OGHS Acquires DHO
Opelousas, LA The Board of Trustees of Opelousas General Health System have announced the completion of the asset purchase agreement to acquire Doctors’ Hospital of Opelousas.
The Asset Purchase Agreement was signed Wednesday, April 8, 2009 by OGHS Board Chairman Wayne Gilmore. “I am very pleased because this brings the medical community together in one institution,” Gilmore said.
According to Gerald Fornoff, President & CEO of Opelousas General Health System, OGHS’s intent to purchase DHO has been the subject of interest by the Board for some time with a letter of intent signed in November 2008.
“When we began our negotiations to acquire DHO late last year, we did so with two core beliefs,” said Gerald Fornoff, President and CEO of OGHS. “First we believe the hospital has been a tremendous asset to this community. It will be vital to our obligation and mission of offering quality healthcare services to the residents of St. Landry Parish and the surrounding communities. Secondly, it will help us to accommodate our increasing patient volume and afford us additional space to expand our services.
Alan Daugherty with Lifepoint said that they looked forward to the completion of the transaction that will combine Doctors’ Hospital of Opelousas with OGHS. “We believe it is in the best interest of the community to combine our resources to create one strong, comprehensive hospital to serve the health care needs of Opelousas. We recognize that changes like this can be challenging for employees, Both organizations are committed to working together to make this transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved.” Daugherty said.
Fornoff noted that the purchase of DHO will further enhance the delivery of specialized services and add to the hospital’s already well recognized specialized areas including primary care, obstetrics, pediatrics, infectious disease, spine and orthopedics, cardiology, pulmonology, urology, neurology and nephrology.
“It’s the beginning of a great deal of work for us,” Fornoff said. “Becoming one health system that will meet the many, many needs for our community will call for a huge commitment from our staff. Now the work of merging staff, payroll systems,x patient records and computer technology all begins,” Fornoff said.
Established in 1981, DHO was the vision of several local physicians in the lineage of the old St. Landry Clinic. The 171-bed facility also includes a 32-bed Senior Care Center in Arnaudville.
The purchase of DHO further enhances the fact that OGHS is the largest regional healthcare facility in the area, Fornoff said.
539 E. Prudhomme St. • Opelousas, LA 70571
(337) 948-3011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michelle Perkins, Director of Marketing
(337) 407-4420 FAX (337) 942-2968
|
|
- - - - - - - - |
539 E. Prudhomme St., Opelousas, Louisiana, 70570, (337)948-3011
|
|