February 2, 2026, Jackson, Miss. — The Mississippi Healthcare Alliance (MHA) is pleased to announce that Patricia Freeman, BSN, RN, has accepted the role of Executive Director, bringing more than four decades of clinical, quality improvement, and healthcare leadership experience to the organization. Freeman is a highly respected nurse leader and healthcare quality expert, recently…

The Mississippi Healthcare Alliance (MHCA) is once again convening clinicians, system leaders, and allied health professionals to focus on two of the most important—and rapidly evolving—areas of care: cardiac and neurological medicine. The one-day Advancing Cardiac & Neurological Care in Mississippi education conference on February 21, 2026, brings together national and regional experts, practical system-of-care…

Why Mississippi needs focused systems Mississippi continues to face elevated burdens of cardiovascular disease and stroke, often compounded by rural geography, fewer resources, and logistical challenges in timely care. For example, the Mississippi State Department of Health notes in its Cardiovascular Health Plan that key objectives include reducing uncontrolled blood pressure and increasing awareness of…

Access to quality healthcare is one of Mississippi’s greatest ongoing challenges—especially in rural areas where hospitals and clinics often struggle to meet growing patient needs. For many Mississippians, nurse practitioners (NPs) have become the foundation of accessible, compassionate, and high-quality care. These highly trained professionals are helping close critical healthcare gaps and ensuring that patients…

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an unexpected loss of heart function that occurs within minutes after symptoms begin. It is often caused by an electrical disturbance in the heart, known as arrhythmia, that prevents the heart from pumping blood effectively. While SCD can affect anyone, it is most common in people with underlying heart disease,…

Stroke Recognitions Gold Plus Merit Health River Oaks Ochsner Medical Center, Hancock Ochsner Rush Medical Center UMMC Madison Gold Plus, Target HF Optimal Honor Roll, Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Merit Health Wesley Gold Plus, Target Stroke Elite Honor Roll Methodist Olive Branch Hospital St. Dominic Hospital Gold Greenwood Leflore Hospital Gold Plus, Target…

The Chest Pain-MI Registry Performance Achievement Award, given by the American College of Cardiology, recognizes hospitals for consistently achieving high-level performance on critical heart attack care measures defined by the registry. To earn the award, hospitals must meet aggressive performance benchmarks related to guideline-based care and demonstrate sustained excellence over time, indicating a superior standard…

Rural hospitals are more than just medical facilities—they are lifelines for millions of Americans living in small towns and rural communities. In an era where healthcare is evolving rapidly, and access disparities are growing, rural hospitals play a vital role in ensuring that people in underserved areas receive the care they need. Their importance extends…

Sepsis remains a formidable public health challenge, with recent data highlighting both alarming trends and promising advancements in its management. Rising Incidence and Economic Impact Between 2016 and 2021, U.S. hospitalizations for sepsis surged by nearly 40%, escalating from 1.8 million to 2.5 million cases. This uptick is partly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic’s influence…

The Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) Each year, approximately 350,000 persons in the United States experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) or sudden death; approximately 90% of persons who experience an OHCA die. Despite decades of research, median reported rates of survival to hospital discharge are poor (10.4%) and have remained virtually unchanged…