News Around the State

Walters Named CEO and Administrator of Baptist Medical Center Leake

Wayne Walters has been named CEO/Administrator for Baptist Medical Center Leake. Previously, he served as an Executive Director at Baptist Health Systems leading departments such as Healthcare Financial Services, Food and Nutrition, Security and Linen Services. In 2008, Walters completed his Masters in Business Administration from Millsaps. He received his Bachelor degree in pre-med from Emporia State University where he attended on a full football scholarship. Baptist Health Systems in Jackson, Miss. purchased Leake County Hospital in November 2011.

Baptist Purchases Leake Memorial Hospital in Carthage

Baptist Health Systems (Baptist), based in Jackson, Miss., and Leake County officials have finalized the purchase by Baptist of Leake Memorial Hospital/Extended Care and Clinic facilities.  Baptist has been overseeing day-to-day operations of the 25-bed hospital and 44-bed Extended Care Facility since March.  Ownership of all facilities, its assets, equipment and holdings, went into effect on November 1.

As part of the purchase agreement, all Leake Memorial Hospital/Extended Care Facility and Clinic employees will now operate within the Baptist network.  Baptist plans to develop both short-term and long-term strategic plans to improve healthcare in Leake County, including adding several key service lines, additional long term care services, and more specialty services.  Immediate needs include renovations to current facilities and physician recruitment.

“We just completed a community survey to determine what the most pressing issues and most appropriate actions are in regards to the health of this community,” said Jerry Cotton, Administrator of Leake Memorial Hospital.  “There are concerns that have to be addressed immediately and we want to fill in the gap until we are able to move forward with more long-term plans.”  Cotton said upgrades to the ER will be among the first items to be addressed.  Baptist is also considering the initiation of a hospitalist program, which will increase efficiency, reduce costs, and provide better patient care.

“Baptist is committed to keeping the hometown feel of Leake Memorial Hospital while giving patient access to Baptist’s network of award-winning comprehensive medical and specialty services,” said Mark Slyter, CEO of Baptist.  “Working with Leake Memorial’s leadership and professional team, we plan an orderly transition, planning no near-term substantive changes that might impact patients or physicians or interrupt scheduling or other procedures already in place.”

Baptist officials anticipate the transition will be complete sometime in January.

 

Top Relay for Life team

Leake Memorial Hospital's Relay for Life team won the award for most money raised by a team at the recent Leake County event. The team turned in $6,049 the evening of the event and has continued to raise money in support of cancer research.

New doctor joins LMH staff

Dr. Doug Perry has joined the active medical staff of Leake Memorial Hospital in Carthage.

Perry attended medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, then served a residency in family practice at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

Board certified, his professional experience includes two years of private practice in McComb. Perry will maintain offices and his practice in Sebastopol but will join hospital physician rotation.