Medicine-resistant fungal infection, C. auris, potentially linked to four deaths in Mississippi
Mississippi is battling an outbreak of C. auris, a fungal infection resistant to medication, which the Department of Health says may be responsible for the deaths of four people. “Our investigation is ongoing and fluid,” said health department spokesperson Liz Sharlot. Sharlot said the department has identified 12 clinical cases of the infection and four […]
State Health Board member dismisses concerns about syphilis, HIV, and contraception access
At the time Gov. Tate Reeves appointed a Flowood neurosurgeon to the State Board of Health, the doctor said he was committed to “sound, science-based policy.” But two years later, he has at least three times made dismissive and what other health experts see as ill-informed commentary on social media about public health issues. Gov. […]
‘Kids will kill themselves’: Providers of gender affirming care say anti-trans bill will be a direct cause of suicide
HATTIESBURG — As the owners of the only clinic in Mississippi that exclusively provides gender-affirming care to trans people, nurse practitioners Stacie and Lee Pace get a lot of hate mail. But more frequent are the emails from trans kids, who write to the clinic just to say “I’m so glad you exist.” Stacie always […]
‘Slightly more breathing room’: Fewer rural hospitals at risk of closure, but threat still looms
A newly updated report shows that fewer Mississippi rural hospitals are at near-term or immediate risk of closure than they were three months ago. But the leader of the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, the organization behind the report, warns that Mississippi is by no means out of the danger zone. The October […]
Lawmakers want to keep citations of medical marijuana businesses secret
An amendment to Mississippi’s medical cannabis act passed by the House would keep reports of marijuana businesses breaking regulations from the public — but the health department has already put a freeze on releasing those documents before any changes to the law have been made. Mississippi Today filed a public records request seeking copies of […]
Q&A: Rep. Missy McGee calls postpartum Medicaid expansion ‘most impactful thing’ state can do for women and children
State Rep. Missy McGee, R-Hattiesburg, says it’s her mission to advocate for women as one of few females in the Mississippi Legislature. Health Editor Kate Royals met with McGee to talk about her experiences as a lawmaker and her push to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage for new moms in Mississippi. Editor’s note: This interview has […]
How many burn patients is UMMC treating? Depends on who you ask
The University of Mississippi Medical Center has announced it is filling a health care gap for burn care in Mississippi after the closure of the state’s only burn center. But in the case of children with burns, the hospital is sending these patients out of state, according to an internal email from a UMMC Burn […]
Sanderson golf championship donates $1 million to Children’s
Golf has been described as a good walk spoiled, but the sport has meant much, much more to Children’s of Mississippi, the state’s only children’s hospital. THE TODAY Statewide news delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday The Sanderson Farms Championship, Mississippi’s only tournament on the PGA Tour, Tuesday presented a $1 million check to Friends of […]
Merit Health Central CEO, like many of its services, exits for the suburbs
Merit Health Central’s chief executive officer David Henry is leaving the south Jackson hospital to take the helm at Merit Health Madison following the reduction and relocation of many of the hospital’s services to the company’s suburban facilities like Merit Health River Oaks. He began in the new role Monday. When reached by phone last […]
A look inside one Mississippi mom’s life a year after giving birth
HEIDELBERG – It’s 1 a.m. and Heidelberg native Courtney Darby, a mother of four, is sound asleep in her room with part of her leg wrapped in a cast due to a broken ankle. She is suddenly awakened by the sound of her 8-month-old son, R’Jay Jones, crying. Her daughter, Deysha Ransom, 13, who is […]