ACH staff to manage own hospital with shared resources with D.W. McMillan

Atmore Community Hospital will be independently operated by its staff with shared resources by both ACH and D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital, according to officials.

Late last summer, the Escambia County Healthcare Authority announced that ACH will be ending its management agreement with Infirmary Health.

Since 2015, Infirmary Health has provided management services to ACH, according to Atmore Advance archives.

“The Escambia County Healthcare Authority and the Atmore Community Hospital board appreciates and is extremely grateful for the relationship with Infirmary Health,” the ECHA said in a release. “However, it was decided to exercise the option to terminate the existing long term agreement at this time while new facility needs are determined. The existing agreement provides for a 365-day transition period with IH, during which time the project group will be vetting best options for the management of the existing and new facility.”

The current management agreement with IH will end on July 31.

ACH Chair of the Board Nancy Lowery said the transition from IH is currently in progress.

She said each hospital will be managed independently utilizing shared resources by both hospitals.

“The Authority has hired a team of healthcare experts (Healthcare Program Advisors) to work with staff from both hospitals to build the operating infrastructure needed at ACH to replace services currently being received from Infirmary Health, and to improve operations at DWMMH,” Lowery said.