Covington County Hospital (CCH) held a dedication ceremony on Friday, January 31, 2025, to celebrate the opening of the Smith County Emergency Hospital in Raleigh. Approximately 250 attendees, including elected officials, local leaders, healthcare professionals, and community members, participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
With the opening of the region’s newest Rural Emergency Hospital (REH), residents of Smith County will now have improved access to emergency medical care. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to provide lifesaving services to a community that previously faced over a 30-minute drive for urgent healthcare.
Renovations of the building, located at 347 Magnolia Drive, began in July 2024 and were completed at a cost of $1.5 million. The hospital is expected to open in the coming weeks, pending final inspections by the Mississippi Department of Health.
The newly established Smith County Emergency Hospital is part of a national initiative to address healthcare disparities in rural areas. It features an emergency department staffed with highly trained personnel and advanced medical technology, including laboratory services and an imaging department with X-ray and CT capabilities. The hospital will operate 24/7, offering essential emergency and outpatient services while ensuring timely transfers to larger medical centers when necessary.
The new hospital is anticipated to generate an annual economic impact of $30 million and create 80 new jobs.
“The financial sustainability and economic impact of this project are significant,” said Gibbes. “With job creation, economic development, increased access to care, and services that previously did not exist, we have a solid foundation for success.”
Smith County Emergency Hospital, a division of Covington County Hospital, will collaborate with regional hospitals, including South Central Regional Medical Center, Magee General Hospital, Simpson General Hospital, and first responders, to ensure seamless coordination of care.
“We are very intentional about thinking outside the box,” said Gibbes, “and we will soon deliver on our promise to serve the healthcare needs of another community.”
