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.

James and Linda Harper, longtime residents of East Albany, credit the clinic with helping them regain their health and independence.

“They have been a blessing to my family,” James said.

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.”

This program is conveniently placed on Albany’s East Side. That allows residents like Linda Harper, who is a two-time cancer survivor and who now has diabetes- 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,” says Linda Harper.

James Harper also suffers from chronic ailments and says the convenience of the hospital being a mile and half away from their home is critical for him since his hypertension got worse.

“I’ve seen what they did for her, and I asked about getting into it, so I got into it, and I have a heart condition and they keep that monitored and in check and it’s just a great thing.”

The facility also has a Physical Therapy Gym to ensure that patients who have existing physical ailments are taken care of close to home- something that James says is a win for him and his wife.

“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 and that’s just a big plus for us.”

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 say 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 walkins and physician and hospital referrals

WALB’s Ashanti Isaac shares more about the upgrades and how they benefit Albany families.

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