Franklin Medical Center stands as the healthcare anchor for northeastern Louisiana's rural parishes, a 37-bed acute care hospital that has served this community since 1970. What began as a small facility has evolved over five decades into a comprehensive medical center offering services that would have required a 45-minute drive to Monroe just years ago. The hospital operates under government ownership as a hospital district, governed by a Board of Commissioners with deep roots in Franklin Parish. This structure provides financial stability while maintaining accountability to the community the hospital serves. With approximately 350 employees and net patient revenue exceeding $44 million annually, Franklin Medical Center has the resources to invest in physician recruitment, technology, and facility improvements while remaining focused on its core mission.
The hospital's mission captures what you will experience practicing here: "As an integral part of our community, Franklin Medical Center's mission is to provide the highest quality health care and customer satisfaction to all those we serve. We are committed to delivering compassionate, capable, and personalized treatment to our patients and their families, always keeping in mind that our responsibility is to the health needs of the people." This is not corporate language drafted by a marketing committee in a distant headquarters. It reflects the genuine philosophy of an institution where leadership knows patients by name and physicians practice without interference from distant administrators focused solely on financial metrics.
Franklin Medical Center offers a breadth of clinical services that defies expectations for a community hospital of this size. The emergency department operates around the clock, staffed by highly trained physicians and nurses serving as the front door for acute care across three parishes. The radiology department features CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, and diagnostic imaging capabilities. Surgical services include an operating room suite and outpatient surgery unit, supported by the Stryker Mako robotic system for advanced orthopedic joint replacement procedures. An eight-bed acute care intensive rehabilitation unit provides inpatient rehab services for patients recovering from stroke, joint replacement, and other conditions requiring intensive therapy.
Specialty services have expanded significantly in recent years. Oncology and hematology are available on campus, eliminating the need for cancer patients to travel to Monroe for routine infusion therapy and follow-up care. Endocrinology was recently added to address the region's substantial burden of diabetes and thyroid disease. Behavioral health services provide psychiatric support for a population with limited mental health resources. The hospital operates three rural health clinics extending primary care access throughout the parish, with telemedicine infrastructure connecting patients to specialists when local expertise is unavailable.
The hospital operates on the Cerner electronic medical record system, providing integrated documentation across inpatient, outpatient, and clinic settings. This platform supports care coordination, allows remote access for physicians, and maintains continuity as patients move between care settings. Recent technology investments include the Stryker Mako robotic system for orthopedic surgery and VivaScope for advanced dermatologic imaging. The dialysis unit utilizes Tablo machines for inpatient hemodialysis, with infrastructure positioned to expand as nephrology services develop.
Leadership has demonstrated consistent willingness to invest in technology that improves patient care and physician efficiency. The telemedicine platform already in place has connected patients with specialists across multiple disciplines, and the incoming nephrologist will inherit this infrastructure rather than building from scratch.
Franklin Medical Center serves a predominantly Medicare population, reflecting the demographics of rural northeastern Louisiana. Medicare accounts for approximately 45% of the payor mix, with Medicaid representing a substantial portion of remaining patients. The hospital participates in Accountable Care Organizations and maintains relationships with major commercial insurers. This payor mix is typical for rural community hospitals and supports sustainable operations while serving patients regardless of their ability to pay.
The community you will serve includes multigenerational families who have relied on Franklin Medical Center for decades, agricultural workers, retirees who have chosen to age in place, and younger families drawn by affordable housing and close-knit community life. Chronic disease prevalence runs high, as it does throughout the rural South, creating consistent demand for nephrology services addressing hypertension-related kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy, and the full spectrum of CKD management.
Franklin Medical Center has been part of Franklin Parish since 1970, growing from modest beginnings into a regional healthcare leader. The hospital's leadership has consistently reinvested in facilities, technology, and physician recruitment to ensure that residents of this rural area have access to quality care close to home. By keeping pace with advances in medical techniques and equipment, Franklin Medical Center has established itself as one of the leading medical facilities in this region of Louisiana. The addition of nephrology services represents the latest chapter in this ongoing commitment to expanding local access to specialty care.
Franklin Medical Center is located at 2106 Loop Road in Winnsboro, Louisiana. The main campus houses the hospital, emergency department, and primary clinic. Satellite rural health clinics operate nine miles north and nine miles south of the main facility, extending access throughout the parish. The hospital's administrative offices can be reached at 318-435-9411, and additional information is available at fmc-cares.com.
You will practice in a hospital that has earned the trust of its community over more than half a century, supported by administration that understands physician needs, equipped with technology that facilitates rather than frustrates your work, and positioned to grow the nephrology program you help build.
