World-Class Care, Hometown Heart: Why Oxford is Now a National Health Care Leader

Baptist Health North Oxford

Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi embraces the goal of providing superior, evidence-based and patient-centered healthcare. The Oxford hospital’s commitment to excellence was recently recognized by Healthgrades, a top online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals, as one of America’s Best 250 Hospitals for 2025.

The honor placed Baptist North Mississippi among the top 5% in the country for clinical excellence and the only one in the Magnolia State to receive the accolade. The well-earned distinction also heralds a big win for Oxford and the surrounding region as it means the community has access to top-tier health care at home.

World-Class Care for Patients

“Earning national recognition for quality and patient experience reflects the dedication of our entire team,” says Brian Welton, CEO and administrator. “Our community deserves the very best, and we are proud to deliver award-winning care close to home, where our patients can heal surrounded by the support of their family and friends. Baptist North Mississippi excels in world-class care while never losing our vision of having a hometown heart for all who enter our doors.”

In addition to Healthgrades’ recognition, the hospital received three other national accolades. It was named a top performer in the 2024 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Study by Vizient Inc., a distinction for outstanding patient care shared by only 18 large centers nationwide. It also earned two American Heart Association “Get With The Guidelines” achievement awards.

Baptist Health North Oxford

The latter honors were for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer hospital readmissions. Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and 5 causes of death in the U.S., respectively, according to the American Heart Association.    

Fast-Growing Regional Hospital

The 217-bed, five-story acute care facility, which serves the northern third of Mississippi, is one of the region’s fastest-growing hospitals.

The facility offers more than 100 medical and surgical specialists, representing over 30 specialty medical fields with top physicians in areas like cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiovascular, thoracic, pulmonology and cancer.

“We see our role as more than delivering excellent health care and in fiscal year 2024 alone, we provided nearly $600,000 in uncompensated care to ensure that even our most vulnerable neighbors have access to care,” Welton says. “And, since joining the Baptist family in 1989, we’ve invested more than $700 million into our community. These investments reflect our mission to improve health, strengthen families and support a brighter future for everyone who comes through our doors.”

Baptist Health North Oxford

Stellar Services at Work

Richard and Janet Frongillo know firsthand about going through the hospital’s doors. They experienced a parent’s worst nightmare soon after dropping their 18-year-old off at the University of Mississippi to start his freshman year. Shortly before boarding a plane for their home in Bedford, New Hampshire, they received a call that their son, Thomas, had collapsed and gone into heart failure. A well-trained EMS team rushed the young man to Baptist North Mississippi, where the family encountered stellar and compassionate care.

“From the people in the Emergency Department to the ICU, we have had the very best care. Every single person has been nothing short of wonderful. Where we live, people think that Boston is the epicenter of medicine, but we would put Baptist North Mississippi up against any facilities there,” the Frongillos say. “We couldn’t ask for a better overall experience. What has happened to our son is every parent’s worst nightmare, but we couldn’t be more grateful or thankful that it took place in Oxford. The medical professionals of the hospital truly saved our son’s life.”