The University of Mississippi Medical Center has acquired Merit Health Madison, a 67-bed hospital in Canton, Mississippi, now operating under the name UMMC Madison. The move, finalized on May 1, is intended to expand UMMC’s patient capacity and clinical training sites while easing strain on its main campus in Jackson.

The acquisition formalizes a relationship that began in 2019, when UMMC physicians began performing procedures at the facility. Over time, UMMC also took over staffing the hospital’s emergency department. Challenges in integrating systems, including differing electronic medical records, highlighted the need for a full operational merger.

“This is a natural next step in a relationship that has grown over the past several years,” said Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs at UMCC. “Acquiring the hospital allows us to overcome those hurdles and expand our capacity to care for patients.”
UMMC Madison will continue to offer core services typical of a community hospital, including emergency care, medical-surgical services, ICU, imaging, cardiology, pulmonology and general surgery. The hospital will maintain privileges for both UMMC and non-UMMC community physicians, mirroring the operational models of UMMC Grenada and UMMC Holmes County.

UMMC Madison will also serve as a clinical training site for medical students, residents and fellows, offering hands-on experience in a community-based setting. According to Jones, the expansion of available operating rooms will allow for redistribution of cases, helping to reserve space at the Jackson campus for more complex procedures.

UMMC officials say they plan to reinstate OB-GYN services at the Madison facility in the near future.

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