Patients' Choice Medical Center of Humhreys County

RHD took over operation of the Humphreys County hospital
and performed a major financial and healthcare miracle

Located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, the most medically under-served region in the nation, the Humphreys County Memorial Hospital spent the winter of 2006 mired in debt and declining health services, physical condition and morale.

The Humphreys County Board of Supervisors was looking for someone to perform what seemed to be a miracle. The alternative was to close the doors.

Ray Shoemaker, who had been hailed as the ì\"Turnaround King" by the Memphis Business Journal for his performance in resurrecting a hospital in north Mississippi, was sought by the Supervisors and Hospital Board to come to Belzoni to save their hospital.

Shoemaker had incorporated Rural Healthcare Developers, the healthcare development company that would target underserved rural communities. RHD signed a management contract with Humphreys County Memorial Hospital and Shoemaker moved to Belzoni in January 2007 to take over the administration.

The hospital was $4.5 million in debt and had not turned a profit in the last four years. It lacked the confidence of the community, the exterior and interior of the building suffered from neglect and much of the equipment was outdated.

These were major obstacles the 34-bed critical access hospital faced.
The process started with cleaning and remodeling the building. In the operation of the hospital. existing services were solidified and a number of new outpatient services were added to enhance the hospitalís place in the community. Strict financial management added significantly to the bottom line. The staff of physicians admitting to the hospital rose to 11 and 60 new positions were added to staff the new programs.

After six months, the financial hemorraging had stopped, bills were being paid and the hospital was gaining the confidence of the community.

In April 2008, Shoemaker and RHD bought the hospital and renamed it Patientsí Choice Medical Center of Humphreys County.

PCMC-Humphreys County Fact Sheet

Visit our website at:
www.humphreyshospital.com