Press Releases
Hospital Series on Services: Part 1 Rehabilitative Therapy
Posted on Saturday, October 31st, 2026
See Photos on Page 1
Physical Therapy to Expand with New Hospital
(October 30, 2026) Since 2002, patients needing rehabilitative therapy have found it at Mercy Health Love County Hospital.
“After the tornado damaged the hospital in 2024, our services have been temporarily limited to physical therapy. We are very excited about what is ahead with the opening of a new hospital, when we restore occupational therapy, speech therapy, and inpatient rehabilitation services,” said Jeri Gill McKenzie, PT, MBA.
McKenzie is co‑owner of Odyssey Health Care, an Ardmore company that employs therapists and staffs the Mercy program. She has practiced for more than 30 years, choosing physical therapy over medical school after observing how deeply therapists understood human anatomy and human function.
In the expansive Therapy Building east of the hospital, therapists help individuals recover from surgery, fractures, ligament injuries, joint replacements, falls, weakness, balance problems, and other conditions that affect mobility and independence.
Back, hip, knee, shoulder, and wrist injuries are among the most common reasons Marietta‑area patients seek treatment. All of the hospital’s therapists describe strong job fulfillment in helping injured or ill individuals improve their movement and manage pain.
The rehabilitation department is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telephone number is (580) 276-3347 extension 2.
Josh Utt, PT, develops each...
All But "Bed" Services are Back
Posted on Wednesday, September 16th, 2026
Two Years Ago: Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt speaks to reporters
as local officials look on April 30, 2024, outside the tornado-
damaged Mercy Health Love County Hospital.
The decaying hulk of the former Mercy Health Love County hospital building at 300 Wanda Street is a reminder of health services interrupted after a tornado leveled the west side business district of Marietta in 2024.
But look on the bright side. In the past two years, nearly every service that was inside the hospital has reopened in a new or renovated space on campus. Their storm-damaged equipment has been replaced with new. Awaiting resumption are services that require a bed or an overnight stay.
“We have everything back except inpatient care and infusions,” says hospital CEO and administrator Scott Callender.
What’s more, the public has more choice about when to come in. Some outpatient services now have extended hours on weekdays and also are open on weekends.
Emergency Room —24 hours a day, phone 276-3347 ext. 4
Radiology (x-rays, CT scans) —7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, including weekends, phone 276-3347 ext. 3
General Ultrasound — 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, phone 276-3347 ext. 3
Echo Ultrasound — 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Friday, phone 276-3347 ext. 3
Clinic — 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, phone (580) 276-3347 ext. 1
Physical Therapy — 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, phone 276-3347 ext. 2
Laboratory Services—in the emergency room
Administration and Medical Records — 8:30...
Love County Acquires New Ambulance
Posted on Thursday, August 13th, 2026

NEW AMBULANCE: The Love County EMS District Board poses with the
county's newest ambulance on July 20, 2026. From left are Dr. Stephen
Hutchins, Connie Barker, Marcella Kirk, Lawrence Anderson, and Dana
Scott.
At its July 20, 2026 meeting, the Love County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) District Board stepped outside to inspect the newest ambulance in the fleet. It is the first to be equipped with an Auto Loader, an electronic lifting system for raising and lowering a patient stretcher into and out of the vehicle.
“This eliminates heavy lifting for our medics and is safer for patients, too,” explained EMS Manager Dustin Michael. The vehicle, a Type 1 ambulance, is mounted on a rugged truck chassis with the patient care module attached to the cab.
The ambulance also has the distinction of being the most expensive ever purchased by Love County, a sign of the times. Love County earmarks a sales tax of 1/20 of one cent to buy replacement EMS vehicles. But in this case, the Chickasaw Nation generously contributed $400,000 to cover the entire cost.
“We appreciate the Chickasaw Nation’s contribution,” said EMS Board chairman Dr. Stephen Hutchins. “This helps the community as a whole, and it continues our close relationship that has enabled us to form a second ambulance station (Station 2) plus a fire brigade at WinStar Casino to serve them.”
Station 2 also answers medical calls and assists on fire calls in the southern part of the county along I-35 from Red River to...
Evening and Weekend x-rays, CT Start August 1, 2026
Posted on Friday, July 31st, 2026

Blake Scott, Director of Imaging Services, runs a test in the CT Scanner acquired one year ago. Starting August 1, 2026, CT Scans and X-Rays will be available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday for outpatients of Mercy Health Love County clinic or any other referring physician.
With a staff of 11 technologists, Mercy Health Love County Hospital is expanding its offerings in outpatient radiology services to evenings and weekends, starting August 1, 2026.
The new hours, applying to X-Ray and CT exams only, are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Outpatients of the hospital clinic or any other referring physician may utilize the expanded radiology services.
“It’s for the convenience of all,” said Blake Scott, Director of Imaging Services for the hospital and emergency room. “There are a lot of patients who can’t miss work who can now come in before work or after work or on the weekend to receive x-rays or CT scans.”
To make an appointment, call the radiology department at (580) 276-3347, ext. 3. On the day of the appointment, make sure orders have been received from your doctor by calling the radiology department (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or the emergency department (580) 276-3347, ext. 4 (before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m.).
All outpatient radiology patients should report to the Emergency Room of the hospital to meet their technologist and be escorted to the radiology suite.
Following the Marietta tornado of April 27, 2024, the hospital acquired new...
Dustin Michael Named Head of EMS/Fire Brigade
Posted on Monday, June 15th, 2026

New Leader in Emergency Services: Dustin Michael has been promoted
to EMS Manager, the top post in the EMS/Fire Brigade operated by
Mercy Health Love County Hospital.
For many in Love County, Dustin Michael is the face of firefighting. For 32 years, he has volunteered with the Marietta Volunteer Fire Department, including a long tenure as chief.
His service expanded in 2008 when WinStar Casino began building hotels and contracted with Love County EMS to add fire and rescue capabilities to the county‑owned ambulance service. Michael transitioned to a professional role at that time, continuing the work he describes simply as “helping the community” — a commitment he has lived around the clock.
In December 2025, that long record of service culminated in his appointment as the head of Love County EMS/Fire Brigade. Formally titled EMS Manager, he was named to the post by Mercy Health Love County Hospital, which manages the unified ambulance and fire operation.
Love County’s model is believed to be the only hospital‑based EMS in the United States that maintains a Fire Brigade — a term used when a fire department functions as a subset of a company or organization.
Station 2 of Love County EMS/Fire Brigade is located on casino grounds at Exit 1-Interstate 35. Under its roof are a platform truck, an engine truck, a brush truck, and several ambulances. There, paid firefighters — all cross‑trained as Paramedics or EMTs — work 48‑hour shifts providing emergency medical...