Slide

We opened our doors in 1952 with 90 beds and 70 employees. Today, we have grown to 547 beds and more than 3,000 employees. There have been a lot of firsts in the past 70 years which have enabled us to grow our services — one of the first stroke teams in the nation, home to one of the state’s first epilepsy monitoring units, one of the state’s first hospitals to receive helicopter service and home to the state’s first certified nurse in neuroscience nursing who was also one of the first in the country. We have served millions of patients and welcomed countless numbers of babies, but 70 years and platinum status mean more than just numbers. It means doing everything we can to make your hospital experience the best it can be. That’s our commitment to you.

1950

Forrest General Hospital held it’s groundbreaking ceremony on August 23.

1952

The hospital’s first patient Mrs. Fred Roberts is admitted on July 15 and delivers a daughter Sandra Kaye. The 90-bed community hospital’s first administrator is Reagan Long.

1957

Ten patient rooms added, making total 100 beds.

hospital worker with patient - giving patient something

hospital workers with patient in strecher - black and white

doc with a megaphone being held at baby? Idk weird

1964

Total beds = 160
Air conditioning is installed

1967

First in South MS to establish a Cobalt Unit for cancer treatment.

1968

Phase I expansion completed, Coronary Care Unit (CCU) is established.

nurses and doc smiling - black and white

1970

Phase II expansion completed, adding Psych Unit and ICU. Total bed count is now 260.

1972

Phase III Expansion completed. Total beds = 320

1976

First Swan-Ganz catheter used.

1978

Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory opens and helipad is constructed for Rescue 7.

1984

Phase V expansion completed, adding Pine Grove. Lowery Woodall Outpatient Surgery opens. Total bed count is now 537.

1985

First open-heart surgery performed, Home Care established, crosswalk built.

1987

20,000 square-foot labor and delivery facility opens and first balloon angioplasty is performed.

1988

Permanent MRI unit installed, NICU opens.

1995

Phase VII construction complete, adding 165 new patient rooms.

1996

Fifth Floor Terrace opens and parking garage is built.

1998

Home Care facility opens on South 28th Avenue in Hattiesburg.

1999

Forrest General Cancer Center opens on South 28th Avenue.

2002

Forrest General’s 50th anniversary, designated Level II Trauma Center, Forrester’s Food Court opens.

2004

Spirit of Women program is established.

2006

LiveWell Center opens, Radiology Department goes digital.

family medicine residency clinic residents

2012

The Orthopedic Institute opened its doors and started caring for the Pine Belt community.

2014

Family Medicine Residency Clinic welcomes first class of residents and the Women’s Surgery Center is completed.

2016

Forrest General receives baby-friendly designation.

2018

Cath lab celebrates 40th anniversary and the Healing Garden has its groundbreaking.

2019

Forrest General hosts Project SEARCH program and the 2nd da Vinci Robot is utilized at the hospital.

2020

Mississippi’s first bilateral MAKO knee replacement surgery was performed.

2020

Forrest General Cancer Center added a third linear accelerator.

2021

Forrest General Hospice Services and Asbury Hospice House celebrate their 5th Anniversary.

2022

Chuck Carter and Kate Aseme won 2 out of the 3 State Trauma Awards.

Communicate. Acknowledge. Respect. Empathize.

Forrest General Hospital’s patients, along with their loved ones, have trusted us to provide the highest level of quality health care, while extending heart-felt compassion, to the sick and injured for over 70 years. We strive to stay true to our mission of doing what is best for the patient.

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A Board of Trustees appointed by the Forrest County Board of Supervisors is charged with the oversight of Forrest Health. The system is completely self supporting and does not operate on local taxes.
Forrest Health facilities are approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for participation in Medicare and Medicaid Programs.