Hospital also continues discussions with Willis-Knighton involving residency program
VIVIAN, La. — North Caddo Medical Center is moving forward with construction of a new maintenance facility while pursuing federal funding aimed at strengthening rural health care.
The North Caddo Hospital Service District Board unanimously approved construction of the maintenance building during its Aug. 25 meeting, according to recently published board minutes.
CEO David Jones told board members the new building would allow North Caddo Medical Center to consolidate its maintenance operations in one location. The facility will be constructed on the lot next to the hospital’s Extended Service Building.
The board also unanimously approved the purchase of a maintenance truck.
A project cost, construction timeline and size of the proposed maintenance facility were not included in the meeting minutes.
The hospital is also seeking funding through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
Jones told board members North Caddo Medical Center had applied for funding through the program, with federal dollars being administered through the state.
“We should hear something about that in the next couple of weeks,” Jones told the board.
The minutes did not specify how much funding North Caddo Medical Center is seeking or what projects would be funded if its application is successful.
North Caddo Medical Center’s efforts come as rural hospitals across Louisiana and the nation continue to address challenges involving access to health care, workforce availability and the cost of maintaining and expanding services.
The hospital is also continuing discussions with Willis-Knighton Health concerning its residency program.
During the board’s chief of staff report, Jones said talks with Willis-Knighton remained underway. No additional details about the discussions or a potential agreement were provided.
North Caddo Medical Center operates its hospital in Vivian along with family practice clinics serving communities across Northwest Louisiana, including Benton, Blanchard, Oil City, Plain Dealing and south Bossier.
The hospital board held its next regular meeting Sept. 22. The agenda included another construction update, although minutes from that meeting had not been posted as of Friday morning.