On June 1, 2022, the Singing River Health System Board of Trustees voted to pursue a fully integrated model with a like-minded healthcare organization that will invest in and grow the system. Today, the Jackson County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution from the Singing River Board of Trustees to pursue this path.
Over the last decade, the healthcare industry has continually changed with community hospitals like ours facing the strongest headwinds. As stated in the Raymond James research, presented at the July 5th Board of Supervisors meeting, some of the challenges we face include:
- Mississippi has the second-lowest overall health ranking in the U.S., the highest poverty rate in the country and an uninsured population significantly above national averages.
- Mississippi is one of 12 states that did not adopt a Medicaid expansion, which means the amount of income that would have gone to health systems in our state is slated to decrease, significantly impacting hospitals like Singing River that provide significant care for underinsured and uninsured populations.
- Like many community hospitals across the country, Singing River faces staffing shortages and must focus on retaining staff long-term while attracting new talent to serve our communities.
To stay ahead of these challenges, we must find solutions for advancements in technology, how we pay and get paid for services, the way we deliver care, and the ongoing challenge of staffing shortages, not to mention the impact of the pandemic.
The next step in the formal process includes the Board of Supervisors holding a public hearing for community input and consideration. Our priority continues to be providing exceptional care to patients and the communities we serve. As we move through the steps, we have developed a website SingingRiverForward.com to keep our patients and our community informed about how we will enhance local access to healthcare for years to come.
Tiffany Murdock, CEO of Singing River Health System