LCMC Health and Tulane University are partnering to serve patients in the greater New Orleans area and beyond.
LCMC Health and Tulane University have announced intentions to partner to expand access to comprehensive and specialty care across Southeast Louisiana, enhance the region’s capabilities as a destination for medical innovation and training, and provide community investments and benefits.
Upon regulatory approval of the proposed partnership, Tulane Medical Center, Lakeview Regional Medical Center and Tulane Lakeside Hospital will be acquired from HCA Healthcare and will join LCMC Health’s network of healthcare facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Tulane Health System now?
In 1976, Tulane University opened its own private, 235-bed hospital to offer high-quality and specialized inpatient and outpatient hospital services, as well as postgraduate medical education programs and applied research projects. This hospital is now Tulane Medical Center.
In 1995, Hospital Corporation of America (now HCA Healthcare) acquired Tulane Medical Center. In 2005, HCA Healthcare’s Lakeside Hospital in Metairie merged with Tulane Medical Center, changing its name to Tulane Lakeside Hospital, thus creating the multihospital system known as Tulane Health System. Most recently, in 2017, Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington, La, joined the Tulane Health System.
Tulane Health System is now an acclaimed teaching, research, and medical system serving the greater New Orleans area. Tulane Health System includes Tulane Medical Center, Tulane Lakeside Hospital, Lakeview Regional Medical Center, and more than 25 clinics throughout the community.
Why are Tulane University and LCMC Health partnering, and when will it go into effect?
LCMC Health and Tulane University have a vision to partner to bring the best of community healthcare and academic medicine to Southeast Louisiana. With this partnership, Tulane Medical Center, Lakeview Regional Medical Center, and Tulane Lakeside Hospital will join the LCMC Health family to increase access to comprehensive and specialty care across the region and advance groundbreaking research, innovative technology, and lifesaving treatments that ensure all patients and communities can receive high-quality care, right here in greater New Orleans.
Filing the intent to transition into this structure with the Louisiana Department of Justice is the first step in the process; a review and public comment period will take place over the next three months before the transaction is approved. The partnership agreement is anticipated to be completed late this year or early next year, pending regulatory and governance approvals. Once approved, we will begin transition planning and activities.
Why is this partnership good for New Orleans?
Tulane University will now join forces with LCMC Health, a local, non-profit healthcare system. We believe the potential opportunity to affiliate with a local health system can enhance our ability to provide care in the community and are confident that this next chapter for Tulane Health System will create new opportunities to serve the families of Southeast Louisiana.
This hometown healthcare approach means that we will continue to grow our investments in our region and its people, have additional resources to help address and support our community’s needs, and maintain and create local jobs.
How will this partnership affect patients and access to care?
Both Tulane University and LCMC Health are committed to ensuring a seamless transition for our patients, all of whom will continue to receive the high-quality care they need and deserve. Patient care will remain our top priority. There will be no immediate changes to your doctors, appointments, insurance accepted, and facilities. We will communicate well in advance of any changes to the locations of services and providers.
What will happen to Tulane University’s hospitals?
Tulane University Medical Center, Lakeview Regional Medical Center, and Tulane Lakeside Hospital will join the LCMC Health family, bringing new opportunities to invest in our community, enhance patient care and collaboration, and advance leading-edge medical research grants and innovations.
Over the next 12-24 months, Tulane Medical Center will shift services to University Medical Center New Orleans and East Jefferson General Hospital. This will ultimately create more opportunities for medical residents to rotate at facilities across the region. These training experiences will not only enhance the care provided to patients today, but strengthen the pipeline of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who will choose to make New Orleans the place they live and practice for decades to come.
The building that currently houses Tulane Medical Center will become home to a new nursing program, clinical research programs, and educational space for students – infusing new activity and economic opportunity into the downtown New Orleans area. Tulane University is committed to investing approximately $600 million into downtown New Orleans, including a revitalization of the Charity Hospital building and repurposing of the Tulane Medical Center building to create a thriving center of cutting-edge research and innovation.
There will be no immediate changes in operations at Tulane Lakeside Hospital and Lakeview Regional Medical Center.
What does this partnership mean for Tulane University employees?
Both LCMC Health and Tulane University value our providers and employees and are committed to retaining staff across both organizations. Our people are our greatest resource and we are committed to their long-term success and stability.
We anticipate this partnership will result in additional job growth and new opportunities as we aim to attract and recruit top talent to the greater New Orleans region.
Will this bring new investment opportunities to the community?
Central to this combined organization is a commitment from both LCMC Health and Tulane University to increase investment in our region and our people. Notably, LCMC Health has committed to an initial capital investment of $220 million to directly enhance the hospitals and services provided to patients and continue to attract the best and brightest providers and keep them here.
Tulane University is committed to investing approximately $600 million into downtown New Orleans, including a revitalization of the Charity Hospital building and repurposing of the Tulane Medical Center building to create a thriving center of cutting-edge research and innovation. The building that currently houses Tulane Medical Center will become home to a new nursing program, clinical research programs, and educational space for students – infusing new activity and economic opportunity into the downtown New Orleans area.