After 12 years of serving the Chilton County area, Dr. Hirenkumar Jani, M.D., is moving to a new location at 260 Health Center Drive in Clanton.

Dr. Jani (pronounced “Johnny”) and staff at Internal Medicine South will open the doors of their new 2,200-square foot facility Monday with a ribbon cutting and open house from 4-7 p.m.

“We are at the stage to provide more efficient services for the people of Chilton County,” Jani said. “I saw the need to expand so we can provide the same quality service but better.”

Internal Medicine South is a practice of internal medicine and primary care. It specializes in minor procedures, acute illness, critical illness requiring ICU setting, chronic diseases requiring nursing home care, and preventive medicine.

Initial expansion plans include providing ultrasound and converting paper records to electronic records.

“We will expand in the future once we settle down,” Jani said. “We will probably get X-ray in the future.”

While expanded treatment options are a priority, the doctor’s vision places a high emphasis on preventive care.

“Alabama is highly ranked in obesity and diabetes,” he said. “My personal vision is that if we can make people more aware of basic health maintenance and prevention, we can do a better job of taking care of sick folks and even preventing it.”

Dr. Jani first arrived in Chilton County in 1996 after completing his residency at Columbia University in New York, where he received his training at the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

He is an internist certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine, and became re-certified in 2006. Re-certification is required every 10 years. He is also a member of the American Society of Internal Medicine and American College of Physicians, affiliated with Chilton Medical Center and Shelby Baptist Medical Center.