As Mississippi suffers from a hospital crisis, two rural hospitals are working together to open a new emergency hospital in Smith County.
The Smith County Emergency Hospital, being formed through collaborative efforts between Covington County Hospital (CCH) and South Central Regional Medical Center (SCRMC), will bring much-needed medical resources to a 14,000-person county. The new rural emergency hospital will be located at 347 Magnolia Drive in Raleigh and is scheduled to begin operations in late December 2024 or early January 2025.
“This is a powerful story of collaboration and dedicated efforts to fulfill a deserving community’s healthcare and emergency service needs,” CCH and SCRMC CEO Gregg Gibbes said. “The new rural emergency hospital will be a lifesaver for Raleigh, Smith County, and neighboring communities, particularly during an emergency where every minute matters.”
According to a news release, the new hospital is preparing to enter the renovation phase, including the acquisition of fixed assets for the emergency department, radiology, imaging suite, laboratory, and admissions area. A study from nearby University of Southern Mississippi indicates that the Smith County Emergency Hospital could have an annual economic impact of around $30 million with Gibbes adding that 80 jobs will be created.
Jerry Fields, the president of the Smith County Board of Supervisors, joined Gibbes in vouching that this is the first step in providing further medical services to the county seat of Raleigh and other nearby areas that don’t currently have easy access to a hospital.
“I am confident of the positive impacts that Smith County Emergency Hospital will have on the county, including life-saving measures, job opportunities, and economic gains,” Fields said.
The announcement comes as recent data from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform showed 38 of the state’s 73 rural hospitals were in danger of closing as of April, although some like Greenwood Leflore Hospital have found ways to bounce back toward revenue gains. Gibbes added that while other rural hospitals are still struggling, this collaboration to open the Smith County Emergency Rural Hospital shows that collaboration can go a long way in finding solutions for Mississippians to receive medical care.
“Although the small rural hospital stigma does exist, Mississippi has some very successful rural hospitals,” Gibbes said. “We are very intentional about collaboration and thinking outside the box, and in a few short months, we will deliver on our promise to serve another community.”
