Merit Health

Health System with 3 hospitals across 1 state

Health System Overview

Health SystemMerit Health
Total Hospitals3
Commercial/Acute Hospitals3
Total Beds310
Commercial/Acute Beds310
HeadquartersJackson, MS
Websitemerithealth.com

Hospitals by Type

Acute Care Hospital
3 hospitals
100% of health system

Teaching Status

33%
Teaching
Teaching Hospitals: 1
Non-Teaching Hospitals: 2
Teaching hospitals serve as educational institutions for medical professionals while providing patient care.

Hospital Locations

Hospitals in this Health System

HospitalTypeBedsTeachingRecently Joined
Merit Health MadisonAcute Care Hospital 67YesNo
Merit Health RankinAcute Care Hospital134NoNo
Merit Health Woman's HospitalAcute Care Hospital109NoNo

Recent News

Jun 13, 2025
Jackson-based University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) announced the completion of its acquisition of Merit Health Madison, a 67-bed facility located in Canton, Mississippi. Following the acquisition from a subsidiary of Community Health Systems, Merit Health Madison will now operate as UMMC Madison. This move builds upon an existing business relationship that began in 2019, where UMMC physicians were already performing procedures at the facility. The acquisition effectively expands UMMC's adult hospital capacity and operating room availability, providing another location for training future healthcare providers and increasing patient access to specialty services in the central Mississippi area. Merit Health Madison was noted as a well-maintained facility, and UMMC physicians are expected to utilize its operating rooms for select short-stay surgical procedures, which will allow the main University Hospital in Jackson to schedule more high-acuity and specialty cases. Merit Health leadership expressed excitement about the collaboration with UMMC to bring more healthcare resources to the region, highlighting the Canton facility's surgical capacity and the staff's readiness to work with UMMC surgeons to expand access to care for patients from Madison County and surrounding areas. [19, 15]
Jun 01, 2025
Merit Health Medical Group announced that Allen Sheely, M.D., a primary care physician, has relocated his practice to the clinic located at 7732 Old Canton Road in Madison, MS. Dr. Sheely is joining current providers Aaron Katzenmeyer, ACNP, and Mary Porter, CFNP, at this location. This move is intended to continue offering high-quality, compassionate care to the Madison community. Dr. Sheely brings years of experience in family medicine and is committed to building long-term relationships with his patients. Additionally, a news release dated June 1, 2025, from Madison, MS, highlights that the hot, sunny days of summer are an excellent opportunity to engage in swimming for its health benefits, with a quote from Dr. R. Allen Sheely. This indicates his involvement in community health information as well. [10]
May 29, 2025
An article dated May 29, 2025, from Flowood, MS, discusses adopting healthy habits to maintain bone strength as you age. The article notes that while children are often encouraged to drink milk for strong bones, bone health is largely overlooked until later in life. It suggests that even small, simple steps taken daily can lead to lasting improvements in health. The article quotes Dr. R. Allen Sheely, who states that small lifestyle changes can increase longevity, reduce the risk associated with chronic disease, and improve mental health. This indicates Merit Health is providing information and guidance on proactive health measures for the community. [8, 10]
May 12, 2025
Merit Health Central, along with Merit Health Rankin, Merit Health River Oaks, and Merit Health Woman's Hospital, and multiple outpatient clinics in the greater Jackson area, recognized National Hospital Week. This annual observance celebrates the dedicated individuals who work in hospitals and healthcare systems. [5, 11]
Apr 25, 2025
Governor Tate Reeves vetoed a legislative bill aimed at reforming the certificate of need (CON) process, specifically citing ongoing litigation over a Jackson psychiatric hospital. The veto message argued that the bill unlawfully attempted to circumvent a court case by granting a CON to a single psychiatric hospital, Oceans Behavioral Hospital Jackson. A Senate amendment to the bill would have granted a new CON to Oceans and aimed to resolve a legal dispute with Merit Health Central concerning the amount of charity care Oceans must provide. Merit Health had sued Oceans in March of the previous year (2024), alleging that Oceans violated the law by using a workaround to avoid a State Department of Health requirement for providing more free or low-cost care than outlined in its CON application. Merit's lawsuit contended that Oceans not providing sufficient charity care would negatively impact Merit by directing more low-income patients to their facility. The Governor's veto message criticized the amendment as potentially showing favoritism and prejudice towards other market participants. Merit's lawsuit sought a ruling that the State Department of Health lacked the authority to treat Oceans' reopening as a change of ownership and that Oceans should undergo the full CON approval process. [3, 4]

Executive Leadership

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