By By Adam Prestridge
Change is inevitable, but it is never easy.
Jonah McIntyre, M.D. is learning that first hand as he prepares to open a new medical practice with newly hired physician, Stacy Goode, M.D.
"I do not expect this to be easy, but it has been as smooth as this type of thing can be," McIntyre said. "We've had a lot of support from a lot of people."
After four years, McIntyre is branching out on his own, leaving his position at Physician's Associates recently renamed The Moore Clinic, to open ACH Family Physicians in the old ACH Home Health building located at 611 East Laurel Street.
Goode, who recently completed her residency at UAB Selma Family Medicine, said she is anxious to begin this new phase in her career.
"It was a very difficult decision because during my residency I moonlighted in Grove Hill," she said. "I loved Grove Hill, it's a wonderful community. The people there are really nice and they need a physician there also. But the difference, I felt, was that in Atmore there is a real need for a physician because of the patient load. There are a lot of patients here and they need another physician here to help with that, it's not so much about the call schedule. Grove Hill I really feel like is growing and the patient volume is growing, but it's not at that point to where they are in need of a physician for the patient volume. So I just felt like the need was greater in Atmore."
McIntyre is also excited about the new business venture. He said he is indebted to the administration of Atmore Community Hospital for the level of commitment they have shown him by giving him the opportunity to spearhead the new medical practice.
"I'm equally excited and I am grateful for the ease of this transition to Bob Gowing and the staff at the hospital, Dr. (Harry) Moore, the board here at the hospital, Cindy Lee at the nursing home, my patients and the people of Atmore that have made Kelly and I feel that this is our home, which has been a main determinate in my desire to stay is that this is our home," McIntyre said. "I love my patients."
McIntyre's last day at The Moore Clinic will be tomorrow. The new practice will open Sept. 13.
"I would appreciate the patience of my patients because there's going to be a couple weeks of a little bit of a bumpy road," McIntyre said. "For the patients in the community, what they need to know is that there is going to be no change with the new practice."
As for his new colleague, McIntyre is looking forward to working with Goode and helping her make the transition not only to a new profession, but a new community.
"I'm very excited about working with Dr. Goode," McIntyre said. "To be honest, we've got a lot in common. We graduated from the same medical school, we both grew up in Mobile and my cultural background is similar to Stacy's. Those kinds of things are exciting to me. I'm looking forward to being a resource for Stacy. From day one there is going to be a learning curve. It's much better to work with somebody in this business, so it's great that I'm not going to be by myself."
Goode, 44, received her undergraduate's degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed medical school at the University of South Alabama. She is currently a Mobile resident, but plans on relocating to Atmore in the future.
"I'm really excited about coming here," she said. "The people that I have met so far in the community have been very enthusiastic and very welcoming. The community itself, considering the amount of trauma it experienced with the hurricanes, looks beautiful. It's just such a nice place."
Several employees will make up ACH Family Physicians. Both McIntyre and Goode, who serve as co-medical directors of the clinic and will also make calls at the hospital, will have their own nurse to work with and a "floating" nurse will also be available. There will be a business administrator, a couple of front office employees and a medical transcriptionist. A nurse practitioner is planned to the join the practice in the future.
Work on the new doctor's office is almost complete, slightly a week after beginning.
"It's amazing how much stuff has already happened," Goode said. "This is really a testament to the people of Atmore. The clinic has been put together so quickly, efficiently and nicely. It's a beautiful clinic. I'm real impressed with everyone that has contributed to it."
As for McIntyre's current patients, they are asked to call and make appointment as usual. The new number is 368-8001. He said the only thing patients should be prepared to do is sign a release form releasing their medical records to the new practice.
Goode, who has a special interest in women's health, pre-natal care and infant and pediatric care, can be reached at the same number and will begin taking new patients immediately.
ACH Family Physicians is currently taking advance appointments.