December 2012
| Business World Magazine | 153
ns Expansion in Mississippi
since tripled in size and Baptist Memorial has re-
portedly invested more than $160 million in the
infrastructure as well as expanded healthcare ser-
vices. Economic impact studies have determined
that the hospital has contributed to the creation
of more than 1,200 jobs and a total economic
benefit valued at $165 million annually for the
local economy. Baptist Memorial expects to fol-
low that tradition, but additionally believes the
new facility and expansion of service will em-
power them to attract premier physicians, which
further benefits community residents.
Having launched in 1912 with a single
150-bed hospital, BaptistMemorial HealthCare
is renowned as one of America’s premier health-
care systems. It is comprised today by more than
3000 affiliated physicians and practices that
encompass hospice and psychiatric care, minor
medical clinics, surgery, rehabilitation, outpa-
tient centers and an education system highlight-
ed by the Baptist College of Health Sciences.
Baptist Memorial Health Care maintains more
than a dozen affiliate hospitals throughout the
Mid-South United States. In North Mississippi,
Baptist Memorial Hospital has not only earned
distinction as “The Best Place to Work,” but also
recognition from the Mississippi Nurses Asso-
ciation who, last year, honored it as “Hospital of
the Year.”
But for now, all eyes are focusing on
building the hospital of the future. Compton
says Baptist Memorial is working with architects
and site planners to finalize architectural plans
and bid packages. She notes the process may
take another year to conclude. Principles esti-
mate construction could commence as early as
the summer of 2013 and be completed within
28 months.