The city of Jackson is getting its first teaching hospital.
Allegiance Hospital will soon start accepting medical students and residents to train them for their future practices.
Dr. John Lake is Allegiance's Program Director for Family Medicine.
He says the hospital's start up costs could run into the millions of dollars - but it will be worth it, because being a teaching hospital keeps instructing physicians "on their game," and having residents improves patient care.
"There will be time to spend with patients to explain a lot of things to them," says Lake, "And I think (in) more of a depth than we would normally have time for because (the residents) will be there 24/7."
Lake thinks having a teaching hospital will also be good for Jackson, providing a spark to the local economy.
He says about 20% of doctors end up practicing where they do their residency.
