OCH celebrates 50 years
On Thursday, January 26, OCH Regional Medical Center opened its doors to celebrate its 50 years of service.
Over 70 people gathered in OCH'S educational facility to celebrate the history of the hospital, and the event featured special guests including the OCH Board of Trustees, the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors, and others.
When asked what has kept the hospital going strong for the past 50 years, OCH Regional Medical Center chief executive officer James Jackson credits those who laid the foundation.
“The prior leadership, the Board of Trustees, administration, and medical staff have all built a strong foundation,” said Jackson. “They were able to position the hospital for the right size at that time and not overextend itself, and that has allowed the hospital to be able to reinvest, to have the facility that we have, to have the upto-date technology; it's just the right size. So we have to continue to watch that and make sure that we remain the right size for all the services that we provide.”
Jackson added that as OCH looks back over the past 50 years, he is proud that the hospital has served the community with a broad menu of services, while continuing to reinvest in new technologies and facilities.
“Our mission as a community hospital is to serve, help, and heal; and we look forward to continuing that service in the years to come,” said Jackson. “For us to be here in the next 50 years, we need the community's support. We ask that they use the hospital, please keep us top-of-mind if you have healthcare needs, and I promise you that we will do our best to take care of you.”
In 1969, ground broke to start construction on what would then become Oktibbeha County Hospital (OCH). On the day of the move, a snow storm came through, making the transition from Felix Long to OCH challenging. Originally, OCH had 60 licensed beds and only two operating rooms. The ICU was located at the end of the hall on the second floor, and most administrative offices were located in trailers outside of the hospital. The cafeteria was once the lab, and the Wellness Connection and Cardiac Rehab were housed in the unfinished basement. The emergency room then has now become the location for OCH'S ITS department. Many more changes have occurred since then, driven by the desire to better serve Oktibbeha County and its surrounding communities.