Lafayette General Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Closing

LAFAYETTE – Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC) announced on Wednesday that it will close its eight-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) after the treatment of one current patient is complete.

As widespread changes continue within healthcare, the reduction of reimbursements becomes a greater force of influence affecting all hospitals nationwide, and LGMC is no exception. 

LGMC has made, and will make, many tough decisions, all with the betterment of the people in Acadiana in mind.  The reasons behind closing the PICU are twofold.  LGMC's PICU maintained an average census of 1.8 patients per day over the last year.  A census of 4.0 patients per day is necessary to sustain the unit.

"Lafayette General Medical Center continues to have record patient demand in all other services,” said LGMC President and CEO David L. Callecod, FACHE.  "It's not possible to offer every service imaginable and we must adapt to meet the needs of our community."

LGMC is on pace to increase patient volume by 9.3% this year and re-dedicating both the financial resources and bed space will allow the hospital to expand to this need.

LGMC will continue to operate as the largest full-service, acute-care medical center in the nine-parish area, treating children in a fully staffed pediatric unit, a dedicated pediatric treatment area in the emergency department and a 25-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The 12 employees in the PICU will be able to apply for and transition to open positions at LGMC.

About Lafayette General Medical Center

Lafayette General Medical Center, a 353 staffed bed facility, is the largest full-service, acute-care medical center in the nine-parish area of Acadiana.  LGMC provides families with comprehensive medical services at every level of care, from severe emergency trauma to the common cold.  Lafayette General evolved from Lafayette Sanitarium, a six-bed facility that opened in 1911, and has been a leader in health care throughout its existence. Over the years, LGMC has expanded its services and facilities to meet the community's growing needs.

Lafayette General Medical Center is recognized by federal and state tax laws as a 501c(3) not-for-profit corporation. Although the hospital generates money by billing for its health care services, it does not pay out any revenue to shareholders, as for-profits do. Any net revenue is reinvested into the organization for new equipment, facilities, and technology to better care for the people we serve.

As the region’s only community-owned and managed hospital, all decisions are made locally by an experienced administrative team and a volunteer Membership Corporation and Board of Trustees.  At LGMC, you can count on us to stay one step ahead of the changing face of health care. For general information, call (337) 289-7991.