Winfield hospital now under management

Hamilton

Northwest Regional Health is now under a long-term lease of North Mississippi Health Services, which owns North Mississippi Medical Center in Hamilton.
The announcement was made in a press release sent out on Thursday, March 27.
The city is not selling the hospital but leasing it long-term to be managed through North Mississippi Medical Services to work with the hospital in Hamilton.
“North Mississippi Health Services (NMHS) has entered into a long-term lease agreement to operate Northwest Regional Health located in Winfield, Alabama, as one of its affiliated hospitals effective May 1, 2025,” the statement read.
“This long-term relationship to operate Northwest Regional Health represents a significant opportunity to improve access to health care services in the northwest region of Alabama,” Shane Spees, NMHS CEO, was quoted in the release. “By bringing Northwest Regional Health into the NMHS health system, we can enhance existing services and introduce new services that will benefit both hospitals in the county, and most importantly, the residents of Marion and surrounding counties.”
The press release went on to say, “The relationship opens the door to combine expertise and resources that will improve access to quality health care and provide more comprehensive care to the community.”
“This collaboration will also enable us to streamline operations, share best practices and leverage advanced medical technologies to better serve patients at Northwest Regional Health,” Cathy Mitchell, CEO of Northwest Regional Health, was quoted as saying in the press release.
Winfield Mayor Randy Price said rural hospitals in Alabama are struggling due to a variety of issues that keep adding up constant expenses, such as staffing shortages and struggles with insurance companies.
Price and North Mississippi Medical Services COO David Wilson said this deal has been in the works for over a year after both Northwest Regional and UAB felt their partnership wasn’t meeting its full potential.
“I think UAB has not been able to support the hospital to the degree that it needed supporting,” Wilson said. “I think UAB recognizes that, and Northwest certainly recognizes that. There are members of UAB who have been vocally supportive of this transition to North Mississippi Health Services.