As the list of available services to patients at Atmore Community Hospital grows, so does the list of specialty physicians ready to serve the residents of the community.

Bill Perkins, administrator at ACH, said the return of Dr. Lisa Tucker to the ACH specialty physician staff is a welcome addition to service availability.

“Dr. Tucker began services here last Friday,” Perkins said. “She had been away for about a year, but we are happy to have her back with us.”

Perkins said changes in Dr. Tucker’s business has made the return to ACH possible.

“Last year some changes were made in the business,” Perkins said. “The business was purchased by the Baptist Medical Group and put her back into our group. From what I understand, she is happy to be back with us.”

Tucker, who has already begun to see obstetric and gynecological patients, will continue offering her services on the first and third Friday of each month at the ACH Clinic.

Ashley Chunn, manager of outpatient specialty clinic services, said Dr. Tucker will also be able to perform many outpatient services for those who require that level of care.

“Having Dr. Tucker here gives our local physicians someone to refer patients to who are in need of gynecological care,” Chunn said. “Dr. Tucker will also be able to perform some procedures on an outpatient basis.”

Perkins said ACH does not have facilities available for labor and delivery, but other services and some procedures can be performed at the facility.

“Right now we just aren’t set up to do deliveries,” Perkins said. “Dr. Tucker will see prenatal and post-partum patients here in Atmore. However, deliveries will be done in Pensacola.”

Tucker joins a list of other specialty physicians that visit ACH regularly to see patients for a variety of illnesses and to practice preventative medicine, Perkins said.

“Dr. Tucker joins other physicians who are here to offer their services,” Perkins said. “We are seeing a wide array of services becoming available to patients in Atmore.”

Currently, Atmore Community Hospital has eight primary care physicians on staff with 20 specialty care physicians visiting ACH regularly. Specialists visiting ACH for patient consultation, treatment and care cover areas of cardiology; ear, nose and throat (ENT); gastroenterology; general surgery; nephrology; neurology; obstetrics/ gynecology; orthopedics; pain management; pulmonology; radiology; urology and vascular surgery.

“Our goal is to provide as many services in a fiscally responsible way that we can to our patients,” Perkins said. “This is our way of allowing patients an opportunity to receive services right here at home. We certainly don’t like to see patients hit the highway to receive medical care.”

To make an appointment for Tucker or any other specialty care physician, call Atmore Community Hospital at 368-6384 or visit the hospital Web site at AtmoreHospital.org.