By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
North Huntsville residents now have expanded access to medical care with the opening of the Physicians Care North Huntsville clinic, a collaboration between Huntsville Hospital and Alabama A&M University. The new primary care facility, located within half a mile of the Alabama A&M campus, celebrated its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, drawing community members, healthcare leaders, and university officials.
Huntsville Hospital President Tracy Doughty explained the significance of the new clinic for the region.
“Every patient who establishes here as a primary care patient, every screening completed, every health concern addressed earlier, is why we’re here today,” Doughty said during the ceremony.
“Today, we’re cutting the ribbon, but we’re also opening a new front door to the community, and that front door is important. We all know that health care disparities exist, and this is one way we’re trying to address them in our community. This place represents better access, better health, and a stronger North Huntsville.”
Initially, hospital officials considered opening an urgent care clinic in North Huntsville but soon recognized that the community would benefit more from comprehensive primary care services.
“We decided that what this community really needs is ongoing, preventive care, not just urgent visits,” Doughty added, highlighting the need for long-term health solutions for the area.
The clinic offers a variety of services, including preventative screenings, annual physicals, employment and sports physicals, immunizations, chronic disease management, and sick visits.
“It feels like we’ve been talking about this for a couple of years now,” said Dwayne Mathis, executive director of the Huntsville Hospital Physicians Network.
“There’s a lot of red tape, a lot of different things that you have to do to open any clinic or any facility of this magnitude here in the city, but it was well worth it. My team does a fantastic job pulling resources together, hiring the right staff, great partnership with Alabama, and strong partnerships, and this is the result of it.”
Physician Assistant Tammy Smith, an Alabama A&M alumna, will oversee daily operations at the clinic.
“As someone who came through Alabama A&M and still calls this community home, I understand the unique needs and challenges people here face,” Smith said.
“Having a clinic so close to the university and the neighborhoods around it means more people can get care before issues become serious.”
The 3,200-square-foot facility is owned by Alabama A&M University and features five exam rooms and a procedure room. Both partners hope the clinic will improve health outcomes for North Huntsville and serve as a model for future collaborations.