Finding a niche through the ashes

When people think of Savoy Medical Center, their first thoughts might not be about growth and opportunity. These were the initial thoughts of the new CEO. However, under its previous administrator, Gene Burge, the Mamou-based hospital had become sustainable and poised for growth. This transition is what attracted new administrator Lance Armentor.
“When I got the phone call about coming to Mamou,” Armentor said, “my initial thought was I’m good where I am at. I knew about the town, and I knew the area. I did not look at Savoy as an opportunity for growth.”
He continued, “That definitely changed after about five minutes of talking to Gene Burge and really getting an understanding of the history, where the hospital was, and what it had gone through over the years. What Gene and the team were able to accomplish is nothing short of extraordinary. They held this place together in the most difficult of times.”
Another aspect of the job that attracted Armentor to Savoy was the chance to be near family. He is married to the former Samantha Landreneau, whose parents originate from Evangeline Parish.
“That was the attraction for my wife and I to leave Lake Charles and come here,” he said. “We wanted to come here and raise our children.” The Armentors have five children ranging in ages 10 years to seven months.
Since taking the job as administrator on October 25, Armentor has seen the hospital add a residential 28-day substance abuse program, the hiring of Dr. Paul Zhang as a full-time oncologist for Savoy Cancer Center and the hiring of additional nurse practitioners.
But, Armentor is not content with stopping there. He is focused on increasing access to patients.
“Growing the ability for patients to have access to specialists and access to different service lines in our clinics is the number one priority that I have for this hospital system,” he said.
He went on to say, “The access for patients is the most important thing. When you look at the community and the surrounding areas, what you have is a disenfranchised, underserved population. You have people here who might not have adequate means to healthcare or adequate transportation to go and receive healthcare they need. It’s definitely something we need to address and change.”
Armentor’s vision is to bring new service lines to the Savoy Medical Center, such as rheumatology, dermatology, endocrinology, ENT services, urology, interventional radiology, tele-cardiology and podiatry.
Also on the horizon is a World Class wound care center with two hyperbaric chambers.
Armentor said that is something this area does not have and will meet a real need in the rural community. As Armentor, a Lake Charles native, prepares to usher in these new areas of growth, he will rely on his previous 10 years of experience in the medical field. Prior to accepting his new role, Armentor was the Vice President of Operations for Ochsner, covering the South Louisiana market. During his tenure with Ochsner he met Dr. Zhang and developed a great relationship with him, ultimately recruiting the oncologist to Mamou.
The transition as administrator of Savoy has been challenging on Armentor and his family since they still reside in Lake Charles as they continue to look for housing in the Mamou area. “Right now,” he said, “I’m driving an hour and a half both ways. It’s very difficult to have five young kids and not be home and spend so much time on the road and work out of town.”
Despite those challenges, the new position is already rewarding. To illustrate that point, Armentor shared a personal experience.
His grandmother, who resides in Lake Charles, needed to enter inpatient rehab. Armentor suggested the family send her to Savoy. His grandmother was hesitant about going so far away from home but eventually agreed.
On Thursday, February 24, she went back to Lake Charles.
“This is probably the most rewarding part,” Armentor concluded. “My grandmother was crying.”
“She gave me a hug and told me how wonderful this place was and the experience she had. She had some of the staff crying. That’s how personal it gets in a place like this. I don’t know what other reward you can ask for than that.”