Oktibbeha County Hospital Regional Medical Center in Starkville, Miss., announced its intent to affiliate with the Jackson-based University of Mississippi Medical Center June 26.
Here are three things to know about the affiliation:
1. The goal of the alliance is to bring medical education, research and advanced healthcare opportunities from UMMC, the state's only academic medical center, to OCH Regional.
2. OCH Regional, which comprises the 96-bed hospital, 10 clinics and more than 600 employees, began its search for a potential affiliate in January. The hospital's board of trustees selected UMMC out of three finalists that submitted affiliation proposals earlier this year.
3. The affiliation will also allow OCH Regional to enhance its medical staff, expand healthcare services and improve patients' access to treatment through UMMC's medical and education outreach.