Dr. Robert Long has opened a urology practice in Andalusia, after being in private practice in the Fort Walton Beach area for 22 years.

Andalusia Health’s almost almost-simultaneous acquisition of new equipment means he’ll be working with “newer and better equipment than I had in Okaloosa County,” he said.

Andalusia Health CEO John Yanes explained that an intercompany transfer of extensive urological equipment from another LifePoint facility will provide hospital the ability to expand its existing urological service scope and offer diagnostic and therapeutic urological procedures. Just after the sister facility acquired the equipment, he said, the urologist left, and that community has not been able to recruit another one.

Part of that equipment, a Cysto Table which positions patients for specific procedures, requires a lead-lined room.

“At this point, we’re working with an architect to determine a recommended location within the hospital,” Yanes said.

“I am extremely happy with Mr. Yanes,” Long said. “He has done a yeoman’s work to convince LifePoint to put resources into this program. Our goal is to make sure we have state-of-the-art equipment for the things that a community hospital needs.”

Long said he will be able to do a number of procedures in the office, including ultrasounds, cystoscopic exams, and urodynamics.

“Basically, we’ll be using high tech equipment to determine the neurologic component of voiding dysfunction,” he said.

Typically, he treats patients for prostate problems, kidney and urethral stones, voiding dysfunction, and continence issues for women. While women typically are treated with bladder repair surgery, there are other options available, he said, including biofeedback to retrain the pelvic floor muscles.

“This is going to be state-of-the-art treatment that Andalusia has never had,” Long said.

Ironically, he had always planned to move to Covington County.

“Fourteen years ago, I bought a farm outside of Opp,” he said. “My plan was to retire to the farm. My wife has a lot of hobbies, so we needed the space. I wanted the peace and quiet and slower form of life.”

It was after he began seeing patients locally with 21st Century Oncology that he agreed to move his practice here full time.

“People have been supportive, and ready to help in any way that they can,” he said.

Long is a native of Kentucky, and earned his bachelor’s and M.D. degrees at the University of Kentucky. He interned in general surgery at the medical university of South Carolina, and completed residencies in general surgery and urology at the University of Louisville. He also had a fellowship in impotence, genitourinary, prosthesis and urodynamics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

He is a member of the American Board of Urology and a fellow with the American College of Surgeons.

His office may be reached at 334.222.2398.