The East Carroll Parish Hospital and the community came out in large numbers to honor Dr. Don Bailey, who retired from practicing medicine in March 2023 after 40 years.
The ceremony was also an opportunity to introduce Dr. Dana Pippin, the organization’s newest doctor.
Ladonna Englerth, ECPH Administrator, and Belynda Martin, former ECPH Clinic Director, spoke of the decades of working with Dr. Bailey and his impact in assisting the hospital in obtaining financial stability, among other contributions that are still felt in the community, even after his retirement.
Bailey came to Lake Providence in 1983, recruited to replace another longtime doctor in town after his retirement. He purchased his practice and stayed in the same building throughout the duration of his time in the parish.
“Dr. Bailey supported the workers at the hospital when there was nothing for him to gain because he was not an employee of the hospital at the time. One thing that we learned about Dr. Bailey during some difficult days was that he was supportive of the employees and the hospital itself, and that led to him helping us devise a plan to get the hospital out of debt in a few years. He later became a member of the board of directors and his input as a doctor was invaluable,” said Englerth.
Bailey sold his practice to the hospital in 2003, and Martin said that many told her that it would never work because there was no way that Bailey was going to let them run what had been his practice. She said the only problem that really had to be resolved in the new system was that people had to have appointments, and Dr. Bailey had been used to just letting his patients walk in and see him if they were sick. “I knew that his heart just didn’t allow him to turn his patients away, but we kind of came to a compromise on the number of walk-ins, and everything else was very smooth,” said Martin.
Bailey said that East Carroll Parish was good to him and he became a part of the community. He said that in medical care, everyone who takes the oath should provide the best medical care possible.
“I have so many great memories of the people I met while living and working in East Carroll Parish. I will always consider this place as home,” said Bailey.
Martin and Englerth said that Bailey was instrumental in getting both of their jobs as the administrator and clinical director. Englerth had worked for years in medical records, while Martin had been director of nursing. They said that Bailey was the one to sit down and help them figure out whatever the problem was if it was in the best interests of the hospital.
Dr. Pippin and her husband Ethan, a pharmacist at Minsky’s Drug Store, were also introduced. Pippin was recruited a few years ago when Bailey first informed Martin that he was going to be retiring in the near future.
Englerth said that the hospital is indebted to Dr. Bailey, and looks forward to years of service from Pippin, who is currently receiving patients.
