman Steve Skrivanos said the foundation will formally response to LSU's claims within a week.

"We don't agree to the validity of any of the issues, but we're committed to resolving any differences and would welcome third-party mediation," Skrivanos said. "We're taking this week to digest the claims before we issue a formal response."

Gannett Louisiana first reported LSU's intentions to issue a notice of breach Friday morning. LSU sent Skrivanos a 10-page breach notice late Friday afternoon, outlining the three broad claims of failure to comply with the contract and a host of more specific explanations within each claim.

LSU issued notice to Skrivanos late Friday afternoon along with a public statement from LSU President F. King Alexander and LSU Board of Supervisors Chair Ann Duplessis.

Their statement, in part, said: "It is unfortunate that our high level of commitment now stands at odds with our primary partner. We have worked in earnest for over two years to resolve this situation, but several required terms of our agreement remain unmet, jeopardizing the stability of LSU Health Sciences Center. This has left us in the unwanted position of having to demand once more that they fully honor the terms of our agreement."

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.

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