Troy Regional leaders announced today the hospital has acquired Pike Internal Medicine, expanding the hospital’s primary care services and strengthening the future of exceptional primary care in Pike County and surrounding communities. The operational merging of the two organizations will take place later this month.
“Dr. Mickey DiChiara and his team have provided this community with outstanding medical care since 1985, and Troy Regional is excited to partner with the practice to continue this tradition of excellence into the future,” said Rick Smith, Troy Regional CEO.
Peter “Mickey” DiChiara, founder of Pike Internal Medicine, received his MD degree at the University of Alabama Birmingham’s School of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of South Alabama in Mobile prior to starting his practice in Troy in 1985.
The practice employs a physician assistant and a certified nurse practitioner. Suzanne Tompkins, PA-C, graduated from the University of South Alabama, and Mallory May Quincey, CRNP, graduated from Troy University and the University of Alabama Birmingham. Both providers are accepting new patients.
Troy Regional recently hired Richard Boone, DO, who began seeing patients at Pike Internal Medicine part time shortly after his arrival. Boone moved to Troy from Ft. Myers, Fla., where he practiced family medicine. He graduated from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and has more than 26 years of experience in the medical field. Boone will now be a full-time provider at the Pike Internal Medicine clinic and is accepting new patients.
These providers join Troy Regional primary care physicians and nurse practitioners in Troy, Brundidge and Elba. Cortne Benton, CRNP, is on the Troy campus; Chavona Moore, CRNP, is in the Brundidge office; and Lance Dyess, MD, is the Elba primary care provider. All of Troy Regional’s existing primary care providers are accepting new patients.
Primary care is so important to helping keep people healthy and detecting medical conditions early, Smith said. “It has become increasingly difficult to get in to see a primary care provider, not only in Troy,
but all over the country. They simply are not taking new patients. We are committed to providing our community with access to quality primary health care.”
Smith pointed out that many people do not have primary care providers and often do not find out they have illnesses that primary care could have detected early, saving their lives or improving their quality of life. “Our primary care providers can refer their patients to specialists when they see a potential problem,” he said. “We have several specialists affiliated with Troy Regional, and if there is not one here, the primary care providers are able to refer patients to clinics in larger towns.”
DiChiara said joining Troy Regional will give Pike Internal Medicine more resources and enable the team to better serve patients.
“We have had a close relationship with Troy Regional for the past almost four decades, and we look forward to this formal partnership,” he said.
Sherrill Crowe, chair of the Troy Hospital Health Care Authority Board, the governing body of Troy Regional, said, “We are delighted to add this excellent team to the Troy Regional family. I am confident this is a great fit and will only enhance the quality of services and care we provide to this and surrounding communities. On behalf of the board, I wholeheartedly welcome Pike Internal Medicine!”
The location of the clinic will not change, and the Pike Internal Medicine office will continue to serve industrial patients, as well as individuals.
Office hours are Monday through Wednesday from 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Thursday from 7:15 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 7:15 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The other Troy Regional clinics are open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. until noon.
Existing Pike Internal Medicine patients will receive letters regarding the transition at their appointments, and industrial clients will receive letters in the mail. Those with other questions may call the office at 334-566-1270.