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Regional health providers have reputation for top-notch care

Story by Jackie Walburn
Photos by Meghan Frondorf
and Richard Rybka

Putting patients first by offering expanded services, hours and expertise, Pell City’s medical providers – Pell City Internal and Family Medicine, Complete Health Pell City and its satellite locations in Moody, Springville and Trussville, and Pell City Pediatrics – all prioritize preventative medicine as they aim to meet patients’ needs close to home.

Serving local and area patients from infancy to childhood to adulthood, geriatrics and Medicare, medical professionals in long-established practices in St. Clair County offer tested, trustworthy medical care in patients’ hometowns.

Pell City Internal and Family Medicine

Pell City Internal and Family Medicine is one of the local practices actively expanding services and hours since it was established in Pell City in 2012 by physicians Dr. Rick Jotani and Dr. Barry Collins.

 A growing, local medical practice, Pell City Internal and Family Medicine is located at 41 Eminence Way, Suite A, just off U.S. 231. PCIFM offers primary and specialist care, family wellness care, women’s health, sports medicine, outpatient care, on-site diagnostics, on-site physical therapy from ATI, pediatric care and extended hours, including weekend clinics.

Family and internal medicine are part of the name and mission at PCIFM. Describing family practice and internal medicine physicians as “the gatekeepers of individuals’ health and well-being,” Dr. Jotani says the family doctor, with knowledge of most disease processes, helps coordinate care with specialists, referring patients to trusted specialists and coordinating and following up on those referrals.

With regular office hours set at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Fridays, PCIFM offers extended hours for sudden sickness or minor injuries. No appointment is required during the extended-hours walk-in clinics, which are open from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, plus each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The family practice’s extended-hour clinics are designed to address acute sudden problems, when needed, not for chronic problems, follow-ups or rechecks. Common symptoms of an acute illness include fever and cold symptoms, including runny nose, cough, ear ache, diarrhea, sore throat, nausea, rash or headache.

Medical staff at PCIFM include founding physicians Drs. Jotani and Collins, and Dr. Ilinca Prisacaru. A new physician, Dr. Jeffrey Jackson, is scheduled to join the practice in the fall of 2022.

 Jotani completed his medical training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a residency in Spartanburg, S.C., and a sports medicine fellowship at Halifax Sports Medicine at Daytona Beach, Fla. He is the team physician for Pell City High School. He also founded Jotani Aesthetics, with offices at PCIFM, which offers non-surgical and non-invasive cosmetic treatments including Juvéderm®, Botox®, Restylane® and CoolSculpting®.

Collins completed his medical training and residency at UAB. He is chief of medicine at Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital, active with local boards and clinical research.

Prisacaru is a Romanian-born physician with experience as a medical volunteer with Red Cross Romania and in health education for Hispanics in New Jersey. She completed her family medicine residency at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa.

All three physicians are members of the Medical Association of Alabama (MASA).

Also serving patients at PCIFM are Adrienne Shambray, DNP, a family nurse practitioner with a doctor of nursing degree from Jacksonville State University; Jackson Cornelison, a family nurse practitioner with five years’ experience as a critical care nurse; Emmy DePew, a family nurse practitioner, and Jessica Earnest, a family nurse practitioner with experience in primary and urgent care and women’s health, and Jessica Stewart, a family nurse practitioner.

Having a local, established primary physician has many advantages for patients and their health care.

“Being local enables patients to stay close to home,” says Terri Woods, office manager for PCIFM. “They do not necessarily have to drive into Birmingham or Trussville for medical care. This also helps get specialists interested in coming into our area to serve the patient population.”

Pell City Pediatrics

The first, fully pediatric medical practice in St. Clair County, Pell City Pediatrics is a member of the award-winning Children’s of Alabama family. Pell City Pediatrics became Children’s initial, stand-alone primary care practice when it opened in Pell City in 1995.

Located at 2850 Dr. John Haynes Drive in an office building brightly painted with primary colors, Pell City Pediatrics serves both sick and well patients ranging from newborns to 18 years of age. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Three pediatricians serve Pell City Pediatric patients.

Dr. Rubina Siddiqui has been with the practice since it opened 27 years ago. A board-certified pediatrician, she completed her pediatric residency at St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital in New York.

Dr. Irfan Rahim joined the practice in 2000. He completed his pediatric residency training at Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York.

Dr. Farzana Malik joined the practice in 2022, bringing more than 20 years of experience in practice in Mississippi and Georgia and as a medical instructor at colleges across the country. She graduated from Pakistan College Sharjah and Rawalpindi Medical College. She completed her residency training at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. She speaks English, Urdu and Hindi.

Being recognized for patient-centered medical care for its patients, Pell City Pediatrics received certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The Patient Centered Medical Home certification is a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs.

Comprehensive aspects of patient care, including referrals, medication management, diagnostic tests, immunization administrations and other services, are provided by the practice.

The only health system in Alabama solely for the care and treatment of children, Children’s of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children since 1911. Ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s serves patients from every county in Alabama and nearly every state. It is a private, not-for-profit medical center that serves as a teaching hospital for UAB in pediatric medicine, surgery, psychiatry, research and residency programs. In addition to the large Russell Campus on Birmingham’s Southside, it has additional specialty services at Children’s South, Children’s on 3^rd and in Huntsville and Montgomery.

At clinics including Pell City Pediatrics, Children’s provides primary medical care through community practices including Greenvale Pediatrics at Alabaster, Brook Highland in Birmingham and in Hoover, Mayfair Medical Group in Homewood, Midtown Pediatrics in Birmingham, Over the Mountain Pediatrics in Birmingham, Pediatrics East at Pinson and Trussville, Pediatrics West at McAdory and Bessemer and Physicians to Children/Central Alabama Children’s Specialists in Montgomery.

Complete Health Pell City

Complete Health Pell City offers all aspects of primary care with on-site diagnostics and imaging at its offices at 70 and 74 Plaza Drive in Pell City. Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Complete Health Pell City has more than a dozen physicians and nurse practitioner providers to meet all patient needs. Complete Health Pell City was formerly known as Northside Medical Associates.

Primary care is critical to managing day-to-day health needs. Research also shows that a long-term relationship with a primary care provider keeps patients healthier and lowers their medical costs.

Complete Health offers far more than just primary care. Complete Health Pell City focuses on caring for the whole patient as well as offering state-of-the-art diagnostics in a comfortable and convenient setting.

“We have designed our entire practice, especially our diagnostics, to be patient-focused,” says Laura Gossett, director of ancillary services at Complete Health. Complete Health Pell City has 3D mammography in a spa-like setting, state-of-the-art GE CT machine with 3D overhead panels that make patients feel comfortable. Complete Health Pell City also has a powerful, modern MRI that includes software to reduce noise and knocking and provides music for the patients. “We also have an on-site pharmacy open seven days a week to help patients quickly and conveniently,” said Gossett.

Since joining Florida-based Complete Health in the fall of 2020, the Pell City practice has expanded services offering extended hours, flexible walk-in times, patient engagement centers and dedicated Member Support Representatives (MSRs) who serve as liaison between patient and available benefits, including Medicare, says Shelley Gallups, practice manager for Complete Health Pell City.

Complete Health Pell City is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Urgent Care on-site open seven days a week. Providers serving Complete Health Pell City include physicians Dr. Michael Dupre’, medical director for acute and post-acute patient care for all Complete Health practices in Birmingham and primary care provider; Dr. Stephen Fortson; Dr. Ronald Helms, a lifelong Pell City resident; Dr. William McClanahan and Dr. Hunter Russell. Nurse practitioners serving the Pell City office include Kimberli Clinkscales, CRNP; Holly Nichols, CRNP; Kaitlyn Pierce, CRNP; Robert Screws, CRNP; Joy St. John, CRNP; Anne Tolene, ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner), Brittany Washington, CRNP; Haley White, CRNP. Emily Mince, PA-C, and Allison Wineski, PA-C, are the practice’s physician assistants. Dianna McCain is the Member Support Representative for Complete Health Pell City, helping patients navigate Medicare and health services.

Also located at the 80,000-square-foot campus at Plaza Drive in Pell City is Complete Health Pell City’s Urgent Care. With convenient, early and late hours to fit patients’ schedules and walk-in appointments, the urgent care clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday and from 1 to 6 p.m., on Sunday. Dr. Timothy Ricketts leads the urgent care provider team, which also includes Dakota Nichols, CRNP, and Jonathan Windham, CRNP.

In addition, the practice has locations throughout St. Clair County, with clinics in Moody, Springville and Trussville. 

Physician-Driven Primary Care

With 16 locations in Florida and Alabama, Complete Health is a Florida-based, privately-owned, physician-driven primary care practice group that focuses on quality primary care with expanded services and convenient care options to provide care efficiently and cost effectively.

When Northside Medical Associates joined Complete Health in October 2020, along with Birmingham Internal Medicine Associates (BIMA), it created one of the Birmingham area’s largest primary care groups. Other Birmingham area Complete Health practices include Complete Health Deerfoot in Pinson, Complete Health Greystone (formerly BIMA) at St. Vincent’s 119 on Cahaba Valley Road, the Simon-Williamson Clinic in Birmingham and Complete Health Adamsville.

Aiming to help medical practices provide higher quality patient care resulting in better health outcomes, Complete Health describes itself as a physician-driven, professionally managed, technology-enabled primary care group striving to provide unrivaled support services and outcomes. Value-based care benefits for Medicare patients are at the core of the company’s primary care philosophy of providing a better health care approach to aging, according to the Complete Health website, completehealth.com

 The company’s Member Support Representatives (MSRs) act as liaison for patients at each location with Medicare and other health issues.

The company considers the MSRs as an extension of a patient’s doctor’s office and someone to help patients understand benefits and health care coverage, particularly when it’s time to enroll in Medicare and Medicare Advantage programs.

All Complete Health locations are accepting new patients with convenient locations to serve all primary care patients.

Locations are:

Complete Health Moody at 2834 Moody Parkway, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Providers at Moody include physicians Dr. Lea Clayton and Dr. Tom Perkins, a military veteran who specializes in men’s health issues, and nurse practitioners Casey Crumb, CRNP, and Janet “Alecia” Cruzado, CRNP, a Pell City native. Member Support Representative Cassondra Fowler serves Moody seniors to help them make the most of their Medicare benefits.

Complete Health Trussville at 7201 Happy Hollow Road, is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Providers at Trussville include physicians Dr. Scott Boyken, medical director for BIMA East, Dr. Andrew Smith and Dr. Jack Vibbert, plus nurse practitioners James “Frankie” Crumb, CRNP, specializing in adult acute care and geriatrics, and Celeste Richardson, CRNP, who has worked in nephrology, trauma care and case management. Penny Witcher is Member Support Representative for Trussville patients.

Complete Health Springville at 480 Walker Drive, Springville, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Providers at Springville include physician Dr. George Harris and board-certified nurse practitioners Mary Beth Martin, CRNP, and Sue Payne, CRNP. Member Service Representative Penny Witcher serves the Springville office to help seniors make the most of their Medicare benefits.

Big milestones for region’s health care

Story by Katie Bohannon
Photos by Graham Hadley

Two pillars in Pell City’s health care community are celebrating a decade of service. In 2022, Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Clair hospital has begun its 11^th year, and Col. Robert L. Howard Veterans Home commemorates 10 years of leading-quality practices and services for St. Clair County.

2805 John Haynes Drive witnessed the first workings of what would become Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Clair in Pell City, when a 68-bed licensed hospital opened in 1970. Ten years later, the hospital added a fourth floor, and the licensed beds rose to 82, before University of Alabama at Birmingham adopted management in 1985. Management shifted hands throughout the next decades, with Alabama Health Services, including Eastern Health System, St. Vincent’s and Brookwood, all playing a role until St. Vincent’s and Eastern Health System merged to form St. Vincent’s Health System in 2007.

In 2011, officials celebrated the 40-bed hospital’s opening at its current location – a tremendous venture illustrated by trusted community partnerships with Ascension Health, St. Vincent’s Health System, St. Clair County Commission, the city of Pell City, St. Clair County Healthcare Authority, and a collection of committed physicians and supportive citizens.

The hospital provides patients with numerous services, including Advanced Wound Care, Anesthesiology, Bariatric Surgery, Cardiology, Dermatology, Diabetes Education, Emergency Medicine, Family and Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Gynecology, Home Medical Equipment, Hyperbaric Medicine and Nephrology. It also offers practices in Neurology, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Otolaryngology, Pain Management, Pathology, Pediatrics, Physical Therapy, Radiology, Sleep Medicine, Speech Therapy, Urology and Inpatient Telemedicine for eICU, Stroke and Mental Health.

The hospital strives to maintain a positive presence in the community while collaborating with Community Health Clinic and Jefferson State Community College nursing program for clinicals. Its leadership team serves on multiple local boards throughout St. Clair County, reiterating Ascension’s mission as one of the leading nonprofit health systems in the United States. Based upon building a network of care patients trust, its staff dedicates itself to creating an environment where patients feel supported and receive personalized, convenient care.

“Care is about more than healing,” said Lisa Nichols, Ascension administrator. “We are here to serve, listen and understand, with support for physical health and wellness, as well as your mental and emotional health. At Ascension sites of care, care begins with addressing the whole person with dignity and respect. We begin every interaction by listening to understand you and your needs, respecting you, first as a person, then as a patient – because together, we are a community.”

State Veterans Home a beacon for health care

As St. Vincent’s St. Clair strives to care for patients, Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home serves another deserving demographic.

The home celebrates its 10^th anniversary in November this year, first opening its doors in 2012. Prior to construction, the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs conducted a feasibility study to determine what area of Alabama most needed a State Veterans Home. Central Alabama proved to possess to the top need, and Pell City was selected as the best site for development.

Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home provides residency for veterans who served a minimum of 90 days active-duty service, with one of those days during a war-time period. Residents have an honorable discharge, having lived in Alabama for 12 months before receiving eligibility to apply. Veterans pay a small fee to reside at the home, with state and federal departments of Veterans Affairs funding covering the majority of the living cost. Pell City’s location provides assisted living and domiciliary care, alongside skilled nursing services for residents as the home is licensed by the Alabama Department of Public Health and federal VA.

Pell City’s location generates a home-like environment for veterans, with fully furnished, modern rooms. Rooms are private with bathrooms in each unit, divided into smaller sections with living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms. The activities department ensures veterans remain engaged in a variety of opportunities throughout the year, including trips outside the facility to local restaurants and beloved locations a bit further away, such as Chattanooga, Tenn., and Columbus, Ga.

Col. Robert L. Howard Director Hiliary Hardwick has been with the home since its initial opening, witnessing every admission, every smile and every moment a veteran’s face lit up as he or she moved into their new home. She discussed the transition veterans experience after moving to the Pell City location, sharing the improvements that walk hand in hand with their new home.

“So many of our veterans’ quality of life has improved after moving in with us,” said Hardwick. “A lot are isolated at home because they may be wheelchair dependent and don’t have the resources to be able to go out of the house very often. Here, we have all necessary equipment and the transportation to get them out and about again. It also allows their loved ones to spend quality time with them,” she said.

“It’s important to help each veteran participate in the hobbies and activities they love. We have a large number who enjoy gardening, so we have raised planter beds to make access easier for those in wheelchairs. We have several veterans who love to paint, so we have art shows to showcase their work. Last year, we even installed a putting green for our veterans who enjoy golf.”

Hardwick emphasized the facility’s efforts to remain a good steward of its community. She illustrated her gratitude for the endless community support that flourished within the past decade, commending the numerous volunteers who assist with the home frequently.

Just this past year, LakeFest contributed a generous monetary donation to purchase gym equipment for the home’s DOM exercise room. In return, Col. Robert L. Howard reinvests in its community, serving as a clinical site for local schools for CNA, LPN and RN clinicals.

In fall 2022, the facility will serve as the host site for Project Search – a program that aids students with developmental disabilities in learning professional skills and finding employment after high school – with the Pell City School System and the St. Clair County School System.

Both St. Vincent’s St. Clair and Col. Robert L. Howard continuously maintain the relationships that perpetuate successful medical resources in the community. Nichols and Hardwick reflect on the changes both facilities have manifested in the past decade, while looking forward to another 10 years of changing the landscape of Pell City’s health care for the future. 

“St. Vincent’s has improved access to care by expanding specialty coverage and TeleMed services,” said Nichols. “This allows our community to receive care locally without having to travel to other locations, like Birmingham. However, if your condition requires additional care, know that we are connected to a large network of providers, encompassing a wide range of specialties.”

Impacting the economy, as well as health care, “Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home has brought more health care jobs to Pell City, as we employ over 300 employees,” said Hardwick. “Our opening along with the new hospital, have helped recruit and expand other health services here in Pell City. We also help support our local health care providers, as our veterans see many of the medical specialists in the community.”

Opening their doors within months of each other, their missions have continued a similar path over the past 10-plus years, delivering quality care close to home in service to their community. And the community, in return, continues to reap the benefits of those missions.