NATCHEZ — Ochsner Hospital CEO Dr. Pat Quinlan was touring Natchez Regional Medical Center and meeting with local doctors Friday to discuss the possibility of a joint venture between Ochsner and Regional.

Regional’s Vice President of Medical Affairs Dr. Ken Stubbs said while talks on the project are still in the preliminary phases, the meetings with Quinlan went well.

“I think it was all very positive,” Stubbs said. “And I think he saw a lot of potential here.”

Regional CEO Scott Phillips, who was not in town for Quinlan’s visit, said such a venture would benefit the community by bringing in new doctors and medical services.

Quinlan said Natchez, like other small towns, does have a problem in keeping doctors, and that shortage translates to patients leaving town for services.

“It’s not as if the patients aren’t here, they’re just leaving town,” Quinlan said.

And while Quinlan stressed that the plan was still in the preliminary phases, he described it as “a scenario that has a lot of attractive elements.”

Stubbs said he thought the visit was also useful because some local doctors that had concerns about the venture had an opportunity to hear Quinlan’s thoughts.

“He brought a lot of good insights,” Stubbs said. “And he talked with our local doctors about the potential to re-grow what’s been lost.”

Regional will be seeking Medicaid funding for the project but has yet to file the necessary paperwork to start the process.

That application should be filed by the end of this month.

In the meantime Quinlan and his team will continue to examine Regional and the healthcare needs of Natchez.

“We’ll be thinking about it,” Quinlan said.