Addiction facility planned for former hospital

Florala Memorial Hospital will reopen this spring as a treatment center.

Florala Memorial Hospital will reopen this spring as a treatment center.

Clinic to reopen in March

Florala’s healthcare clinic will soon reopen, as will Florala Memorial Hospital, although the facility will have a new purpose.

Gabriela Engels of Iconsulting, Inc., previously worked as a consultant for Dr. Robert Devrnia and Hospital Holdings, which closed the facilities in late December.

Engels said this week she has been working to develop facilities for drug and alcohol recovery in Florala since 2012. Her initial plan was to use part of the hospital for detox and inpatient care. She also purchased the home which once was Seymour Gitenstein’s and has renovated it to be a transitional home for men recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

When she learned in December that Devrnia and Hospital Holdings planned to close Florala Memorial Hospital, she said she immediately reacted.

“I told Dr. Bob that my program couldn’t work without it,” she said. “He looked and me and said, ‘OK. Take the whole thing.’ ”

She has formed two Alabama corporations, she said, and expected to sign a lease agreement with Devrnia’s company this week. She also was completing licensing applications needed to re-open the clinic, which has been staffed with a local nurse practitioner.

“We should have the clinic open by March 1,” she said. “The goal for the program is May 1.”

This week, she interviewed former employees and potential employees to begin staffing both facilities.

Once renovations of the hospital are complete, Serendipity Healthy Living Community will be a 45-bed inpatient facility that will include private rooms and dorm-style living. Engels said she expects to draw clients from across the United States.

“People don’t want to detox where they live,” she said.

The iconic columns on the grounds of Florala Memorial Hospital, built in 1964, are from the high school which once sat on the same property.

The iconic columns on the grounds of Florala Memorial Hospital, built in 1964, are from the high school which once sat on the same property.

Services will include an inpatient detox; an outpatient clinic; and a partial hospitalization program for those who don’t need to be fully hospitalized, but who need more supervision and care than a traditional outpatient program.

The former Gitenstein home will become a sober living home for men who have detoxed but aren’t yet ready to live totally independently. Engels said she also plans to develop a sober living home for women.

At Serendipity, she said, she wants people to feel positive as they overcome their addictions. She plans to include yoga, Reiki, music and art therapy, and other options for clients.

 

 

SportsPlus

News

Lowry, Pate shine in Trumbauer district theater, advance to state competition

News

Quarter-mile section of Murray Road to close for paving preparations

News

Two-vehicle crash leads to three deaths; investigation underway in Opp

News

The History Channel’s American Pickers will return to Alabama

News

Florala airport among those to receive state funds

Andalusia High School

AHS inducts students into National Honor Society

News

Voters will select new Dist. 2 commissioner in election

News

Jury returns verdicts in 2022 murder trial

News

Pilot Club members perform Founders Day presentation

News

Developer plans 20 rental houses at Packer Field

News

Former Bulldog goes viral with MAGA message

News

Guilty, not guilty verdicts returned in murder trial

News

Opp Chamber announces winners of first pie baking contest

News

Domestic violence conviction leads to 25-year sentence for Andalusia man

News

Courtney Bowers honored as AOPA’s Boss of the Year

News

Sen. Tommy Tuberville speaks at PowerSouth luncheon

News

Two named to Leadership Alabama class

News

Andalusia glass repair tech wins gold in Orlando

News

Covington among counties under fire danger advisory

News

MONSTER MASH DASH RECORD: AOPA’s annual fundraising event continues to grow in support of scholarships, other needs

News

Covington County Commission votes to stop funds for Point A Park

News

Man gets 25 years for child obscenity charges

News

GALLERY: Habitat House will be built for Benson family

LBW Community College

LBW baseball team helps with new Habitat House