Ochsner will handle search for new chief
As Federico “Fred” Martinez counts down the months to retirement this year, he reflected on the foundation he helped lay for St. Charles Parish Hospital and its future.
“I’ve really enjoyed being able to build health care facilities,” said the hospital’s CEO for 29 years. “It’s just been fun developing facilities and something I’ve really enjoyed personally.”
Martinez recounted the 59-bed hospital’s growth from 130 employees when he first came as CEO to nearly 500 today.
The total reaches nearly 700 with the St. Charles Community Health Center that he helped establish nearly 13 years ago.Emergency management services were expanded to the east and west banks, as well as were designed to be self sufficient should there be any shutdown on Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge.
Overall, facilities increased from 45,000 square feet to an estimated 260,000 square feet under Martinez’s tenure, including a medical office complex.
In 2014, Martinez ushered in the hospital’s partnership with Ochsner Health System, which came with fiery debate from the Parish Council over whether Ochsner would ease the not-for-profit facility’s $46 million debt at the time.
The understanding was the $2.6 million property tax dedicated to hospital maintenance and operations is expected to increase and help lower the debt. St. Charles Parish maintained ownership of the hospital while Ochsner took over management.
Now, Ochsner will take the lead on hiring the new CEO. Martinez, who has announced he’s retiring later this year because of health issues, will remain in the job until his replacement is hired.
Michael Hulefeld, executive vice president and CEO of Ochsner Health System, said recruitment will begin this week.
“The great thing is Fred is willing to stay on through the search – so no interruption in management – and that will allow us to get the best person we can get,” Hulefeld said. “I think it will take several months looking internally and externally so we won’t rush to meet a timetable.”
The hiring process will involve the hospital’s district board and senior leaders, including Hulefeld, as well as the hospital’s leadership team. He added, “We’ll be thorough and get the opinions of many people in the process.”
The new CEO will be someone who can start new services to meet community needs, and complete and fill the medical office building now under construction, he said.
The candidate won’t necessarily have an area of expertise, Hulefeld said. But he said they want someone who can expand emergicare, and work with community doctors to expand services.
Martinez agreed.
“Physically it doesn’t need to get much bigger, but service-wise we need to add a few new services to address the population,” he said of the hospital’s future. “I think being part of the Ochsner partnership puts us in the best position to address those changes coming over the next 20 years.”
Ochsner’s size helped lower supply chain cost, as well as provided doctors and specialties that Martinez said would not be possible with a smaller facility.
The partnership also helped recruit doctors and provide supplemental medical staff, as well as help deal with changing regulations.
During the hospital’s financially challenging days, as one of many rural hospitals coping with costly medical system changes, he recalled the last 15 to 20 years of trying to keep pace with costly payer system changes with Medicare, Medicaid and the commercial providers, as well as shrinking payments.
When Martinez announced his retirement, he said both the hospital board and Ochsner management asked him to stay on until they found a replacement and until they open the new East Bank facility, which he anticipated will happen about the same time in three to four months.
The 72,000 square-foot complex will consist of 10 offices that will offer services including primary care, urology, gastroenterology, neurology, ophthalmology and internal medicine. The center, called Plantation View due to its location near Destrehan Plantation, is scheduled for completion this year.
Martinez said providing health care and services, as well as building new facilities and working with hospital board members over the years have been rewarding.
But he’s ready to pass on the reins.
“They want a smooth transition,” Martinez said. “I’m obviously glad to help out with that.”
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