As discussions of affiliation with OCH Regional Medical Center and three other entities progress, the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors is looking forward to learning more about the process.
The three corporations OCH is in conversations with are Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, University of Mississippi Medical Center and North Mississippi Health Services Inc.
Administrator and CEO of OCH Richard Hilton has already met with both UMMC and North Mississippi Health Services, and has a scheduled meeting with Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation.
President of the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Orlando Trainer said he is happy the discussions of an affiliation are underway. He said even though the attempt to sell the hospital was unfavorable, the possibility of affiliation was able to spark from those discussions.
"I think the message was received by the administration to look at trying to find ways to improve OCH," Trainer said. "I want to commend the trustees for taking that step."
Trainer said from the board's perspective, they are hoping there is a discussion where the affiliate can assume some of the hospital's debt.
He said having some of the debt relieved would free up the board of Supervisor’s ability
to address the infrastructure needs of the county.
"Right now, our infrastructure needs are as great as they have ever been as it relates to upkeep, maintenance and also new construction," Trainer said.
Trainer said one of the main concerns throughout the discussion to sell the hospital was OCH wanted to continue to have the "bulk of the control.”
Trainer said he wants to know what the affiliation would look like if OCH wants to maintain that control.
"What are we going to get out of it and what are they going to get out of it?" Trainer said. "What type of recourse would we have in an affiliation agreement if they recommend that we do something and we just refuse to do it."
In terms of the bottom line, Trainer said he doesn't know if the affiliation agreements will help resolve OCH's debt and the challenges health care is going to be faced with.
"It gives us a place to start but at the same time, nothing is set in stone and nothing is permanent," Trainer said.
District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery said he is indifferent about the hospital’s discussion of affiliation with other entities because he knows they are looking to better the hospital in some way.
"It's really too early at this point to see even who's going to be the partner that they go with, if any of them," Montgomery said.
As the discussions continue, Montgomery said the board will need to meet with the hospital’s trustees and administration to discuss in depth the advantages and disadvantages of each entity.
"It's an issue within the hospital’s walls," Montgomery said. "They're going to have to see what's the best for them and us."
District 4 Supervisor Bricklee Miller said she visited with her trustee and knew the interested parties had been at the hospital for these discussions.
Miller said going forward, she would like to continue discussions with the trustees and offer input when necessary.
"I think that this is the right way for them to bring to the table each group, and what they can do to benefit OCH," Miller said. "We're going to support what the trustees plan to do on affiliation."