Oxford is blessed to be a regional referral center for health care. It is home to Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi, a 217-bed acute care facility serving the northern third of Mississippi. Baptist North Mississippi has more than 100 medical and surgical physicians on staff, representing more than 35 specialty areas, such as cardiology and neurosurgery.
The hospital is recognized for its cancer, heart care and sleep disorders centers, as well as orthopedic. Relief from chronic heartburn is now available thanks to the new Baptist Heartburn Treatment Center launched in 2015. The Baptist Heartburn Treatment Center offers the latest innovative diagnostics techniques and treatment option to help ease the suffering of GERD.
Baptist North Mississippi recently received full Chest Pain Accreditation with PCI from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. The Baptist Chest Pain Center is committed to providing treatment and education for patients with cardiovascular disease through a comprehensive approach – from noninvasive cardiology to a full spectrum of open heart surgery and follow-up cardiac rehabilitation. The Baptist North Mississippi Chest Pain Center is dedicated to providing advanced heart care.
The Baptist Cancer Center offers comprehensive services for treatment of cancer, including radiation therapy, PET scanner and access to chemotherapy services. The Oxford Diagnostic Center offers a full range of diagnostic imaging and lab services.
Since the hospital became affiliated with the Baptist Memorial Health Care system in 1989, Baptist has invested more than $160 million in capital improvements to the Oxford facility. A $37.5 million expansion project doubled the size of the Baptist North Mississippi emergency department, increased the number of surgery suites, created additional patient rooms and improved outpatient services. Baptist North Mississippi is currently building a new replacement hospital for Oxford, Lafayette County and the surrounding area.
The new hospital will afford Baptist the space to add new fi
services, the flexibility for future changes in patient care and provide the infrastructure for new technology and enhanced patient care. The new campus is slated to open in December 2017.
Baptist North Mississippi has earned many accolades, including opening the first sleep disorders center in North Mississippi accredited by the American Society of Sleep Medicine. An independent health care ratings firm named Baptist North Mississippi as top in the state for cardiac surgery and among the Top 10 percent in the nation for cardiac surgery and overall orthopedic services in 2009. The Baptist Centers for Cancer Care is one of only two facilities in North Mississippi accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer — the gold standard in cancer care. The Baptist North Mississippi Weight Loss Center is recognized as a quality program for bariatric surgery by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program and the Acute Rehabilitation Unit holds an accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
With the intention of caring for people close to their homes, Baptist Memorial Health Care comprises 14 affiliate hospitals; more than 3,100 affiliated physicians; psychiatric care throughout the Mid-South area; minor medical centers and clinics; a chain of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system highlighted by the Baptist College of Health Sciences. Baptist employs approximately 12,000 colleagues and is one of the top-rated integrated healthcare delivery systems in the country, according to the American Hospital Association.
Additionally, the North Mississippi Regional Center offers comprehensive services and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. NMRC operates under authority of the State Department of Mental Health to provide licensed residential and community based programs throughout the northern 23 counties of the state.
NMRC opened in 1973 and today more than 1,000 employees representing 25 departments work toward a common goal — the highest level of self-sufficiency and independence possible for each individual to achieve meaningful goals and relevant outcomes in recovery/resiliency.
The Center currently provides licensed, 24-hour care to individuals living on its main campus in Oxford and in licensed community homes. NMRC assists more than 2,000 additional citizens through an array of community-based services.
All employees of NMRC work together each day to fulfill the Center’s vital mission: “Enhancing the abilities and promoting the independence of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing quality care, comprehensive services and family support, with dignity and respect.” For more information, visit www.nmrc.ms.gov
The extensive health care community of Oxford also includes a large number of specialized medical services. Some of those areas of expertise include complete dental, chiropractic, pediatric, audiology, physical therapy, plastic surgery, pathology, mental health, optometry and rehabilitation services, as well as several independent urgent-care clinics. A variety of home health agencies, hospice agencies and private-duty nursing facilities are available to meet special needs of the community. Lafayette County also offers a fine selection of nursing homes, retirement homes and communities and assisted-living facilities.