Patients Still Standing Strong against Singing River Hospital

On Monday, November 21st Singing River Hospital shut down Dr. Terry Millette’s office causing uproar from many of his patients. Today in Pascagoula, many of Millette’s faithful demanded answers from hospital CEO Kevin Holland as to why they’ll no longer have access to their trusted doctor.
“Even though it’s difficult to stand, I will stand up for him.” Lanie Ellifritt and at least a dozen others in orange t-shirts that read “I Support Dr. Millette” piled into the Singing River Health System Board of Trustees meeting looking for answers. “What do you do with 1,000 patients in three or four weeks? What do you do with the people that are suffering from migraines that need Botox shots every two weeks? What do you do with them?”
Ellifritt tells News 25 she’s known Dr. Millette since she was 16-years-old. She’s trusted him to give her the best care for her debilitating disease. Dr. Millette is a neurologist who specializes in multiple sclerosis. Last month, Singing River Health System suddenly closed his practice, laying off his staff while also taking over his nearly 4,000 patients, but giving what many of Dr. Millette’s supporters view as an unclear answer as to why. “We had serious questions come up with respect to his diagnoses and treatment of multiple sclerosis,” said Singing River Health System CEO Kevin Holland.
Holland, along with board members and administrators, took a 30 minute session to talk about how they now plan to proactively assist Dr. Millette’s former patients and make the transition smoother. Some of those steps include covering costs of reevaluation and arraigning transportation as needed.
Ellifritt stands by Dr. Millette, claiming he saved her life when she was ready to give up. “He finally found out what was wrong with me and now they’ve taken him away from me. As far as I’m concerned, they’re the ones in the wrong and they’re the ones that need to pay, not Terry.”
Holland tells News 25 Dr. Millette can still open his own private practice within the community, just not with Singing River.