South Sunflower County Hospital marked a major milestone in maternal healthcare today with the grand opening of its newly renovated Maternity Care Center. A modern, patient-centered facility created through years of strategic partnership and a shared mission to expand access to quality care for women and families in the Delta.

This grand opening is the result of a long-standing partnership between South Sunflower County Hospital, Indianola Family Medical Group and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi with support from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. Together, these partners have worked to address the region’s growing maternity care needs and build a care model that leads with innovation, compassion and community engagement.

“This facility was built with our people in mind. Every decision—from the comfort-focused design to the integration of modern medical technology—was made to provide a safe, dignified, and supportive environment for our patients during one of life’s most important moments,” said Courtney Phillips, CEO of South Sunflower County Hospital. “It means families no longer have to travel long distances to receive compassionate, high-quality obstetric care. It means more babies will be born right here in the heart of the Delta, surrounded by their community.”

A key component of the new Maternity Care Center is the integration of a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) model of care, which brings evidence-based practices to the forefront of maternal health in the Delta. CNMs will work in collaboration with Family Medicine Physicians to provide prenatal education, maternity care support and postpartum care. This team-based model is known to reduce unnecessary c-sections, increase breastfeeding rates and improve the patient experience.

“The new Maternity Care Center was designed to promote the best outcomes. Integrating CNMs into the IFMG and South Sunflower care team will not only lead to healthier moms and babies but also create more efficiencies in the way care is provided,” said Casey Bland, RN, MSN, Manager of Provider Quality at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. “We’re creating a space where families feel supported, where care is coordinated and where every mother has access to safe, high-quality birth experiences.”

The Maternity Care Center will also serve as a training hub for future Certified Nurse Midwives and Family Physicians specializing in obstetrics, helping address workforce shortages and providing an opportunity to obtain clinical hours in the state of Mississippi.

“The center represents what’s possible when organizations come together around a common goal: healthier moms, healthier babies and strong communities,” said Dr. Hannah Ray, family physician at Indianola Family Medical Group and South Sunflower County Hospital. “As a family physician, I’m proud of the collaborative, team-based model we’ve built here. Our unique approach allows us to deliver care across the full spectrum. Integrating Certified Nurse Midwives into that model ensures women have access to both medical expertise and individualized, supportive care.”

The new facility features state-of-the-art rooms for maternity care, recovery and postpartum (LDRP) care, allowing mothers to remain in one room throughout their stay. With four LDRP rooms, three antepartum rooms, a triage room and dedicated spaces for telehealth and care collaboration, the new Maternity Care Center is a critical next step in South Sunflower County Hospital’s efforts to achieve excellence not only in women’s healthcare services and clinical outcomes, but also in providing an exceptional experience for patients and their families.

“In rural areas, access to maternal care is critical. We believe every Mississippian deserves access to quality care regardless of where they live,” said Eugenia King, Director of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. “This is a bold investment in the long-term health of our state.”

The grand opening is the latest chapter in an ongoing initiative to improve women’s health across the Delta which also includes Baby-Friendly Hospital Designation, the Delta Healthy Moms & Babies group prenatal care program and the Indianola Community Wellness Center which offers fitness classes, nutrition education and lifestyle coaching.

South Sunflower County Hospital delivers nearly 200 babies each year and has served generations of Delta families. The newly renovated Maternity Care Center ensures that commitment continues with innovation and positive impact.

“As family physicians, we share a unique relationship with our OB patients. I am now delivering the second generation of OB patients. I’ve had the chance to develop unique relationships with families through the years, and have witnessed many changes in our community, our hospital, and our approach to OB care,” said Dr. Eddie Donahoe, family physician at Indianola Family Medical Group and South Sunflower County Hospital. “I believe the partnership developed with Blue Cross, and the completion of our new maternity center will allow us to continue providing the highest quality of care to mothers, newborns, and their families for generations to come.”

The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation has a vision for a healthy Mississippi and provides leadership and targeted grant funding for sustainable initiatives and programs to improve the overall health and well-being of Mississippians. Learn more about the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation at www.healthiermississippi.org.

South Sunflower County Hospital is supported by the South Sunflower County Hospital Foundation to improve access to high quality healthcare services and provide health education to citizens of Indianola and the greater Delta region.