Willis-Knighton is building its pediatric neurology program from the ground up, and this is the position that starts it. WK has not had a pediatric neurologist on staff for approximately nine years. During that time, all pediatric neurology cases have been referred out, with families waiting six to seven months for appointments or driving to Monroe, Alexandria, New Orleans, Dallas, or Texas Children's Hospital. The incoming physician will be the first and only pediatric neurologist at WK, with the opportunity to define the program's scope, negotiate for equipment and space, and build a practice in a region with no comparable local alternative.
Setting Willis-Knighton South, 2510 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71118
Program Status New program; no existing pediatric neurology service
Inpatient Support PICU (10 beds, average census ~8) absorbs acute and emergent pediatric cases overnight
Call Limited; PICU covers acute/emergent cases; estimated 2 to 3 physician calls per week
Catchment Area Approximately 1 to 2 million people across northwest Louisiana and surrounding region
EMR Meditech Expanse
Position Type New program
WK's PICU and pediatric service lines are seeing consistent inpatient consult volume that currently gets sent out of the system entirely. Approximately 150 to 200 inpatient pediatric neurology consults per year leave WK due to the absence of a specialist. Families in the region have no local option at the level WK can provide, and the six to seven month wait at competing referral destinations means many go without timely care.
Dr. Minh Tran, PICU director, is the primary champion for this program. Dr. Tran came from UCSF and has been at WK for ten years. He actively worked to quantify outpatient referral leakage and views this as one of the most important service line additions WK can make. He has explicitly committed to protecting a solo subspecialist from being overextended.
A blank shell space is available and ready to be built out. The group's experience with other solo subspecialty builds, including pediatric endocrinology, suggests a ramp-up of six to twelve months before a full panel is established. The peds endo physician saw 10 patients per day by the end of year one and approximately 16 per day on Mondays shortly after. Demand for pediatric neurology is comparable given the years of unmet need in the region.
The incoming physician is encouraged to come with a clear vision for the program. WK administration has a track record of providing resources when subspecialists are specific about what they need. This is the best time to negotiate space, equipment, and staffing before the program takes shape.