Emergency Response Network Board public meetings in 2025

Emergency Response Network Board

The Emergency Response Network Board will hold its next meeting on January 22, 2026. The agenda includes routine business such as approving the 2026 meeting calendar, reviewing the executive director’s report, and discussing updates on STEMI and stroke care protocols. The board will also review the current budget status and recognize the retirement of John Hunt.

• Approve 2026 LERN Board Meeting Dates
• Proposed STEMI Hospital Designations
• Door to Transfer Request Target/Remediation for Stroke
• Fiscal Year End Budget Balance review
• Recognition of John Hunt Retirement

Emergency Response Network Board

The Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN) Board will hold a business meeting to discuss several key items, including an update on ACT 194, trauma system consultation research, and a budget review. The board will also consider approval of previous meeting minutes and a commission ratification request. Public comment will be taken at the end of the meeting.

• ACT 194 update by board attorney
• STEMI hospital designations and workgroup update
• Trauma system consultation research panel presentation
• Review of budget status and fiscal year-end balance
• Transfer denial rates and hand initiative for trauma

The Board approved the agenda and the April 10, 2025 meeting minutes. Members voted unanimously to accept five resignations and approve seven new appointments to regional commissions. Other items, including budget and trauma reports, were presented without formal action.

• Approved meeting agenda (unanimous)
• Approved April 10, 2025 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Accepted resignations of Huey Marcell, III, John Gardner, Stephanie Henson, MD, Jason Maljarrs, MD, and Rodney Hart (unanimous)
• Approved appointments of Reed Miller, NRP, Meg DeJean, Shantal Hebert-Magee, MHA, MD, Brent W. Amold, DO, FACEP, John Lipka, MD, Pamraj Sharma, MD, and Sean Spansel to regional commissions (unanimous)

Emergency Response Network Board

The Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN) board will vote on a STEMI Medical Director contract and consider a recommendation to demote a stroke center. The board will also discuss a proposed change from stroke bypass to stroke referral and hear updates on staffing, a dedicated funding bill, and the annual report.

• Approve STEMI Medical Director Contract
• Commission Ratification/R1 Request
• Stroke Sub-Committee recommendation for demotion of a stroke center
• Proposed change from Stroke Bypass to Stroke Referral
• Update on Dedicated Funding Bill

The Board approved a three-year contract for the STEMI Medical Director and updated stroke center designations and requirements. It also ratified several regional commission appointments and approved a merit increase for the Executive Director.

• Approved three-year contract for Kanna Posina, MD as STEMI Medical Director for max $90,000 (Unanimous)
• Approved demotion of one acute stroke ready hospital to a stroke by-pass hospital (Unanimous)
• Approved renaming 'Bypass' designation to 'Stroke Referral Center' (Unanimous)
• Approved education and resource binder requirements for all Stroke Referral Centers (Unanimous)
• Approved Phase II DIDO target of < 75 minutes for specific centers with no remediation for failing Phase II (Unanimous)
• Approved 4% merit increase for Executive Director Paige Hargrove effective July 1, 2025 (Unanimous)
• Approved appointments of Elizabeth Lacy, Tommie Hicks, Brett Chapman, and Wayne Berkowitz to regional commissions (Unanimous)
• Accepted resignations of Kim Beetz, Troy Meaux, Navdeep Samra, Jeff Watson, Jason Maljaars, and David Toups (Unanimous)

Emergency Response Network Board

The Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board will hold a business meeting to approve the agenda and prior minutes, ratify a commission request, and review a legal contract. The board will also hear an executive director report on staffing and strategic goals, discuss dedicated funding with Representative Turner, and receive an update on the LCC annual report and the January 1, 2025 Bourbon Street MCI. Budget status and regional updates for Regions 6, 7, and 8 are also on the agenda.

• Commission Ratification/R1 Request
• Legal Contract review
• Dedicated Funding Discussion with Representative Turner
• Touch base on 1/1/2025 Bourbon Street MCI
• Budget status review

The Board approved a new three-year strategic plan and a $21,000 legal services contract for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Members also ratified several regional commission appointments and resignations. No formal action was taken regarding proposed dedicated funding sources.

• Approved 2025-2027 Strategic Priorities (unanimous)
• Approved $21,000 legal contract for Celia Cangelosi for FY 2025-2026 (unanimous)
• Approved addition of Pediatric Trauma representative to Region 1 Commission (unanimous)
• Accepted 4 resignations and approved 7 appointments to regional commissions (unanimous)
• Approved meeting agenda (unanimous)
• Approved November 7, 2024 meeting minutes (unanimous)