Cullman, AL Offers Specialized Health Care Programs

Faced with consistent growth in both inpatient and outpatient numbers – in 2015 alone the hospital saw 7 percent growth in inpatient admissions and 2 percent growth in outpatient visits – the Health Care Authority of Cullman County Board, which oversees the center, decided to expand. And in 2018 it approved a $14 million expansion of the hospital’s patient tower.

“This growth not only justifies the need for the expansion but also validates the quality of care delivered by our team of doctors and nurses,†says Cullman Regional CEO James Clements. 



The new 15,264 square-foot addition, completed in February 2018, includes 30 patient beds, a central nurse’s station and a family waiting room. New rooms offer windows with sweeping views, some of Lake Catoma. 

The new addition has been warmly received by the community, says spokesperson Lindsey P. Dossey, because it gives patients and their families greater availability of private rooms, decreased wait times for rooms after admission, improved ER wait times and better patient safety during peak admission times.

Urgent Care

In response to a growing number of emergency room patients, in 2018 Cullman Regional also opened a $3 million urgent care center.

“We needed a solution that would reduce wait times for patients who need direct access to care,†says Clements. “The new center will accomplish that task by being open during peak Emergency Department times so that non-emergent care can be taken care of more quickly.”

The center also offers diagnostic imaging services on site, offering still greater convenience for patients. It features a state-of-the-art MRI with as well as 128-slice CT machine with cardiac imaging capability.  

Creating Daily Wellness Habits

While access to quality health care is critical when it is needed, it goes without saying most people seek to avoid circumstances leading to hospital and urgent care visits. Accidents can’t always be avoided, but good health habits are something people can control. With that in mind, Below Chiropractic & Wellness is offering a program growing in popularity across the country, designed to get patients feeling good and living healthier lives in just two months.



The “8 Weeks to Wellness†program, under the guidance of doctors Jeffrey Cole and Julie Below, employs a combination of diagnostic tools and holistic health techniques to help patients combat common but difficult problems as stress, aging, overweight, fatigue, depression and loss of flexibility and strength.

The 8-week initiative includes personalized chiropractic care, a nutrition program, a complete physical, body fat analysis, spinal X-rays if needed, on-site personal training sessions, weekly meditation instruction, weekly full-body massages and educational materials.



Results from this 8-week wellness wonder are impressive. According to Below Chiropractic & Wellness, patients have reported average weight loss of 15.4 pounds, a decrease in body mass index of 2.37 percent, and a decrease in LDL cholesterol of 22.8 points, among other benefits.

Good Samaritan Health Clinic

Being without health insurance doesn’t have to mean going without basic health care for those fortunate to benefit from Good Samaritan Health Clinic, which has been helping the uninsured since 2004. It is a true example of neighbors helping neighbors.



“We provide medical care for routine illnesses as well as chronic conditions like diabetes, COPD, heart disease, hypertension and high cholesterol. We don’t turn anyone away,†says clinic executive director Jolanda Hutson.

Housed in the former emergency wing of the former Cullman Hospital, the clinic has a staff of eight employees, a medical director and five volunteer nurse practitioners or RNs, who can refer patients to specialists. 

“We are grateful for the support clinic has received from churches, businesses, civic organizations and individuals,†Hutson says. “This is a community service provided by members of the community, that’s how I see it.’

Urgent Care Center 

Unfortunately, the need for medical care sometimes arises when there’s just no time to make an appointment and yet the situation isn’t severe enough to merit a trip to the emergency room. When that happens, residents rely on the physician-owned Urgent Care Center, which offers hours seven days a week and even limited hours on most holidays. 

Creating Wellness Habits

While access to quality health care is critical when needed, it goes without saying most people seek to avoid circumstances leading to the hospital and urgent care visits. Accidents can’t always be avoided, but good health habits are something people can control. With that in mind, Below Chiropractic & Wellness is offering a program growing popularity across the country, designed to get patients feeling good and living healthier lives in just two months. 

The “8 Weeks to Wellness” program, under the guidance of doctors Jeffrey Cole and Julie Below, employs a combination of diagnostic health tools and holistic health techniques to help patients combat such common but difficult problems as stress, aging, obesity, fatigue, depression, and loss of flexibility and strength. 

The eight-week initiative includes personalized chiropractic care, a nutrition program, a complete physical, body fat analysis, spinal X-rays if needed, on-site personal training sessions, weekly meditation instructions, weekly full-body massage and educational materials. 

Results from this eight-week wellness wonder are impressive. According to Below Chiropractic & Wellness, patients have reported an average weight loss of 15.4 pounds, a decrease in body mass index of 2.37 percent, and a decrease in LDL cholesterol of 22.8 points, among other benefits.