Choctaw, MS — The countdown is on for the grand opening of a new hospital on the Choctaw Reservation. By early March the building, which is still under construction, is on track to open in the Pearl River Community near the Pearl River Resort.

"It's actually three times bigger than the current location," says Misty Dreifuss, who is the Public Information Director for the tribe. Comprised of 180,000 square feet, she says the $55 million facility will be set up to meet an array of health-care needs.

"We have a membership of 10,000 people here," says Dreifuss. "The current facility doesn't even take care of all of those people. They are struggling. So, this facility - that is three times bigger - is going to help us out a lot."

The facility will be much more than a hospital. Aside from the 20 beds that it will have for patients, and space to house 14 doctors and 12 dentists, this facility will also be used to house the Choctaw Tribe's Public Health Department among other things. In fact, areas within the building will be set aside to address behavioral and mental health issues, along with addictions.

A ribbon cutting for the new hospital will be held March 2nd at 10 AM. This will be followed by the grand opening for the facility on March 9th.