In March 2008, Crossgates River Oaks Hospital opened the state of Mississippi's only outpatient burn clinic by partnering with the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augsta, GA. At the time the clinic opened, they provided follow-up treatment for burn patients twice a month. Crossgates River Oaks Hospital’s outpatient burn clinic grew to averaging 30-35 patients per day in the following months.

Today, the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital is the state of Mississippi's only inpatient burn center.  The Burn and Reconstructive Center at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital is proud to be  af?liated with the Joseph M Still Burn Center, Inc., located in Augusta, Georgia.  The Joseph M. Still Burn Center is the largest burn care facility in the United States and we at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital are extremely fortunate to have a facility of this caliber located in our own backyard, right here in Brandon, Mississippi.

The JMS Burn Center's care for thousands of patients annually with locations in Augusta, Ga., Austell, Ga., Charleston, S.C., and of course at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital. 

With the growth of the outpatient clinic and the need for a inpatient burn center in the state of Mississippi, the hospital opened the inpatient burn center in July of 2009.  The inpatient services include treatment of non-critical burn patients, continued treatment of outpatient burn injuries as well as their comprehensive follow-up care, including reconstructive procedures. In June of 2011, Crossgates River Oaks Hospital expanded is Burn Center by building a $2 million dollar intensive care unit, specifically for burn patients, and also built a new burn step down unit.  The expansion will enable the hospital to treat patients at the facility rather than transferring the patient to the parent facility in Augusta, Georgia. Doing this will not only allow Mississippians to be closer to home and allow family members to be closer to their loved ones while they are experiencing a difficult and traumatic time in their lives.  

The team is led by the President of Joseph M. Still Burn Centers, Inc., Fred Mullins, MD, and the local Medical Director, William C. Lineaweaver, M.D., who has extensive experience in plastic and reconstructive procedures as well as burn and wound care.

“It was a dream to be able to bring healing and hope closer to home for patients who  suffer from serious burns,” said Fred Mullins, M.D., Medical Director and President of Joseph M. Still Burn Centers, Inc.

The Burn Center is also an exceptional asset our state's firefighters, as they put their lives on the line everyday while doing their job.  Amanda Fontaine, Executive Director of the Mississippi Fire?ghters Memorial Burn Association said, “As ?re?ghters put their lives on the line, it is reassuring to know that we have quality burn care available in our state, not only for themselves, but for citizens they work so hard to save. Family members of burn patients will no longer have to  travel out of state to support their loved ones recovering from injuries.” 

Residents of Mississippi even outside the realm of health care see the value in this asset at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital.  Jerious Norwood, NFL running back for the Atlanta Falcons and former “Mr. Football” for Mississippi spoke about how great and  fortunate we are to have such a facility with all the capabilities and potential that the  new Burn ICU will offer.  

“As a Brandon resident, it is always great to come home and see things that are different and that have changed to in?uence us (Brandon, Miss.) in a positive way, said  Norwood.  “We are blessed to host the home to our state's only burn center, and I'm proud to say that it is in the place that I will always call home.” 

Norwood was so excited about the new addition to the hospital, he attended the grand opening to show his dedication to the bene?t and improvement of Brandon, as well as the State of Mississippi.  

There is also excitement inside the hospital as well. Allen Tyra, Chief Executive Of?cer at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital knows how fortunate this addition is to us as residents of Mississippi.  

“It's such an exciting time here at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital as we get closer to  the opening of the new intensive care unit in our Burn Center,” Tyra said.  “This addition will help families of Mississippi be closer to home while going through a trying time in the patient's life, and also the lives of their families.” 

For more information on Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital, or to schedule an appointment, please call 601.824.9430.