NATCHEZ — On Tuesday morning the Adams County Board of Supervisors selected a consulting firm to conduct a study of Natchez Regional Medical Center.

The Horne Group, based in Jackson, was selected to conduct the legally required study.

While Horne’s health care consultant Barry Plunkett said he was pleased his group was selected, the board actually had very few options.

KPMG, the second group named as a possible consultant, did not show up for Tuesday’s interview session.

KPMG representatives were scheduled to appear before the board between 10-11 a.m.

Just before 10:40 a.m. KPMG representatives sent hospital CEO Scott Phillips an e-mail, via BlackBerry, stating the group was no longer pursuing the opportunity to act as NRMC’s consulting firm.

“That was a surprise,” Phillips said.

Phillips speculated the group likely discovered a conflict of interest in working with the hospital.

Both Horne and KPMG were recommended by Phillips as qualified groups to conduct the hospital study.

And while the board only had one option to choose from Tuesday, the hiring was a critical step in the hospital’s restructuring Phillips said.

“This keeps us moving on schedule,” Phillips said.

In staying with the hospital’s predetermined schedule Plunkett said he will be at the hospital’s campus shortly before or shortly after July 4 to begin the study and should be finished at the end of July.

Once the study is completed Horne’s study should reveal if the hospital should be sold or leased.

“We want to provide the supervisors and the board (of trustees) with an expert opinion of the best road map to the future,” Plunkett said.

But that expert opinion won’t come cheaply.

Including expenses Plunkett estimated the cost of the study to be between $36,000 – $40,000.

Supervisor Darryl Grennell offered the motion to hire the group and said he is anxious to see the results of the study.

“I’m interested to see their findings,” he said.

Grennell said he would have preferred the opportunity to interview both groups but was satisfied with board’s selection of the Horne Group.

“It’s always best when you have more that one group to pick from,” he said.

Grennell said he has heard very positive comments about the group from other CPAs in the area.

Board President Henry Watts said he was glad to be finished with the selection process.

Watts also said he was glad for the hospital’s employees.

After the consulting group has completed their study Watts said NRMC’s employees will have a clear outlook of the future of their hospital.

“We don’t want to keep them in limbo for months and months,” he said.