INSIDE LEADERSHIP WEBSTER | PART 2
From emergency stroke treatment to nursing home care and mental health services, participants in the 2026-27 Leadership Webster program spent November 11 learning about the healthcare resources available throughout Webster Parish and the challenges facing patients and providers.
The third session of the Greater Minden Chamber’s nine-month leadership development program was devoted to healthcare, with Sarah Haynes and Amy Walker of Minden Medical Center leading the day’s activities.
Rather than simply listening to presentations, the 20 participants followed hypothetical patients through different healthcare scenarios, visiting medical facilities and hearing directly from the professionals who provide those services.
The day began with Haynes introducing a fictional patient named June, who was experiencing a stroke. Participants learned to recognize the warning signs of a stroke using the acronym FAST, which stands for facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties, and time to call 911.
With June’s situation providing a framework, the class began a series of tours designed to demonstrate how a stroke patient might move through the local healthcare system, from emergency treatment to rehabilitation and long-term care.
The first stop was the emergency department at Minden Medical Center, followed by visits to the hospital’s intensive care unit and rehabilitation services. At each location, healthcare professionals explained the equipment, personnel, and treatment options available, along with the role their department might play in a patient’s recovery.
The group then visited the hospital’s outpatient rehabilitation facility on Homer Road, where participants learned about continued therapy following hospitalization. Presentations also covered home health services and hospice care, providing a broader look at the different levels of support available to patients and their families.
The class continued its tour with a visit to Town and Country Health and Rehab, where participants learned about the facility’s services and an ongoing expansion project.
A representative from Advanced EMS also met with the class to explain how ambulance services operate in Webster Parish, including the role emergency medical personnel play in responding to medical emergencies and transporting patients for treatment.
Following lunch, participants toured Meadowview Health and Rehab Center, where particular attention was given to the facility’s specialized care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
The afternoon shifted from physical healthcare to mental health services as the class returned to the Chamber for presentations from several local professionals.
A second fictional patient, John, was introduced as someone experiencing severe depression following the loss of his job. Speakers discussed how someone in his situation might seek assistance, what services are available locally, and how different agencies work together to provide care.
Marsha Hayes of Minden Behavioral Health discussed mental health services and the importance of helping individuals experiencing emotional or psychological crises.
Christy Cox of the coroner’s office explained the processes involving Orders of Protective Custody (OPC) and Coroner’s Emergency Certificates (CEC), which can be used under Louisiana law when individuals experiencing mental health crises require evaluation or emergency intervention.
Cox shared figures illustrating the growing demand for mental health services in Webster Parish. During October, the coroner’s office received 71 OPCs and recorded 44 deaths.
When Cox began working in the office in 2016, she said, they typically handled approximately 10 to 12 OPCs per month. The October figure represents a substantial increase in the number of people requiring intervention.
Cox noted that deaths historically outnumbered OPCs by approximately two to one, but that relationship has now reversed, reflecting the growing number of mental health crises in the community.
She also warned that December could bring even more cases, as depression and other mental health struggles often intensify during the holiday season.
Ashley Hamblin of Minden Medical Center discussed the hospital’s fifth-floor behavioral health unit, which serves patients ages 55 and older.
Hamblin emphasized the importance of medical evaluations for older patients experiencing sudden behavioral or cognitive changes. Physical illnesses and other medical conditions can sometimes cause confusion, agitation, or unusual behavior, making it important to rule out underlying medical causes before assuming a psychiatric condition.
The class also heard from Grace Eskew, who discussed insurance coverage, Medicaid, and the services available through Minden Family Diagnostics.
The outpatient diagnostic facility, part of the Minden Medical Center system, provides access to X-rays, mammograms, ultrasounds, and laboratory testing without requiring patients to visit the main hospital.
Glenzetta Hall discussed the services provided by David Raines Community Health Centers, including the organization’s role in connecting patients with medical care and other resources.
Returning to the fictional scenario involving John, Hall explained that the organization’s priority would be ensuring the patient’s immediate safety and helping connect him with appropriate services.
Hall also discussed school-based health clinics currently operating in other parishes and the possibility of bringing similar services to Webster Parish, where the idea is under discussion.
Additional presentations addressed rural health clinics and women’s healthcare services, further illustrating the range of medical resources available in the community.
The session provided participants with an extensive look at a healthcare system that many residents encounter only when they or a family member need assistance. By visiting facilities, meeting healthcare professionals, and following hypothetical patients through different stages of care, the class gained a better understanding of how local services connect and where challenges remain.
Leadership Webster will continue meeting monthly through May, with future sessions exploring other aspects of life and leadership in Webster Parish.
This article is part of an ongoing Minden Press-Herald series taking readers inside Leadership Webster, highlighting the experiences and lessons of the 2026-27 class.