Central Peninsula General Hospital is looking to acquire an OBGYN building as Soldotna nears two obstetrics doctors’ departures.
The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Rick Davis said owner Dr. Jo Lynn Hawthorne approached CPGH about buying the property because she will be leaving at the end of July.
Davis: “And she’s got quite a few expectant mothers under her care that are going to need follow-up continuity care after she leaves. We’ve got a temporary physician hired to start the day after Dr. Hawthorne leaves but we really don’t have a good place for the person to practice out of.”
An ordinance has been introduced to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly requesting that an undetermined amount be appropriated from the CPGH, Inc. Plant Replacement and Expansion Fund for the purchase.
Davis stated a borough assessment of the facility a few years ago came to around $725,000-750,000.
As for OBGYN Dr. Nels Anderson leaving at the beginning of next year, Davis stated…
Davis: “Well we’re not necessarily worried but we’re aggressively recruiting so we’ve got a temporary person starting August 4th to just step right in to Dr. Hawthorne’s shoes and provide continuity to her patients but then we’re simultaneously aggressively recruiting for a full-time OBGYN physician to come set up practice in our community. Most specialties take three to six months to recruit the replacement into.”
Anderson and his wife will be leaving in early 2016 to participate in missions in Africa.
