Thursday, March 28, 2024

Three Rivers will end obstetrics program

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BREWSTER – On the heels of a decision by Family Health Centers (FHC) to centralize its obstetrics services at Mid-Valley Hospital in Omak by April of next year, the Board of Commissioners for Three Rivers Hospital (TRH) has decided to discontinue its own OB program. TRH records an average of 90 births per year.
 

 

 

TRH is ending its OB program for the same basic reason that FHC is moving to Mid-Valley: the difficulty of recruiting more physicians to Okanogan County. 

 

At the Oct. 2 TRH Commissioner’s meeting, FHC’s medical director Dr. James Wallace explained the relocation decision based on the struggle to attract physicians. The THC Commissioners subsequently conducted their own study regarding the future of obstetrics at Three Rivers.

“Based on the analysis completed, it was determined that the resources it would take to recruit the necessary physicians would be too significant,” wrote TRH Business Development Coordinator Jennifer Best in a Nov. 15 media release. “With this information, the Board of commissioners determined it would not be feasible to continue OB services without the Family Health Centers physicians.”

“This is the end of an era for Three Rivers Hospital,” said Chief Executive Officer Scott Graham. “We’re sad to see it end but we support Family Health Centers choice to centralize OB services in order to keep the invaluable service available in Okanogan County.”

 

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