UMMC announces purchase of Merit Health Madison
CANTON — The University of Mississippi Medical Center has expanded its presence in Madison County by acquiring the former Merit Health Madison hospital, a move officials say will increase access to care and enhance medical training.
The acquisition of the 67-bed hospital, located on River Oaks Drive in Canton, was finalized on May 1 and officially announced by UMMC on Monday, June 9.
Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC's vice chancellor for health affairs, said the acquisition aligns with the academic medical center's mission to educate future healthcare providers, conduct research, and deliver high-quality healthcare to more Mississippians.
"Every decision we make is rooted in our mission,” Woodward said.
The integration of the hospital, now named UMMC Madison, is a "natural next step" in a relationship that began in 2019 when UMMC physicians started performing procedures at the facility, said Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs.
"We’ve been staffing the emergency department for some time now, but operational challenges, such as having different electronic medical record systems, highlighted the need for a more unified approach," Jones said. "Acquiring the hospital allows us to overcome those hurdles and expand our capacity to care for patients."
UMMC Madison will continue to operate as a community hospital, offering a wide range of services including emergency care, ICU, cardiology, radiology, general surgery, and more. It will also retain privileges for non-UMMC community physicians to practice alongside UMMC providers.
Jones said the acquisition will help address capacity constraints at UMMC's main campus in Jackson by freeing up hospital beds and operating space for more complex cases. He also announced plans to reintroduce OB-GYN services at the Canton facility.
The expansion also supports UMMC’s educational mission by providing a vital training site for medical students and residents to gain real-world experience in a community hospital setting.
This development follows last year's announcement of a new 131,000-square-foot UMMC educational campus being built in Ridgeland, with construction expected to be completed by January 2026.