Our Growth

On March 17, 1969, the then named Rankin General Hospital opened its doors as a county-owned, short-term, acute care hospital offering general medical services including Surgery and Obstetrics.  The original Administrator was Robert D. O'Connor, Jr.  Thomas M. Wiman was hired as the Business Office Manager and would later step into the role of Administrator in 1976.  

A history of the highlights of the medical center’s growth is shown by the following timetable:  
1969-  Rankin General Hospital opened as a two-story structure financed by Hill-Burton funds and general obligation bonds.  

1971-  A four bed Intensive Care/Coronary Care Unit was constructed.   1972-  The third floor was added with 32 additional beds and an unfinished area for future expansion.   During this year, space was renovated for a new Pharmacy, enlarged dining room, Central Sterile Supply, and Operating Suite.  

1973-  An Adolescent Psychiatric Unit was opened on third floor. 
 
1975-  The Obstetrical Unit closed.  

1976-  Emergency Room extended full-time physician coverage to 24 hours per day and seven days per week.   The Hinds-Rankin Urban Health Innovations Project (now the Rankin County Health Care Center) was initially housed at the medical center before relocating in 1981.  

1980-  The Adolescent Psychiatric Unit closed and third floor was opened for general medical and surgical patients.   An eight suite medical office building, Crossgates Medical Plaza, opened with the following specialties added to existing medical staff: Orthopedics, General Surgery, Opthalmology, Pediatrics, Cardiology, and Rheumatology.  Additional family practice physicians also joined the staff.   A local Oncologist/Surgeon, received recognition for experimental cancer treatment program (hypothermia) at Rankin Medical Center which was sought out by patients from around the country.  

1982-  Renovations included ultra-modern Laboratory, Radiology and Emergency Suites.  These services continued to meet increasing demands.   The Surgery department added an additional operating room to the two existing rooms.  

1983-  Intensive Care/Coronary Care Unit was expanded to six beds.  Two step-down unit beds were added.  

1984-  The medical center began operating the county's Ambulance Service which had begun in 1980.  Paramedic Services was added at this time.   A one-mile jogging/exercise trail was opened for use by the community and to lay the ground work for a full range of wellness programs.   The Rankin Health Foundation and the Foundation League were formed to assist the medical center in fund-raising efforts and to begin a development program.  

1985-  The first Affair of the Heart ball was held to raise funds for projects at the medical center.  The first year=s proceeds were used to renovate an area for an ICCU waiting room.   The Pediatric Unit was named the Mary Ann Mobley Children's Unit in honor of a long-time supporter, friend, and former Miss America from Brandon.   The Teddy Bear Clinic began.  This program to introduce young children to the Emergency Room attracts growing numbers each year.   Began the Speakers Bureau to assist community and service groups with speakers on medical topics.   A new Respiratory Therapy Department was constructed by in-house personnel in a portion of the unfinished area on third floor.  

1986-  In-house construction crews began the three-phase projects to update and expand the Power Plant, Storeroom, Environmental Services, and Dietary.   A staff physician opened Elmwood Place to provide additional medical office space near the medical center.   Began programs for respite care and a daycare for sick children.  Both of these programs were firsts in the area; but, did not do sufficient volumes to warrant continued development.   A Neurosurgeon was recruited and the medical center obtained digital subtraction angiography.  An in-house computerized tomography (CT) Unit was purchased.   Arthroscopic surgical equipment was added.  

1987-  New lobby opened with funds from the Rankin Health Foundation, Trustmark National Bank, Deposit Guaranty National Bank and the Shell Oil Foundation.  The Tree of Life sculpture was unveiled.  

1988-  The medical specialty, Gastroenterology, was added to a growing list of specialties available at the medical center.  

1989-  Fitness Plus, a public-private joint venture, opened its doors to provide a wide range of fitness and wellness facilities.  This facility is a limited partnership with Rankin Medical Center as the general partner.  A unique feature is the location of the Outpatient Physical Therapy Department at this facility providing for access to the equipment and pool.   The Boardroom was relocated to the third floor of the hospital.  

1990-  Rankin General Hospital became Rankin Medical Center to signify the growth that had occurred at the facility in both size and scope of specialties and services.   Began performing joint replacement and laproscopic gall bladder surgical procedures in our Surgical Suite.   Located a physician office in Florence.   Purchased the 395 building on Crossgates Boulevard which houses physician office space and commercial businesses.   Administrative offices were relocated to the completed third floor.  

1991-  Obtained advanced nuclear medicine capabilities.  

1992-  Rankin Medical Center became a smoke-free facility.   Established the Curtis D. Roberts, M.D. Medical Scholarship through the Rankin Health Foundation.   The citizens of Rankin County voted in favor of the issuance of $8.5 million to begin a major renovation and expansion program.  

1993-  Broke ground on March 17, 1993 for the building program.   Occupational Health Services opened as a full-service facility dedicated to assisting business and industry with screening and work-related injury programs.  

1994-  Sub-Acute Unit, providing skilled nursing care to qualified patients, opened in October.  

1995- Purchased the 10-county CON for Home Health Care of Mississippi.  The counties served are:  Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, Scott, Warren, Copiah, Leake, Smith, and Yazoo.   In December of 1995 the 97,000 square foot addition was occupied.  Among new equipment purchases for the addition were Filmless X-ray System and Spiral CT Scanner.  

1996- Senior Care Program opened in July with housing for 14 gero-psych patients.   Magnetic Resonance Imaging services began in December of this year.  

1997- Health Management Associates, Inc. lease agreement became effective in January.   Received Accreditation with Commendation for both RMC and HHCM from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations in May/June.   Stereotactic Mammography Technology is offered as a new service beginning in August.   Introduced Ultra Pulse Laser Technology in the fall of 1997.  

1998- Received Super Achiever=s Award from the Metro Jackson Chamber of Commerce. 

1999- Added state-of-the-art medical equipment in the areas of Vascular Surgery and Urology. This equipment enhanced RMC's ability to perform invasive Radiology procedures and allowed all Urological procedures to be performed on-site.  

2000- Rankin Medical Center and Home Health Care of Mississippi achieved accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (scored 97 out of a possible 100).   Rankin Medical Center invested $200,000 for three new, state-of-the-art ambulances and was the first in the area to be named a designated car seat fitting station.   The hospital added three new major services B angiography, a neurodiagnostic lab and bone density services.    

2001- The Laboratory Department received accreditation with commendation from the College of American Pathologists.   In January, John M. Chamberlain, FACHE, was appointed Chief Executive Officer upon the transfer of Robert Hammond to a sister HMA hospital in Biloxi.  The Laboratory also installed new instrumentation in Chemistry and point of care testing which enhanced services provided while realizing operational efficiencies.   Rankin Medical Center purchased a dual-head nuclear medicine scanner.  The scanner can take both anterior and posterior images at the same time, provide more detailed information to the physician and allows for more efficiency in the department.  

2002- In May, Davis A. Richards III was named Chief Executive Officer at Rankin Medical Center.  He was previously with a sister hospital owned by HMA in the Metro Jackson area prior to some tenure in the Delta.   A new radiographic machine was installed in a newly designed room in the Emergency Department which helps expedite patient X-rays from the ED.  The department also implemented a filmless imaging system.   Rankin Medical Center began offering full coverage for MRI needs and the equipment was relocated inside of the facility.   New free-weight machines and Nautilus equipment were installed at Fitness Plus and cosmetic renovations were begun.   Renovation of the Two East nursing unit was completed resulting in 18 of the newest and most spacious patient rooms in the Metro Jackson area, complete with private bath or shower.  

2003- A new GE Lightspeed Ultra CT scanner was obtained by the hospital.  This scanner scans the entire bode in 26 seconds rather than 30 minutes.  This improvement is dramatic for efficiency, patient comfort and exceptional image quality.   Rankin Medical Center and Home Health Care of Mississippi received accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.   Rankin Medical Center’s Lab was awarded accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent on-site inspection.   In September, Rankin Medical Center recruited Vincent L. Anthony, M.D. M.P.H., its first Hospitalist.  A Hospitalist provides inpatient management for area physicians and sub-specialists.  They have no outpatient practice and refer all discharged patients back to their primary caregiver.  

2004- In May 2004, an expansion of the hospital's Dialysis Unit enabled six patients to be acutely dialyzed at one time.  Previously, capability was for one patient at a time.   In August 2004, Rankin Medical Center created a new resource for the communities it serves by opening the Wound Healing Center. Its doctors and staff counsel patients and treat wounds through a variety of ways.  The center includes a hyperbaric oxygen chamber which uses 100% oxygen which aids in the healing of wounds.   Fitness Plus expanded its free weight area and cycling bikes were purchased to enhance the facility's workout equipment. In October, a new weight management program, Get Balanced for Life, was initiated.  

2005- Rankin Medical Center experienced significant development for future growth by adding a fourth anesthesiologist, Dr. Karen Van Tassel, in mid-July.    A renowned general surgeon, Dr. Galen Poole, and a new family physician. Dr. Brad Madden, were recruited in August.  In September, Drs. Ken Ball and Jerry Sheppard came on board as the hospital’s new inpatient hospitalists.  These physicians are boarded in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.   September marked the beginning of many awards for the hospital.  Rankin Medical Center was bestowed the Large Business Award by the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting and the hospital’s ER received the “Best Practice Award” from Schumacher Emergency Services.   Home Health Care of Mississippi, the home care division of the hospital, received an award for quality from IQH in early fall and Rankin’s Senior Care program was honored for “Best Practice in Clinical Innovation” and Medical Director of the Year for our region by Horizon Health.     The hospital was officially granted a certificate of need for a new medical office building in December.  

2006- Rankin Medical Center was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Mississippi” in the Large Business category in the inaugural year of The Mississippi Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” program.   In February, Mississippi Blood Services named Rankin Medical Center its “Hospital of the Year” for increasing blood donations by 54%.   Rankin Medical Center commissioned a bronze plaque and dedicated a water fountain in the hospital’s courtyard in memory of Thomas M. Wiman.  Mr. Wiman served as the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer for nearly 20 years.   The Joint Commission conducted a very intense, three-day inspection of Rankin Medical Center in April and granted accreditation.  The hospital received only three recommendations, which is better than the national average.   In the fall, the hospital received recognition as one of the “Top 100 Most Improved Hospitals” in the nation by The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that promotes high performance health systems who supported an independent research study conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute,    Dr. John Cook, Rankin’s Chief of Staff, was nominated by Rankin Medical Center and was named the “Distinguished Trustee of the Year” by the Mississippi Hospital Association.   Rankin Medical Center re-established and opened a Sleep lab on October 22.   In December, the hospital introduced a new pediatric mascot named “Pediatric Patrick.” A “Name our Bear” contest was held for students at Brandon Elementary School, Rankin’s Partner in Education.  

2008- Rankin Medical Center changed its name to Crossgates River Oaks Hospital.

2011 - The Joesph M. Still Burn Center at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital expands the state of Mississippi's only inpatient burn center by adding at 15-bed burn intensive care unit and burn step down.  The unit features state of the art equipment which will further progress the ability to provide the highest quality burn care to residents of Mississippi and the surrounding region.