MEMPHIS, TENN. — On July 29 the Mississippi Department of Health granted a Certificate of Need to Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare to build a 100-bed hospital in Olive Branch.
“This is a very important decision for the community Methodist serves in Olive Branch and surrounding Mississippi communities,” said David Baytos, senior vice president and CEO of Mississippi and International Healthcare Services. “We have many people to thank for their unwavering support for this project over the past few years…definitely the mayor, board of aldermen, State senators and representatives, the Chamber of Commerce, local business leaders and the citizens of Mississippi.”
Olive Branch Mayor Sam Rikard said he could not be more thrilled about the outcome. “Olive Branch is the fastest growing city in the fastest growing county in Mississippi. Our citizens deserve and need this hospital,” he said.
Many residents of DeSoto County already use Methodist as their healthcare provider of choice. Baytos said Methodist’s goal is to improve access to healthcare services for Northwest Mississippi.
Methodist already has a presence in DeSoto County since its purchase of Carvel Imaging Centers and its building of a complex containing an adult minor medical center, pediatric urgent care center and a sleep center.
Mayor Rikard said a new hospital in Olive Branch will unquestionably have a significant positive economic impact on the entire community, both through the creation of jobs, and the additional non-healthcare dollars that will stay in the community that are now going into Tennessee every time a DeSoto County resident has to travel there for healthcare services.
Baytos said Methodist will finalize its planning for the hospital over the next several months. Construction is expected to begin early next year with completion in approximately 24 months.
