PRENTISS (AP) — Forrest General Hospital further has reached an agreement to operate four medical facilities in neighboring Jefferson Davis County.

Hattiesburg-based FGH announced Friday that it will enter into a lease agreement with Jefferson Davis Community Hospital and Extended Care Facility in Prentiss. Under the lease, FGH will operate Jefferson Davis Community Hospital, Jefferson Davis Community Hospital Extended Care Facility, Jefferson Davis Community Hospital Family Medicine of Prentiss, and Arrington Wellness Center.

Discussion on the agreement had begun about a year ago, according to The Hattiesburg American, and the general structure of the lease was approved not only by the governing boards of both hospitals, but by Forrest County and Jefferson Davis County boards of supervisors as well.

“I can’t tell you exactly when, but I know that it was within the last month,” said David Hogan, president of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors.

“It was more or less a continuation of what Forrest General Hospital has been doing, which is reaching out to provide quality health care to the residents in 18 different counties here in south Mississippi.”

FGH also announced that Charlie Phillips, a University of West Alabama graduate, had been selected to run the Jefferson Davis facilities.

Phillips has served as an administrator in long-term care facilities and continuing care retirement communities and as a director in acute care hospitals.

Friday’s lease announcement continued FGH’s recent string of expansion efforts.

FGH had entered into a five-year lease agreement late last year with Walthall County General Hospital in Tylertown.

The pact modified a 25-year contract that FGH had with the hospital to manage its facility.

Under that agreement, FGH would lease the hospital’s assets and receive a license to operate the facility, while Walthall County General would continue to own its buildings and equipment.

All Walthall employees became FGH employees as well.

In 2006, FGH acquired Highland Community Hospital, a 60-bed acute-care facility in Picayune.

“Forrest General has made a strong commitment to support the future of health care in south Mississippi and specifically the southeast region of Mississippi,” President/Chief Executive Officer Evan Dillard said in a written statement released by FGH.

Hogan said the Jefferson Davis lease agreement appeared to be a win-win situation.

“It will help (FGH) with referrals and help them have better health care access,” Hogan said.

“This was just another way to better serve them, while helping (FGH) at the same time.”