Hospital headache: More questions than answers still plague LSU, VA

New Orleans CityBusiness, Apr 10, 2008 by Richard A Webster

For example, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery has reduced hospitalization for gall bladder surgery from up to seven days to as little as 36 hours.

"All I was trying to say is when planning a hospital today that won't open its doors in five to seven years is that we need to think about technological advances," Sachs said. "I was asked if I supported 484 beds and my response was that I'm new to the area so I don't know exactly. But in my previous role, I was in discussions about planning for an international academic medical center of the future and it was clear to all of us involved in the process that the number of beds that would be needed would be far less than what is needed today."