University Medical Center, operated by the College of Community Health Sciences, recently expanded services to improve the quality of healthcare provided for The University of Alabama and West Alabama communities.
UMC Tuscaloosa now offers lifestyle medicine services to help patients prevent, manage and even reverse chronic disease through healthy lifestyle changes.
Dr. Ansley Baccus, a family medicine physician at UMC, said the approach offers more comprehensive care by helping patients build sustainable healthy habits.
“The goal is to focus on what’s causing disease and give patients the tools and support they need to make lasting lifestyle changes,” she said. “These changes can significantly improve health and, in some cases, reduce the need for medications.”
UMC’s lifestyle medicine services will focus on six key areas of healthy living: nutrition, physical activity and sleep, along with stress management, social connection and avoidance of harmful substances. Appointments include hour-long visits with lifestyle assessments, nutrition counseling and individualized wellness plans that key in on healthy eating, exercise routines, and strategies to improve sleep and manage stress.
The effort also aims to improve access to care by addressing barriers such as transportation and access to healthy food in partnership with community resources.
The services are referral-based, meaning patients are typically referred by their primary care provider.
UMC is also increasing access to obstetrics and gynecology care with the addition of Partlow, Harbin & Poist OBGYN, a leading medical group for women’s healthcare.
“This group is very experienced and well respected in the community,” said Dr. John McDonald, clinical professor and chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at CCHS and a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist at UMC. “Their doctors bring more than 65 years of serving the West Alabama community to UMC. We are very fortunate to have them join University Medical Center and continue to provide very high-quality women’s health services in Tuscaloosa and the surrounding area.”
Partlow, Harbin & Poist have three highly trained and board-certified physicians who provide both routine and specialized care for women. Services include gynecology, obstetrics and basic infertility, as well as bladder disorder testing and enhanced ultrasound for uterine fibroids.
The physicians at Partlow, Harbin & Poist are board certified fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recognized for their high professional standing, ethical conduct and expertise in women’s healthcare.
“The physicians and staff of Parlow, Harbin & Poist are proud to be joining the UMC family, said Dr. James Poist. “We have worked alongside our UMC colleagues for years, and now we feel energized and excited to be partnering with them.”
Current Partlow, Harbin & Poist patients should experience a seamless transition. Though the practice name will change to UMC OBGYN Associates, patient appointments will continue to take place at Partlow, Harbin & Poist’s current location in the DCH Medical Tower.
UMC has long provided OB/GYN and other women’s health services, and the addition of Partlow, Harbin & Poist will expand access to that care, said Dr. Richard Friend, dean of CCHS.
“This will provide much-needed access to women’s healthcare services for the community, and it will provide additional learning and training experiences for the College’s medical students, resident physicians and fellows,” Friend said.