Jackson Free Press

Baptist Strategic Planning Lays Off 186
As part of a strategic-planning process, Baptist Medical Center has slashed its expenses by nearly $18 million, including a net reduction of roughly 200 jobs. Over the past four months, the hospital system has saved $13 million by renegotiating contracts with suppliers and cutting or outsourcing certain services, but it had to cut salary costs to reach its $18 million goal, spokesman Robby Channell said today.

Baptist targeted 200 positions to eliminate, of which 14 were already vacant. The remaining 186 jobs ranged "from administration on down," Channell said. Channell emphasized that the hospital also has 136 open positions; employee applications are welcome.

Channell said that the planning process focused on adapting the economic recession, federal health-care reform and current trends in health care. The hospital has outsourced its behavioral-health services to First Baptist Church of Jackson's counseling center and is moving its inpatient pediatric unit to outpatient services to better reflect demand.

Hospital Lawsuit
Baptist is also a plaintiff with two other Jackson-area hospitals--Central Mississippi Medical Center and St. Dominic Hospital--in a suit filed this month in Hinds County Chancery Court against the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the state Department of Health. The suit argues that UMMC should follow the same state laws that apply to private hospitals when purchasing major equipment.

Currently, private hospitals must demonstrate the necessity of any major new purchase or expansion to the Health Department. While the state law aims to prevent the costly duplication of services, Attorney General Jim Hood said in a June opinion that the Health Department can grant UMMC's requests for equipment if it serves an educational purpose.

The state Health Department approved UMMC's purchase of specialized radiation equipment in July without ruling on whether issuing the "certificate of need" that the private hospitals would have required.

Touch and Taste Close Downtown
After operating nightclubs downtown for nearly eight years, Clay Bolls Edwards is closing his current ventures, Touch Night Club and Taste Lounge, on Capitol Street. Edwards announced the closing yesterday, but he says that it was a decision he's been mulling for longer.

"It was something that was on the agenda for a while, possibly, but after three out of four slow weeks, I guess the fight in me is gone," Edwards said.

Edwards said that enforcing of the city's ban on smoking in bars and restaurants drove away some patrons. Touch aimed for a more high-end feel than its previous incarnation, Club 105, and the new concept proved less popular, Edwards said. Downtown construction also made parking scarce for patrons, although, Edwards allowed, "I guess if people still wanted to come they would find somewhere to park."

Edwards said that his business partners, Jason Wells and Saleem Baird, may choose to reopen another club in the Touch and Taste spaces, but he plans to spend some time refocusing.

The south Jackson native said that he may look to invest in one of the nightclubs opening in the Farish Street Entertainment District.

circa. Offers "Urban Artisan Living"
Jackson physician Craig Escude and his wife, Michele, are bringing their love of handmade objects to a new, ambitious store in Fondren at 2771 Old Canton Road next to Montgomery Hardware. Opening in late October, circa. will sell home furnishings, artwork, clothing, jewelry and cosmetics, and offer an events space for private functions.

As Craig Escude describes it, circa. will appear modern while also hearkening back to an era when most everyday objects were handmade.

"This has been something we both wanted to do since we first got together," Escude said. "We've always had an eye for making things and creating things."