Compared to other states, Mississippi ranks at the bottom of mosts lists concerning health issues and access to health care. Mississippians are also faced with another serious problem: the closure of hospitals. 

Mississippi Today photographed shuttered hospitals across the state as more and more are closing due to rising cost within the industry. Currently, four hospitals have closed in Mississippi since 2005. Dozens more are expected, according to top health officials in the state.

Clarification 11/21/22: Mississippi Today used the Cecil C. Sheps Center for Health Services Research to identify closed hospitals in Mississippi, Natchez Community Hospital included. While the Natchez Community Hospital’s building is no longer in use, it consolidated with the Natchez Regional Medical Center to become the combined Merit Health Natchez in November 2015.

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Photo Essay: Mississippi’s closed hospitals

by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today
November 20, 2022

<h1>Photo Essay: Mississippi’s closed hospitals</h1> <p class="byline">by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today <br />November 20, 2022</p> <p>Compared to other states, Mississippi ranks at the bottom of mosts lists concerning health issues and access to health care. Mississippians are also faced with another serious problem: the closure of hospitals.&nbsp;</p> <p>Mississippi Today photographed shuttered hospitals across the state as more and more are <a href="https://mississippitoday.org/2022/11/16/hospital-crisis-medicaid-expansion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">closing due to rising cost within the industry</a>. Currently, four hospitals have closed in Mississippi since 2005. Dozens more are expected, according to top health officials in the state.</p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1085378" data-id="1085378" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/3X0A9392-1200x800.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Patient's Choice Medical Center of Humphreys County in Belzoni., Miss., Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The rural hospital closed in August 2013. </figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1085380" data-id="1085380" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/3X0A9406-1200x804.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Patient's Choice Medical Center of Humphreys County in Belzoni., Miss., Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The rural hospital closed in August 2013. </figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1085379" data-id="1085379" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/3X0A9397-1200x800.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">A sign directing to the emergency room at Patient's Choice Medical Center of Humphreys County in Belzoni., Miss., Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The rural hospital closed in August 2013. </figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1085382" data-id="1085382" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/3X0A9430-1200x800.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Kings Daughters Hospital in Greenville, Miss., Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The hospital closed in March 2005. </figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1085383" data-id="1085383" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/3X0A9440-1200x800.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">A historical marker for the Kings Daughters Hospital in Greenville, Miss., Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The hospital closed in March 2005. </figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1085385" data-id="1085385" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/3X0A9451-1200x800.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Pioneer Community Hospital of Newton on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. The hospital closed in December 2015. </figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1085391" data-id="1085391" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/3X0A9494-1200x806.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Merit Health Natchez-community Campus in Natchez, Miss., Friday, November 11, 2022. The hospital closed in November 2005.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1085388" data-id="1085388" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/3X0A9469-1200x781.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Kilmichael Hospital in Kilmichael, Miss., Thursday, November 10, 2022. The hospital closed in January 2015. </figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </div> </div> <p><em>Clarification 11/21/22: Mississippi Today used the <a href="https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/programs-projects/rural-health/rural-hospital-closures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cecil C. Sheps Center for Health Services Research</a> to identify closed hospitals in Mississippi, Natchez Community Hospital included. While the Natchez Community Hospital's building is no longer in use, it consolidated with the Natchez Regional Medical Center to become the combined Merit Health Natchez in November 2015.</em></p></p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://mississippitoday.org/2022/11/20/photo-essay-mississippis-closed-hospitals/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://mississippitoday.org">Mississippi Today</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/MT_square-thumb.jpg?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://mississippitoday.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=1085599" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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