Ferriday’s hospital is getting a new doctor in March.

At the Riverland Medical Center Board of Director’s meeting Monday, hospital administrator Vernon Stevens said Dr. Stacy Zeller would be joining the Riverland staff as a full-time family physician.

“We’re looking forward to getting her at the (family care) clinic, generating more revenue and providing the primary care service to the people of this area,” Stevens said.

Stevens said having a family doctor at the hospital is an advantage because in a rural area, such as Concordia Parish, most people will see a family doctor first if they need a check up or have an illness.

“Family doctors are the backbone of you medical staff because in a rural area you don’t have a lot of specialists and a family physician is a primary caregiver,” Stevens said.

Stevens said Dr. Zeller would also do some gynecology work for patients in the Miss-Lou.

In other business:

4The board will send a letter to the Louisiana Bond Commission requesting approval for a line of credit of $500,000 to pay for the center’s operational expenses.

Stevens said the request was something the board does every year just in case the hospital needs money during low-income months.

4The board went into executive session to discuss strategic planning and the report from the hospital’s certified public accountant about last year’s audit report.

After the session Chairman Fred Butcher said the board was looking at some ways to “revamp” its business department.

Butcher also said the final audit report would not be ready until February.

Butcher would not comment any further on what was discussed during the session.