A New CEO for Lakeview Hospital

 LCMC Health’s Lakeview Hospital in Covington has a new CEO. Benjamin Richaud, who has more than ten years of experience in healthcare management has been appointed.

“Richaud has a strong background in hospital operations, strategic planning and financial management,” the news release reads. “He has served in various leadership positions throughout his career, including his most recent role as CEO of Baptist Medical Center, a 603-bed, flagship hospital within the Baptist Health System (Tenet Healthcare) located in San Antonio, Texas.”

“Ben is a respected healthcare leader with more than a decade of senior leadership experience,” Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health, said in a news release. “His strategic vision and commitment to patient-centered care make him an ideal fit for Lakeview Hospital.”

Ben holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama Birmingham, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. He is a North Shore native and is very excited to be working in his own community.

A full-service hospital with 167 beds that serve patients from St. Tammany Parish which include Lacombe, Abita Springs, Madisonville, Covington, Mandeville and Slidell. It has a 24/7 emergency room, a heart center, a surgical institute, a rehabilitation center and a behavioral health center.

“As a North Shore native, I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the exceptional team at Lakeview Hospital,” Richaud said in the news release. “I look forward to working with the talented staff and physicians to continue building upon the hospital’s strong reputation as a leading provider of healthcare services in the region.”

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November Sees the Largest Drop In Mortgage Rates Since 1981

 According to reports, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was down 7.8% from the beginning of November 2022. Freddie Mac says this is the largest drop since 1981.“While the decline in mortgage rates is welcome news, there is still a long road ahead for the housing market,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Inflation remains elevated, the Federal Reserve is likely to keep interest rates high and consumers will continue to feel the impact.”

Inflation does appear to be easing up according to the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index which reported that prices rose slower than predicted in October 2022. Even though interest rates are not directly changed by inflation, it does play a part. Mortgage rates are based on the track of the yield on 10-year US Treasury bonds.

“The 10-year Treasury dropped from 4.15% last Wednesday to 3.68%, as capital markets seemed to cheer the slowdown in inflation as a sign that the Federal Reserve’s monetary tightening is having its intended effect,” said George Ratiu, Realtor.com’s manager of economic research.

“Signs of slowing inflation pushed mortgage rates below 7% for the first time since mid-October, but with rates still relatively high and affordability correspondingly reduced, the average loan amount is now at its lowest level in nearly two years,” said Bob Broeksmit, president and CEO of the MBA.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.