By Pat Culverhouse
Financial woes at Minden Medical Center will be the topic of discussion when the Webster Parish Police Jury convenes a special meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m.
MMC Chief Executive Office (CEO) Keith Cox is on the one-item agenda for the meeting in the jury committee room at the Webster Parish Courthouse Annex at 401 Main St.
At its June 2 meeting, jury members unanimously passed a resolution asking the Louisiana Dept. of Health to review several factors regarding the local hospital’s reported “difficult financial situations” including vendor and federal tax liens.
Additionally, the resolution asked the Dept. of Health to look into other matters including staffing levels, equipment reliability and availability of essential medications and supplies.
Police Jury President Jim Bonsall said Cox contacted him and requested the opportunity to discuss concerns raised by the jury.
“He asked that we meet and I told him we would be happy to hear him, but it would need to be before the whole jury in a public meeting,” Bonsall said. “We want the entire police jury, and any interested persons, to hear his explanations.”
Bonsall said he and other jury members had heard of situations at the hospital involving a number of circumstances which could affect healthcare services provided the people of Webster Parish and the surrounding area.
“We know how important it is to have a hospital that is properly equipped, supplied and staffed,” Bonsall said. “We are concerned for the dedicated people who work at Minden Medical Center as well as those they serve. Hopefully, we can get some answers.”