Process To Woo LSU Hospital Investors Goes Private

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — Administrators of LSU's hospital in Shreveport have asked a private foundation to search for possible investors to take over some hospital operations and patient care, rather than use a public procurement process.

The Times newspaper in Shreveport reports that the LSU System's president agreed to let the LSU Health Sciences Foundation handle the process.

Nonprofit corporations are exempt from most public disclosure laws.

Dr. Hugh Mighty, vice chancellor for clinical affairs, says LSU officials were concerned about compromising the hospital's ability to negotiate with private companies. He also says the time needed to find investors is too tight to follow the traditional bid process.

LSU hospitals are looking at ways to turn over some of their operations to private companies after Gov. Bobby Jindal slashed their funding.