The Mississippi Department of Health voted today to amend the State Health Plan to address health services in rapidly growing counties. The changes that were approved mean that counties meeting certain criteria may be considered for a new acute care hospital not to exceed 100 beds. The new criteria for the counties are that they must have a population in excess of 140,000 people, project a population growth of 10 percent over the next 10 years and be located in a general hospital service area with a lower than average bed to population ratio.

“These changes are good for the State of Mississippi by allowing fast-growing areas to have their health care needs met locally,” said David Baytos, Senior Vice President/CEO of Mississippi and International Healthcare Services.

Based on these new criteria, Methodist Healthcare can file a Certificate of Need to build a hospital in Olive Branch. Methodist plans to file a Letter of Intent in August and a Certificate of Need in September to build a 100-bed hospital in Olive Branch, Baytos added.

“We are absolutely thrilled that we are one major step closer to the City of Olive Branch finally getting the hospital and health services we deserve,” said Sam Rikard, mayor of Olive Branch.

Methodist treats over 7,000 inpatients and over 42,000 outpatients in its Shelby County hospitals annually from the State of Mississippi.

“A 100-bed Methodist hospital in Olive Branch would improve our ability to serve DeSoto County residents in their own community and also positively impact the local economy,” said Baytos.

In 2008, Methodist began more closely serving the health care needs of Olive Branch by opening an outpatient facility at 5480 Goodman Road that houses Methodist Minor Medical Center, Le Bonheur Urgent Care and Methodist Sleep Disorders Center. Methodist also owns and operates the Carvel Imaging Centers in Olive Branch and Southaven.

“Olive Branch is the fastest growing city in the fastest growing county in Mississippi. It is our continuing desire to bring our health care services closer to those we already serve and to those who wish to choose Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare as their provider,” said Baytos.

Read more in the DeSoto Times Tribune.