CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tryon Medical Partners officially split from Atrium Health, and it could impact tens of thousands of patients in the area.

• The doctors sued Carolinas Healthcare Systems, primarily over a non-compete clause
• The lawsuit was settled and dropped, and at the end of August, Tryon Medical Partners will officially be separate
• By the end of the year Tryon will open eight offices for its patients

"It's really about being able to do what we think we can do best with patients and be able to spend more time with the patients," Dr. Dale Owen said.

There are some 115,000 patients who've visited the doctors the past two years.

The doctors sued Carolinas Healthcare Systems, primarily over a non-compete clause.

The lawsuit was settled and dropped, and at the end of August, Tryon Medical Partners will officially be separate.

Tryon Medical Partners said the number of patients already registering for the new practice has been far above what they expected.

"I don't think we're surprised by the amount of patients that want to stay with us but I do want to say that we're not intending to take patients away from Atrium, that's not the issue here," Owen said.

By the end of the year Tryon will open eight offices for its patients.

300 medical professionals are also expected to be hired to staff them.

Most of the doctors are in internal medicine but there are specialists.

"We can be that go to physician that helps direct patients throughout the entire outpatient and inpatient medicine as needed," Owen said.

On Sept. 5, patients start at the new offices, meaning the next month will be a busy one as call takers sign patients up.

New and existing patients can register with the new practice online or by calling the Tryon Call Center at 704-495-6334.

Meanwhile, Atrium health officials said they recruited new physicians so patients can continue to get care at its current locations.