NATCHEZ — Bill Heburn is just as comfortable talking about history and books as he is talking about the latest advances in medical technology.

But Heburn’s passion has always been providing quality medical care to the community he serves, something he said he will continues with his new job as chief executive officer of Natchez Regional Medical Center. Heburn started Nov. 1.

Heburn said the staff at Natchez Regional makes the hospital a pivotal tool in the health care community of the area.

“I enjoy being involved in an organization with such high-quality doctors and nurses,” Heburn said. “This hospital was founded on the foundation of quality, compassionate health care providers and that is what makes it a benefit to our marketplace.”

Heburn has a long history of health care administration. He has worked in senior management positions with a variety of hospital management companies, including Health Management Associates and Essent Healthcare.

Prior to coming to Natchez, he was working at a hospital in Galesburg, Ill., on a temporary assignment set to end in October in affiliation with Community Health Systems. He has also worked at Trinity Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala.

Heburn isn’t a new face to Natchez. From 1974 to 1976 he was administrator of Natchez Community Hospital.

During those years and in those different positions, Heburn said the biggest constant is the ever-changing technological advancements in medicine. He said staying on top of those advancements and knowing how best to utilize those in any particular community is what makes top-notch health care.

“We are already looking at what we will do with robots down the road,” he said. “When I first started in hospital administration, people were fighting over IBM electric typewriters.

“Even then you could tell things were emerging. It has been on an evolving slope that just continues to increase.”

By offering advanced technology and services in Natchez, Heburn said, more people will be able to stay in town to be treated and heal.

“The studies show that people want to be close to home for health care,” Heburn said. “Not only are they closer to their home, but they are closer their family and that support system.”

Staying on top of technology and evolving NRMC to stay in line with that technology is obviously a benefit to the hospital, but Heburn said it is a benefit to the entire community.

Heburn said making Natchez Regional a healthcare destination will grow the economy of Natchez.

“The more people we can keep here the better, and also the more people we can bring here from outlying communities the better,” he said. “If we can provide the services that are needed, those folks will come here, buy gas here, eat food here and shop here.

“The health care community is one that is vital to economic development in Natchez.”

But Heburn doesn’t believe technology and robots will ever replace the human touch when it comes to the business of healing.

Heburn said people need and desire the comfort and compassion only a human can provide. And at Natchez Regional, he said, the staff is well-versed in that.

“You want to be able to look into someone’s eyes and trust that they are caring for you,” he said. “Trust is the key word, and our staff is one that has been trusted and will continue to be trusted by this community.”