Regency Hospital-Meridian Closure Signals Broader Challenges for Rural Healthcare
Meridian, Mississippi – Regency Hospital-Meridian, a 40-bed critical illness recovery hospital, is set to close its doors on or before March 13, 2026, adding to a growing number of hospital closures across the United States. The closure, attributed to an operational business decision by its parent company, Select Medical, highlights the increasing financial and operational pressures facing healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas.
Impact on Patient Care in Meridian
Regency Hospital-Meridian, located on the second floor of Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center South, provided specialized care for patients recovering from respiratory, neurological, cardiac, or other critical illnesses. Select Medical spokesperson Shelly Eckenroth assured the community that patients will continue to have access to similar recovery care services through Ochsner Specialty Hospital in Meridian. [Meridian Star]
Broader Trends in Hospital Closures
The closure of Regency Hospital-Meridian is not an isolated incident. Recent reports indicate a concerning trend of hospital closures nationwide. Becker’s Hospital Review reported 23 hospital and emergency department closures in 2025 and 25 closures in 2024. [Becker’s Hospital Review] Bradford Regional Medical Center in Pennsylvania too announced plans to close inpatient, emergency, and long-term care services by mid-2026, further illustrating this trend.
Financial Pressures and Funding Cuts
According to Don Boyd, president and CEO of Kaleida Health (Bradford Regional Medical Center’s parent company), federal funding cuts and long-standing financial pressures are major contributors to these closures. [Becker’s Hospital Review] These challenges are forcing healthcare organizations to re-evaluate their services and operational models.
Accessing Medical Records
Patients of Regency Hospital-Meridian needing to obtain their medical records can download a patient access form from the hospital’s website: regencyhospital.com/locations-and-tours/ms/meridian/closure. Completed forms can be submitted via email to SMCHealthInformation@selectmedical.com, faxed to 717-635-4842, or mailed to Select Medical, Health Information, 4714 Gettysburg Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. For questions regarding the status of a request, call 717-920-4016. [Regency Hospital]
About Select Medical
Select Medical, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is a large provider of critical illness recovery hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient rehabilitation centers across the United States, operating more than 100 facilities. [Select Medical]