NATCHEZ — Natchez Regional Medical Center was given permission Thursday to start the renovations officials say are needed to consolidate the city’s two hospitals.

Natchez Hospital Company — the subsidiary of Community Health Systems that owns NRMC and Natchez Community Hospital — had applied for a certificate of need with the Mississippi State Health Department to renovate NRMC in a way that will allow the business of both hospitals to operate on one campus.

The certificate was granted Thursday.

“We are delighted that the state health officer has approved our applications for certificates of need so that we can begin work to create one strong hospital to serve the Natchez community,” said Eric Robinson, chief executive officer for both hospitals. “By operating in a single location, we will be able to closely coordinate care, operate more efficiently without duplication of services and better manage our resources to enhance the care and experience we offer our patients.”

Certificates of need are a state mandated process intended to restrain health care costs and allow coordinated planning of new services and construction while reducing duplication of services.

The certificate granted Thursday will allow the hospital to reopen the cardiac catheterization lab at NRMC and significantly renovate and expansions the emergency room, labor and delivery suites and fourth floor patient areas.

A total of 34,000-square feet of the NRMC facility will be renovated during the project, which is expected to start later this spring following approval of plans by the Department of Health Division of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification.

“This is an exciting day for both of our hospitals as the next phase of our work begins to enhance the care we offer close to home,” NRMC Board Moderator Sue Stedman said. “When work to consolidate the services of the two hospitals onto the NRMC campus is complete, we will be able to respond to the growing patient population with improved, up-to-date amenities.”

In anticipation of the construction, NRMC temporarily moved its labor-and-delivery services to the Natchez Community Hospital campus earlier this month. The consolidation to the NRMC campus is expected before year’s end.

“As one hospital, we will be better able to support our healthcare professionals with more efficient resources, and patients will benefit from being able to access these services and shared expertise in a single location,” NRMC Chief of Staff Frank Guedon said.

Hospital officials have previously said plans for the Natchez Community Hospital campus post-consolidation will be finalized at a later time.