Atmore Hospital Now Managed By Infirmary Health; Baptist Out

June 1, 2015

Atmore Community Hospital is now officially managed by Infirmary Health of Mobile, rather than Baptist Health Care of Pensacola.

In August 2014, the Escambia County Healthcare Authority (ECHA) voted to move forward with the Infirmary partnership, ended an agreement that Baptist entered 20 years ago to manage the 49-bed facility.

ECHA issued a request for management proposals as part of an inquiry period that began in late 2013. The proposals, including one from Baptist Health Care, were analyzed by the ECHA Executive Committee which ultimately recommended Infirmary Health.

As the largest non-governmental, not-for-profit healthcare system in Alabama, Infirmary Health is composed of three acute care hospitals, three post-acute care facilities, three diagnostic centers, and more than 22 medical clinics and other affiliates serving an 11-county area along the Gulf Coast and treating more than 800,000 patients annually.

Infirmary Health currently operates Mobile Infirmary, Thomas Hospital in Fairhope and North Baldwin Infirmary in Bay Minette. The company employees more than 4,900 people with about 700 physicians on staff. The company is the largest private employer in Mobile.

Pictured: Atmore Community Hospital in now managed by Infirmary Health of Mobile, ending a 20-year agreement with Baptist Health Care of Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photo by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “Atmore Hospital Now Managed By Infirmary Health; Baptist Out”

  1. art on June 4th, 2015 4:44 am

    Janet, just to let you know Dr. Bailey used to be at Sacred Heart. In fact, over half of Cardiology Consultants used to be there, especially the surgeons.

  2. MM on June 3rd, 2015 1:47 am

    @Jean
    IH hospitals value Patient Satisfaction over everything except Patient Safety. Trust me, as a IHS employee it is a huge deal. We are all very excited for Atmore to become part of the team but their Customer Service will definitely not suffer due to the change!

  3. Nurse on June 2nd, 2015 6:20 pm

    It’s not who owns them that’s a problem, it’s who manages….

  4. Farm.home on June 2nd, 2015 6:08 am

    Overall Atmore’s hospital is good
    Compared to others. I have always found the vast majority of people there care and
    Take good care of their patients.
    Atmore has a lot of problems….be glad that a hospital closing isn’t one of them.

  5. CW on June 1st, 2015 8:42 pm

    @Jean

    There’s a reason many folks in Atmore drive to the ER in Bay Minette rather than use ACH’s (if they’re able to make it that far).

  6. Jean on June 1st, 2015 6:28 pm

    CW, you really have no clue what’s to come. There will be be interest in patient satisfaction. Those days are over.

  7. Janet on June 1st, 2015 5:31 pm

    I’m sorry CW. My husband had a triple bypass at Baptist by Dr. William Bailey. The care from him and his staff and the nursing staff etc on fourth floor was excellent the whole 13 days hubby was there which included a nine day stay in ICCU. I have not had experience with any Mobile hospitals so I can’t disagree or agree with you. Only know how wonderful we found Baptist during that time. Several months later, my husband had two blockages repaired in his leg at Sacred Heart. We will never go back if we have a choice…. it was a terrible experience for him and for me.

    As for going into Atmore hospital— only if it is for minor reasons. We both have discussed Penascola and Baptist! :)

  8. From Alabama on June 1st, 2015 3:35 pm

    I will use urgent care in Atmore but when it comes to something more serious I will be heading to Mobile or Pensacola. I don’t like small town hospitals for major problems.

  9. CW on June 1st, 2015 11:29 am

    Thank goodness! I’ve had surgery at Mobile Infirmary before and was very pleased. They seem to do a good job running all of their hospitals, unfortunately the same can’t be said for Baptist.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News