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Sunday, April 14, 2013

Earl K. Long Hospital Baton Rouge LA Closes ~ farewell to Louisiana's charity hospitals :-(


As I start my blogging adventure. I feel part of my purpose as a storyteller is to record the times I am living in, barring all political affiliations, and the experiences of those of us living now, thus this will be part of my eclectic blogs but not the entire focus. Thank you for reading.

So long Earl K. Long Hospital you will be missed!
Photo ©Joanna Ballard all rights reserved


Earl K Long hospital as of 7am this morning Sunday, April 14, 2013 is officially closed. Another facility of the country's oldest charity health care system is gone and now in Louisiana if you do not have medicaid, medicare, or insurance your plain out of luck. Tho at the moment they cannot legally turn you away the ER but, as has already happened with friends of mine, they can slap a band-aid on you and say go see the primary care doctor you do not have, so long and good luck.

This hospital bracelet will now longer be seen or used again.
Photo ©Joanna Ballard all rights reserved


I am personally without, in this now,  insurance, medicaid, or medicare, and in the moment too old for many programs, and too young for many others and as of this writing I am in disability limbo, awaiting my hearing, so with many chronic conditions I am in the charity clinic system but will not in this now be hospitalized even if I need to be.

But sadder to me is a 4 year old friend whose family had to move back to Florida, a move they could barely afford, to get him the health care he desperately needs after breaking his skull in a fall. Unfortunately, many Louisianians cannot afford this option, and cannot afford to be poor in the times we now live in.


Nearly empty parking lot by Earl K Long now permanently bare.
Photo ©Joanna Ballard all rights reserved




All politics aside I am getting the message that if you are poor, even the working poor, working homeless, homeless or disabled, even tho a registered and active voter, in this now, in this country, this state, you are disposable, and basically off the radar as for as the powers that be are concerned. All I do know is the system we had was not working but it was better than the non existing one we have as of 7am this morning.

So we have another abandoned hospital in this state, like the former Doctor's Hospital in Shreveport Louisiana, that could be used for a homeless shelter, an independent living center or emergency shelter and probably won't be, and probably will be another empty monument to what was and most likely won't be again.

I don't know what the answers are but I do know what is happening in this state of Louisiana in this moment is NOT working and will most likely put us further up in the lists of this county's worst.



11 comments:

  1. Shameful. I don't understand at all.

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    1. I don't either but getting the message loud even tho I am a registered voter I do not matter as I am poor in the ways the world counts it ;-(

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  2. Great blog Joanna!!! I heard about Charity Hospital thru Spike Lee's Documentary If God Is Willing and the Creek Don't Rise. Sad to see this go, and even more sad that people don't really understand all that this really means, especially for those who are out of the loop, such as those without the Medicaid and such...They keep talking about Obamacare without really knowing what that entails. Thank you for re inspiring me to get up and blog about my area!!!

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    1. You are most welcome bro actually our governor has refused OBama care and is privatizing all medical care in the state besides limiting my care it is putting thousands out of work and some of the world renown research and medical schools here are closing there doors no place to train medical personnel. Fasten your seatbelt it is gonna be a VERY bumpy ride indeed!

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  3. To refuse ObamaCare and let people not get the medical help they need is nothing short of corrupt!!! I would vote this clown out of office the next chance you get, even if he's running against a bowl of steaming diarrhea.

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  4. My 20-something year old nephew had back surgery there after a fall working construction. He had no insurance and certainly couldn't afford to pay out of pocket. I don't know what would have happened to him had it not been for Charity Hospital care. Gov. Bobby Jindal may SAY "we have to stop being the stupid party", but he certainly isn't showing intelligence with this move AND refusing implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Do people have to die on the steps of the state capitol?

    "Stupid is as stupid does." - Forrest Gump

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    1. I never DID think that Gov. Booby Jumble was the brightest crayon in the box...

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    2. Seems he is getting duller by the minute has both Reps and Dems ticked off!

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  5. WOw.. they closed all the charity hosptials? I used to live in Louisiana, though I was not raised there I spent 8 years there from 18 to 26. My husband is from Texas. I moved back to my homestate of Massachusetts and met my husband online, he then moved here 11 years ago, we've been together since he moved here. Thats just history so you understand what I'm saying comes from experience, not assumptions.

    I am commenting for 2 reasons, 1. to comment on a remark you made and 2. because you need to know this.

    The comment was, "All politics aside I am getting the message that if you are poor, even the working poor, working homeless, homeless or disabled, even tho a registered and active voter, in this now, in this country, this state, you are disposable, and basically off the radar as for as the powers that be are concerned."

    I am very happy to say that Massachusetts takes care of its own. I have worked in MA most of my life, except those 8 scary years in Louisiana, and when I got sick they took care of me. I can go to ANY hospital in Massachusetts, I can go to ALMOST any doctor or specialist because the state gives you insurance if you cannot afford it. Even if you work and cannot afford your companies insurance, you can get Commonwealth Care which is the same care as I get on Medicare except they either let you pay an amount you can afford for it or if you cannot afford it at all, they pay for it. Obanmacare is modeled on Massachusetts health care. Its your governer (you're not alone, Texas's Rick Perry did the same thing) who decided that not only are you losing your charity hosptials but even medicare and medicaid payments are stopping because Bobby Jindal won't allow more people in LA on medicare.. so the government is stopping ALL their medicare medicaid payments to the state.

    I understand you cannot afford to move but is it worth dying for? Find some friends in another part of the country and GET THE FUCK OUT! Louisiana has more deaths from guns, more bigotry, homophobia and hate for the poor and non-white than any other state in this country (although LA is running neck and neck with TX). California rocks for health care as does Massachusetts (MA has been rocking health care for almost a decade though).

    Living in LA for 8 years, I found that it is a very intolerant place for anyone not male, white and rich. I know it sucks but anyone with a brain should run from most of the southern states, but especially Louisiana and Texas. With a combo like MOST DEATHS DUE TO GUNS and NO HEALTH CARE IF YOU ARE POOR.. you are probably gonna die befoe you should. Just sayin.

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  6. And anyone who believes the Obamacare BULLSHIT that is coming out of your republican's politician's mouths.. NEEDS to do some research. We've had it here for almost a decade. it works. Its rocks. MA is doing fine and has nothing but POSITIVE repercussions from it. DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES about Obamacare! I say this because I live it. I promise, it works and it works like it should. If you have any questions about what we live with in a Obamacare state (we are the working model) please just ask. I wish you all well and hope someday your politicians get a clue. :)

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  7. As a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge I cannott express the gratitude I feel tward the doctors and nurses who treated my children and myself the many many times we went to the charity. Waiting in the waiting room I met people from all walks of life, from a gentleman with a bee sting who had been there for hours. (I tried to explain that he was ok but he insisted on staying) To the well to do gentleman waiting on a family friend having surgery for a badly broken jaw bone.
    I had two children there and was hospitalized several times. Always treated well by Drs. and staff. I will miss the safety net of the charity hospital. Also I would like to say Thank You to all the doctors and nurses who helped me over the years and I am sure I am not alone to say thank You. You will be missed.

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