Athens-Limestone Hospital is centralizing services with a recently completed two-story office complex.

The medical office building, or ‘MOB’ as Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation director Betsy Harris and crew call it, is now home to more than 10 doctors and nurse practitioners affiliated with the hospital.

“It’s an investment for us and for the doctors,” Harris said.

Athens-Limestone Pediatrics, Athens Primary Care Associates, Central Pediatrics, Limestone Heart Center, Limestone Internal Medicine, Limestone Urology Associates, Athens-Limestone Diagnostics and Athens-Limestone Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation will now reside at 101 Fitness Way, the official name for the MOB. 

“The idea was to own our own space,” Harris said. “It’s convenient for our patients to come to a facility where many of our doctors have come together. It’s really nice when you have that space.”

The practices moving into 101 Fitness Way will have plenty of room to work, Harris said, with a state-of-the art facility equipped with energy-efficient lighting. Pediatricians have begun moving in brightly-colored tables into brightly colored rooms with matching tile patterns. Doctors’ offices are painted with more muted browns and greens, but have a relaxed feeling just the same.

The office complex is another step in the hospital’s strategic plan for the future, Harris said. After the doctors begin seeing patients at Fitness Way next week, their old offices at the Professional Plaza and buildings surrounding the ALH campus will be empty, but Harris doesn’t see it staying that way forever.

“We’re constantly recruiting new doctors,” she said. “With all of that growth, no doubt these facilities will fill back up. I just see us continuing to grow and I don’t think things will be vacant for long.”

At its annual Foundation luncheon in August, Harris and other hospital officials said the focus of their jobs is to build a better community. Constructing 101 Fitness Way is integral in providing for the community. David Pryor mentioned as much when he came to Athens to see Fitness Way before taking the job as the hospital’s new president, Harris said.

“He knew that meant growth,” she said. “We’re going to continue that.”

Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at 4 p.m. Oct. 9 at 101 Fitness Way. Patients of Athens-Limestone Pediatrics, Limestone Heart Center, Athens-Limestone Diagnostics and Athens-Limestone Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation will begin treatments on the second floor of Fitness Way on Monday. All others practices will open their doors Tuesday on the first floor of the complex.