A hurried conference was scheduled this morning by the new director of the state department of hospitals in an attempt to ward off further dissension at troubled Southeast Louisiana hospital.
Director Charles Rosen-blum said he would go to the hospital "to try to straighten out the situation" and "keep the Mandevilie institution on the high plane on which it has been operating."
Rosenblum made the decision after the resignation yesterday of Dr. Anthony P. Rousos, assistant superintendent of the hospital. Demands McClendon Quit
Dr. Rousos quit after demanding the resignation of the hospital's new head, 72-year-old Dr. Jesse McClendon, a general practitioner appointed by Gov. Earl K. Long in his strategy to win release from the hospital last week.
Dr. McClendon, who said he is running the hospital by "remote control" from Amite, was named to succeed Dr. Charles T. Belcher.
Dr. McClendon refused Dr. Rousos' ultimatum.
Discontent at the hospital followed the firing of Dr. Belcher.
It was reported that.Dr. Elizabeth Faust, the only full-time staff psychiatrist left at the hospital, also was considering resigning.
Rosenblum, who was appointed by Long to succeed Jesse L. Bankston the same day Dr. McClendon replaced Dr. Belcher, left his home in Hammond this morning to go to Mandevilie. 'Don't Want Conflict'
He said he hoped to convince both Dr. Rousos and Dr. Belcher to remain on the staff at the hospital, Rosenblum said he considered both doctors "highly qualified."
"We don't want any more conflict," he added.
Dr. Rousos said he telephoned Dr. McClendon yesterday and gave him 30 minutes to resign.
"There was no longer any emergency," said Dr. Rousos, "and it was untenable for Dr. McClendon to remain as superintendent. There was no further need."
But Dr. McClendon refused and the hospital lost the services of Dr. Rousos.
"Why he went haywire I don't know," said Dr. McClendon.
Dr. McClendon said Dr.
Rousos was "in full charge.
"I'm handling this by remote control and I don't intend to., interfere with the running off the hospital," he added.
Dr. McClendon said he spends most of his time in Amite and planned only to visit the Mandevilie hospital periodically to discuss institutional needs with the staff.
"I don't want the job," he said, explaining he will remain head of the hospital only as long as the governor wants him in the job.
Asked about other threatened resignations, Dr. McClendon said, "I'll let 'em resign, then I'll hire new ones."
Dr. Rousos said yesterday that Gov. Long apparently was no longer angered at Dr. Belcher. He said there was hope Dr. Belcher would return to the hospital staff.
