RMC becomes Crossgates River Oaks Hospital

The symbol of an oak tree is often used to represent strength, stability and a firm base of support. That icon and related names have been chosen by Rankin Medical Center and its network of affiliate hospitals here-to-fore known as Preferred Hospitals of Metro Jackson as part of their new names.

At ceremonies held on May 9 on the hospital campus in Brandon, Rankin Medical Center officials announced that the hospital is changing its name to Crossgates River Oaks Hospital, and the four other hospitals operated by Health Management Associates, Inc. (HMA) in the Jackson-metro area are to be known collectively as River Oaks Healthcare.

Allen Tyra, CEO of Crossgates River Oaks Hospital, said the new hospital name was chosen to strategically position the hospital for future growth. “Our hospital is a dynamic and vital resource for the communities we serve. The Crossgates area is already a well-known region, and with the plans for the expansion of Crossgates Boulevard, Crossgates River Oaks Hospital will be at the heart of a major thoroughfare linking Interstate 20, Highway 80 and Lakeland Drive. When completed this new roadway will allow us to be more readily accessible to an even greater number of patients,” Tyra said.

Tyra noted while the hospital is changing its name, the mission remains the same. “You are the reason we are here and the reason we will grow to meet the needs of this great community, while reaching out to provide quality healthcare and compassionate service to even more of the people of Rankin County and the surrounding areas,” Tyra added.

Dale Armour, Senior Vice President and CEO of the Mississippi Division of HMA, made the announcement regarding the five hospitals previously known as Preferred Hospitals of Metro Jackson. “The River Oaks name has earned a reputation in our state for quality medical care and legendary service. As we all know and research confirms, the hospital is very well regarded, trusted, and has the highest name recognition of all our facilities in the metro area. In choosing the new name, we gave heed to the old adage, ‘lead with your strengths’ and are adopting a new name reflective of our strongest brand,” Armour said.

Armour also provided data related to the economic impact the River Oaks Healthcare network of hospitals makes in the metro area and in the state. “Our five hospitals including Central Mississippi Medical Center, Crossgates River Oaks Hospital, Madison County Medical Center, River Oaks Hospital and Woman’s Hospital provide full-time jobs for more than 2,500 employees with an annual payroll of $142,845,000. Our hospitals paid approximately $13,207,583 in taxes in 2007 and invested more than $22,500,000 in capital improvements on the campuses of the five hospitals. More than 5,000 new citizens of the state of Mississippi came into the world at our hospitals, and we provided in excess of $350,000 in civic and charitable contributions in the tri-county area last year alone. We are very proud of the contributions we make to the economic vitality of this region, however we are most proud of the fact that our medical staff members, employees and volunteers made it possible for us to touch individuals lives more than 290,000 times last year. We are very appreciative that we have earned the trust of our patients, and these five hospitals today share a continued commitment to excellence in all we do,” Armour said.

HMA operates ten hospitals in Mississippi including Biloxi Regional Medical Center, Biloxi; Central Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson; Crossgates River Oaks Hospital, Brandon; Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center, Amory; Madison County Medical Center, Canton; Natchez Community Hospital, Natchez; Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, Clarksdale; Riley Hospital, Meridian; River Oaks Hospital, Flowood; and Woman’s Hospital, Flowood.