Senator McMath Visits Lake Charles Memorial Health System to Learn More About Regional Healthcare Needs

Lake Charles Memorial Health System (LCMHS) leaders welcomed Senator Patrick McMath, Chairman of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee, to their facility on Oak Park Boulevard on Monday, January 12 for a visit focused on the evolving demands of delivering high-quality healthcare locally.

During the visit, Sen. McMath met with leaders from Memorial’s trauma program, inpatient pediatrics and pediatric intensive care unit, as well as the radiation oncology team. These discussions highlighted the region’s growing need for specialized care and the critical role these departments play in caring for patients across southwest Louisiana, including services that are mission-driven and essential to the community.

The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of sustainable community funding for essential healthcare programs and services, alongside broader challenges and opportunities facing healthcare providers. Leaders shared insight into how reductions in reimbursement, workforce needs, and access to care intersect in meeting the needs of the communities Memorial serves.

As part of these discussions, LCMHS leaders highlighted the role of the Local Provider Participation Fund (LPPF) in supporting long-term access to care across the region. Local participation in the program allows hospitals like LCMHS to leverage available resources to strengthen essential services, recruit and retain highly qualified physicians, and keep pace with critical technology and infrastructure needs, helping maintain a high standard of care within the community.

“We value the opportunity to engage with state leaders, like Senator McMath, who play an important part in shaping healthcare policy,” said Devon Hyde, President and CEO of Lake Charles Memorial Health System. “Today’s visit allowed us to highlight the complexity of care delivery, the importance of our system to the people of southwest Louisiana and the need for stable funding tools such as the LPPF, to help preserve access to vital services close to home.”

Lake Charles Memorial Health System remains focused on responding to the most immediate healthcare needs of the community by investing in services, technology, and infrastructure that support the delivery of safe, high-quality, and accessible care.