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UPDATE: The following article includes a statement from the Escambia County Healthcare Authority in regard to a potential land swap with the Poarch Creek Indians.

The Poarch Creek Indians and the Escambia County Healthcare Authority (ECHA) are in discussions for a potential land swap for a 10-acre piece of property across from the Wind Creek Casino and Hotel on the south side, according to officials.

Earlier this year, the ECHA asked the Atmore City Council to donate a piece of the Rivercane Development property just to the north of the land so it could build a new hospital. The city council tabled a vote on the donation in January, and no voted the donation some time later.

“This was discussed Monday at a workshop with Tribal leadership and the Escambia County Healthcare Authority Treasurer, Nancy Lowery,” Public Relations Tribal Liaison Sharon Delmar said. “The Tribe agreed to give the authority land near the casino and in return the authority stated they would be willing to do a land swap and give the property in Atmore to the Tribe.”

According to a statement from the ECHA, discussions on a potential land swap are ongoing.

“We are in the preliminary stage at this point concerning a potential land swap between the Escambia County Healthcare Authority and the Poarch Creek Indians. The details of these discussions have not been finalized at this time and are again, just in a discussion phase. Once we have specifics we will be glad to provide additional information.”

The ECHA will begin managing Atmore Community Hospital on Aug. 1, when the current management deal with Infirmary Health ends on July 31.

According to Advance archives, on Nov. 29, 2018, the ECHA and ACH boards announced that plans to build a new hospital for the city are moving forward after a feasibility study recommended taking the action based on the age and condition of ACH.

Adams Management Services Corporation, along with Johnson Healthcare Real Estate, Goodwyn Mills Cawood and Healthcare Program Advisors conducted the study, which recommended the construction of a new facility that would hold 27 inpatient beds, 10 emergency room beds, 1-2 operating rooms, an ICU, and offer other services such as MRI, CT scan, echocardiogram, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, X-ray and urgent care services. The study looked at ACH historical data, state discharge data, the local healthcare market and changing demographic trends.

A complete story will be published in the Wed., July 31, edition of The Atmore Advance