MMH President & CEO Brian Whitfield

12/10/2025

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1415064433961864&id=100063749614949

12/10/2025

Exciting things are happening at McCurtain Memorial Hospital! 💙🏥

We’re thrilled to share an update on our 3rd floor renovations. The old “New Directions” hall is undergoing a major transformation, and we can’t wait for you to see what’s coming next. This space will soon become home to a variety of new and existing specialty clinics right here at MMH — making it easier than ever for our community to access high-quality care close to home.

When this remodel is complete, the 3rd floor will include specialty clinics such as:
✅ General Surgery with Dr. Michael Brown
✅ Cardiologists from Oklahoma Heart Hospital
✅ US Dermatology
✅ CHRISTUS Health Nephrology Clinic

We expect to complete the renovation in time to open the first week of January, and that timeline has our whole team energized. This is a big step forward for McCurtain County and for rural healthcare across our region.

A heartfelt thank-you goes to our Chief Operating Officer Lane Manginell and our Director of Rural Health Clinics Kara Maness. Their incredible work fostering these partnerships has made this expansion possible, and we’re grateful for their leadership and vision.

These relationships strengthen rural medicine in the best way: by bringing more specialists, more services, and more continuity of care to our patients — without the long drives out of town. That’s what community healthcare should look like.

As CEO, I want you to know I remain fully committed to growing McCurtain Memorial Hospital, expanding access to care, and securing our future as a strong, independent rural hospital. This renovation is more than a remodel — it’s an investment in the health of our neighbors for years to come.

Thank you for your continued support. We’re building something special together, and the best is still ahead. 🌟

11/07/2025

Johnnie is a great man and a dear friend!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1UJkHCsw6W/?mibextid=wwXIfr

11/07/2025

We are committed to tackling mental health in southestern Oklahoma as a community and we will not stop until we achieve our mission. We will woek with our city, county, state, and federal partners to make this happen!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1387028560098785&id=100063749614949

McCurtain Memorial Hospital Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Mental Health

IDABEL, OK — On Wednesday, November 5, McCurtain Memorial Hospital President and CEO, Brian Whitfield, convened a roundtable discussion on mental health with key community leaders. Participants included representatives from the Idabel Police Department, McCurtain County Jail, Choctaw Tribal Police, Lift, and Dr. Glynis Watkins.

Every two years, McCurtain Memorial Hospital conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) as required by federal statute. This process identifies the county’s most pressing health concerns through collaboration with local entities and residents. For several consecutive years, mental health, housing, and food security have consistently ranked among the county’s top three health priorities.

Wednesday’s discussion, led by Whitfield, aimed to strengthen collaboration among county partners to address the growing mental health crisis amid limited resources.

Over the past year, the hospital has engaged architects and internal teams to explore options for addressing mental health needs, including the potential development of a new mental health hospital in McCurtain County. During the roundtable, participants agreed that while mental health resources are needed across all age groups, the most urgent priority—or “starting point”—is adults ages 18 to 64.
Representatives from several law enforcement agencies emphasized that the lack of mental health resources often results in individuals with mental illness becoming criminalized and incarcerated.

“We are seeing instances where these folks are being brought to jail on misdemeanor charges like larceny and sit there for extended periods of time, and their mental health issues worsen,” said Darnell Duckett, McCurtain County Jail Administrator.

Duckett noted that the jail environment can cause rapid and significant declines in mental health for these individuals.
Lieutenant Toon of the Choctaw Tribal Police echoed similar concerns, explaining that his department frequently responds to mental health-related calls but is limited by state law. He described repeated cases where residents in need of inpatient services either fail to meet admission criteria or face a complete lack of available beds.

Some agencies reported that individuals who have stopped taking prescribed medications—often antipsychotics—are automatically denied inpatient treatment. Jail administrators also raised concerns that certain state resources are denied based on an inmate’s charges, effectively blocking access to care, which may constitute a violation of federal law.

Whitfield confirmed that McCurtain Memorial Hospital plans to move forward aggressively in 2026 with efforts to establish a mental health hospital in the county. The hospital has begun exploring potential land purchases for the project. While construction and opening may take up to two years, Whitfield emphasized the immediate need for qualified mental health professionals, particularly to provide evaluations within the county jail.

The group agreed to reconvene in January 2026. In the interim, the hospital will begin recruiting Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) to provide 24/7 coverage. These professionals will offer mental health evaluations for hospital patients and telehealth services to the county jail. When patients meet inpatient criteria, the hospital will assist in locating available treatment beds within or outside the state.
The November 5 meeting was open to the community, and future sessions will be as well. All interested residents and city, county, or state officials are encouraged to attend and participate in shaping McCurtain County’s mental health strategy.

10/16/2025

For Immediate Release
Press Release

McCurtain Memorial Rural Health Clinic-Valliant, McCurtain Memorial Rural Health Clinic-Idabel, McCurtain Memorial Hospital Foundation Inc.

09/17/2025

Press Release

For Immediate Release
Date: Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

McCurtain Memorial Hospital Applauds CMS’s Rural Health Transformation Funding Opportunity; Calls for Bold, Long-Term Commitment to Protect Rural Hospitals

Idabel, Oklahoma – McCurtain Memorial Hospital (MMH) welcomes the recent announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This unprecedented $50 billion program is designed to strengthen access, quality, and financial sustainability in rural health care across the United States.

⸻

Oklahoma’s Application Deadline and Federal Review

The State of Oklahoma is now tasked with preparing and submitting its application to CMS by early November 2025. CMS has committed to approving or denying state applications no later than December 3, 2025. This timeline underscores the urgency for collaboration between state leaders, rural hospitals, and community stakeholders to ensure Oklahoma secures its share of this transformative funding.

If approved, Oklahoma stands to receive a significant portion of the $50 billion program, which will be distributed among states that submit robust, comprehensive plans to support rural health. These funds are intended to address technology upgrades, workforce recruitment, service expansion, care model innovation, and infrastructure critical to sustaining rural hospitals.

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Promise and Limitations of the Rural Health Transformation Program

McCurtain Memorial Hospital acknowledges that this program represents a historic step forward for rural communities. However, the hospital emphasizes that the RHTP is only the foundation of a broader, long-term effort. Rural health care faces systemic challenges – from workforce shortages and financial instability to evolving community health needs.

“While we welcome and support this funding, we must also be honest: it is not a permanent fix,” said Brian Whitfield, CEO of McCurtain Memorial Hospital. “The Rural Health Transformation Program will give Oklahoma hospitals breathing room and resources to innovate, but to protect rural health for future generations, we must remain committed to ongoing structural reforms and community investments.”

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McCurtain Memorial’s Financial Turnaround and Commitment to Stability

Nearly four years ago, McCurtain Memorial faced immense financial strain, operating under the constant threat of closure. Today, the hospital’s financial footing is significantly stronger thanks to disciplined fiscal management, expanded service lines, and aggressive pursuit of sustainability initiatives.

This progress offers reassurance to our community and employees that MMH is not only surviving but positioned to grow. The hospital’s administration continues to pursue opportunities to strengthen its balance sheet, reduce waste, and ensure long-term solvency.

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The Role of the OBBBA in Creating This Funding Stream

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) made the Rural Health Transformation Program possible by establishing a five-year, $50 billion federal investment specifically earmarked for rural health care. The legislation requires states to use the funds in targeted ways, including:
• Enhancing prevention and chronic disease management
• Expanding access to behavioral health and substance use services
• Supporting workforce recruitment and retention
• Investing in telehealth, digital infrastructure, and cybersecurity
• Encouraging new care models and partnerships among providers
• Upgrading or preserving essential service lines in rural hospitals

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Recruitment, Growth, and Economic Development

McCurtain Memorial is already working aggressively to align with these goals. Over the past several years, the hospital has:
• Recruited new physicians and establish new partnerships to bring expanded specialties and services to our community
• Invested in workforce development, ensuring training and retention of nurses, technicians, and support staff
• Expanded service lines to meet local health care needs more effectively, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances for care
• Contributed to the local economy by creating stable, well-paying jobs that multiply economic impact throughout McCurtain County

“Our hospital has worked tirelessly to rebuild from a point of near collapse,” said Whitfield. “We are proud of how far we’ve come – but we also know how far we still must go. This funding opportunity will be a catalyst for growth, but the true measure of success will be our ability to sustain progress and keep care close to home for decades to come.”

08/06/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16htTvqo6t/

07/29/2025

I am so incredibly grateful to all who partnered with us to relieve the burden on families! This year has been even more successful than last! I’ll see you all there on Saturday! Thank you to all who gave!

Also - a special “thank you,” to our hospital marketing team! (Kayla and Christy).

07/28/2025

Dear Lacey,

Thank you again for taking the time to join us in Idabel for the grand opening of our newly acquired and integrated Rural Health Clinic. Your presence meant a great deal to our team and community, and we appreciated the opportunity to share this important milestone with you.

I’m writing today, first and foremost, to extend congratulations to Senator Mullin for his role in supporting and passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). While the bill contains elements of promise—most notably the $50 billion allocation for rural hospitals, clinics, and healthcare infrastructure—I must also share, candidly, my deep concerns as a rural hospital administrator.

My chief worry lies in the language that appears to allow large technology firms and major health systems to access significant portions of this funding under the broad banner of “expanding rural access.” While innovation and collaboration are essential, this could open the door for powerful entities—often far removed from the realities of rural healthcare—to divert millions away from the very communities the legislation intends to support.

I respectfully urge Congress and CMS Administrator Dr. Oz to enact rigorous safeguards to ensure these funds are not siphoned off by well-funded interest groups and corporate lobbyists. These communities cannot afford another cycle of waste, fraud, or bureaucratic inefficiency. Every dollar must be directed where it is needed most—into sustaining frontline providers, critical access hospitals, rural clinics, and the fragile infrastructure that keeps care within reach for millions of Americans.

We need Senator Mullin to stand firmly for Oklahoma—to advocate for real oversight, transparency, and rural prioritization. This is a rare and powerful opportunity to deliver lasting impact. Let us not squander it.

With appreciation and urgency,

07/28/2025

Across the United States—and especially here in Oklahoma—rural hospitals are in crisis. More than 140 rural hospitals have closed nationwide since 2010. Communities are being left without emergency rooms, maternity care, and basic services. Families are forced to drive hours for care. The very heart of small-town America—its local hospital—is fading away.

But at McCurtain Memorial Hospital, we are choosing a different path.

We are choosing resilience.
We are choosing sustainability.
We are choosing our community.

Over the past two years, we’ve been working relentlessly to strengthen our financial foundation, expand our service lines, and forge strategic partnerships that will help us not just survive—but thrive.

Whether it’s modernizing our facilities, recruiting top-tier talent, or bringing new specialties to Southeast Oklahoma, we are committed to building a healthier future right here at home.

And we are not doing this alone. Through collaboration with local, regional, and state partners, we’re laying the groundwork for a healthcare system that will serve our neighbors for generations to come.

We know the odds.
We know the challenges.
And we also know the power of community.

McCurtain Memorial Hospital isn’t going anywhere.

We’re here to stay—for today, for tomorrow, and for decades to come.

Some have asked me what sets us apart from the trend of closures? My answer is simple: we are determined to survive. We are determined to put healthcare first. We are committed to saving jobs and saving the hospital!