New clinic to treat chronic ailments eliminates hospital wait times and admission to Phoebe

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – Phoebe Putney Health System celebrated a milestone in East Albany with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of extensive renovations and expansions at Phoebe East.

Among the highlights is the expansion of the Intensive Outpatient Care Program (IOCP), which provides vital support for patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.

“Our goal is to create a close personal relationship with the patients to ensure they get the care they need and the resources they need to improve their lives,” Dr. Derek Heard, the developer and overseer of ICOP, said.

This program is conveniently placed on Albany’s East Side. Albany Officials said transportation should not be a reason these patients don’t have access to healthcare.

“The east side of town is the poorest part in Albany-Dougherty County,” said Ward 1 Commissioner Jon Howard.

“Getting down the street can be a challenge, but we know that the barrier of the Flint River can also be a challenge,” said Phoebe CEO and President Scott Steiner.

“They use bicycles, and they walk. And I’m just so happy for these folks to know they can walk to get healthcare right at their front door,” said Dougherty County District 6 Commissioner Anthony Jones.

Residents like James and Linda Harper said the convenience of the hospital being a mile and half away from their home is critical for them to have access to quality healthcare and quick services. They also credit the clinic with helping them regain their health and independence.

Linda Harper is a two-time cancer survivor and now has diabetes. This facility allows residents like Harper have access to quality healthcare and quick services.

“It is convenient for us because we live a mile something away, and the waiting is very minimum, and your problem is taken care of,” Linda said. “They have been just great and helped me through it, and I didn’t have to go to the ER, simply because it wasn’t an emergency. But I needed a doctor at that time, and I didn’t have to wait.”

James Harper also suffers from chronic ailments and said this clinic has been helpful as his hypertension has gotten worse.

“They have been a blessing to my family,” James said. “If you should get down there and they find out if it’s something serious, they can get you to the hospital and most of the times avoid sitting in the ER waiting and get you taken care of.”

Phoebe’s Intensive Outpatient Care Program aims to help residents in South Georgia with chronic illnesses avoid long ER wait times and admission to the hospital. This is major for people who experience diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic ailments and diseases.

“We identified that we had four different diseases that were being readmitted into the hospital and frequent ER Visits. So what the clinic is supposed to serve a purpose to is to keep those patients out of the hospital and the ER, and after about two hours of being here with us, we can discharge them home,” said Martavius Marcus, Director of Operations, Phoebe Physician Group. “They can come here, stay with us for about two hours, get the best care possible and then they’ll be good to go home.”

The renovations also included added exam rooms at Phoebe Urgent Care of East Albany, which treats up to 100 patients a day and upgraded facilities for Phoebe Corporate Health. As Phoebe continues to grow its footprint, new urgent care clinics are opening across Southwest Georgia, with plans underway for a Lee County location.

Officials said the upgrades underscore Phoebe’s commitment to accessible, community-focused healthcare.

This expansion to Phoebe Corporate Health is the only clinic in this part of the state that offers some travel vaccines, such as the yellow fever vaccine, just in time for summer vacation. They are now accepting walk-ins and physician and hospital referrals.

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