VIDEO: Oktibbeha County Supervisor Holds Town Hall Meeting To Discuss The Future Of OCH

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- On Thursday, the Oktibbhea County Board of Supervisors announced that Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation and North Mississippi Health Services are potential buyers of OCH Regional Medical Center.

Supervisor Marvell Howard held a town hall meeting to give residents a little more clarity regarding the possible sell of OCH.

It was a packed crowd as  several residents came with concerns and questions for Howard about the future of the hospital.

Some of the biggest concerns residents had were whether they’d see a tax cut if OCH is sold, would current employees be able to keep their jobs, and what would actually happen to health care in Oktibbeha County if the hospital is sold.

It was last Tuesday when the board held a special meeting to discuss the bids they received on the hospital.

However, due to a confidentiality agreement, the board said certain information couldn’t be released.

This left some residents feeling as if they were left in the dark, and as a result, it prompted Howard to hold a town hall meeting.

Howard said he wants to let residents know he hears their concerns and wants to do everything he can to provide them with as much information as possible before the November vote.

“This is not an election that in four years if you don’t like what happens you can make a change. Once this election is done it’s done, so I think people are out gathering information and trying their best to get accurate factual information, said Marvell Howard, District 3 Supervisor.

“I think it was very encouraging that the number of people who showed up are supporters of the hospital. It’s quite evident that some of these people who have lived here for quite some time, they’ve watched it facility grow and a seen what our medical staff has been able to do to improve over the years” said Richard Hilton, OCH Administrator/CEO.

Hilton said he’s not surprised with Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation and North Mississippi Health Services being the two potential buyers.

If the hospital doesn’t sell, Howard said the board, the community and hospital leaders will come together and think of things they can do to help och to continue its growth.