UAB and UAB Medicine employees without a primary care provider can now turn to two new Department of Family and Community Medicine physicians. Beginning September 16, an employee-only primary care clinic will offer routine care—including health screenings, vaccinations, and physical exams—as well as treat acute conditions.

Department assistant professors Ben Echols, M.D., and Elle McGregor, M.D., will staff the clinic, located on the first floor of The Kirklin Clinic. A third family medicine physician, Elizabeth Davies, M.D., will join the team in November.

“We consider it a privilege to address the primary care needs of our employee family,” said Erin DeLaney, M.D., Department of Family and Community Medicine vice chair for clinical affairs and quality and ambulatory medical quality officer. “Our goal is to provide first-contact, personal, comprehensive, and continuous care that allows UAB employees to thrive. We look forward to caring for those that care for, nurture, and educate so many others through their daily jobs.”

Opening this new employee-only primary care clinic directly supports UAB Medicine’s newly launched strategic plan — “Leading Care. Lasting Impact.” — which laid out a goal of ensuring all UAB Medicine employees have access to primary care.

“Difficulty accessing a primary care physician is an issue that impacts people across Alabama, including those here on our own campus,” explained Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean for primary care and rural health. “Data shows that patients with access to a primary care provider and preventative care services live longer, healthier lives and enjoy lower health care costs. As UAB strives to be a world-class research university and academic health system, it is critical to invest in the people who work each day to fulfill that vision.”

Clinical services provided at the new employee-only clinic include:

• Preventive care, including general health and cancer screenings, immunizations, and physical exams
• Routine care for women, including gynecologic care and contraceptive management
• Treatment for infections (lung, bladder, kidney, etc.)
• Repair of minor injuries, wounds, and cuts
• Office-based procedures such as joint injections and skin procedures
• Point-of-care testing such as EKGs, ultrasound, and rapid tests for infections
• Diagnostic testing
• Referral to specialists as appropriate

UAB employees without an established primary care provider can call (205) 975-4YOU or the UAB Medicine Access Center at (205) 801-7474 to schedule an appointment.