MultiCare Health System announced it will be closing its primary care access clinic, its dermatology clinic and three MultiCare Rockwood eye clinics in Spokane County by the end of the year.
The nonprofit healthcare provider did not disclose Friday why executives were shutting down the clinics.
The closures include the MultiCare Rockwood Clinic Primary Care Access Clinic, at 300 E. Fifth Ave., which will shutter Oct. 27, and the MultiCare Rockwood Dermatology Center, which is located in the same building, on Dec. 4.
In addition, MultiCare will end operations by Dec. 31 for the Rockwood Eye & Optical Center-Downtown, at 300 E. Fifth Ave.; the Rockwood Eye Center-Northpointe, at 605 E. Holland Ave.; and the Rockwood Eye Center-Valley, at 1414 N. Houk Road in Spokane Valley.
“The downtown location, however, will continue to offer a limited amount of service for medical retinas through June 2027,” Maloney said. “This decision follows a careful review of our services and our responsibility to ensure Rockwood can continue meeting community needs in a sustainable way.”
The closures impact 83 staff members and providers.
“We are working closely with them to provide support, resources and information about available opportunities across MultiCare where possible,” he said. “Decisions that affect patients and employees are never made lightly.”
MultiCare founded Tacoma’s first hospital in 1882.
The nonprofit now employs more than 20,000 people and operates more than 300 primary, urgent, pediatric and specialty care locations across Washington, Idaho and Oregon, according to its website.
MultiCare also operates 13 hospitals, including Deaconess and Valley hospitals, which were purchased for $425 million in 2017. That purchase included Rockwood Clinic.
Maloney declined a phone interview and instead provided only a statement on Friday. The news release did not indicate how many patients are served by the five clinics that will close.
“MultiCare remains committed to delivering high-quality care and supporting the communities we serve during this transition,” Maloney wrote.