KALISPELL, Mont. — A contract decision involving a longtime family physician at Logan Health is fueling a growing controversy in the Flathead Valley, with union leaders warning it could disrupt care for thousands of patients.

Supporters of Dr. Ruben Hipolito are set to speak out at a press conference scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday outside the main entrance of Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, after the health system decided not to renew his contract.

Union leaders say the decision to end Hipolito’s employment this fall could leave nearly 2,000 patients without a primary care provider. They dispute Logan Health’s explanation for the decision and say the press conference will focus on the impact provider turnover is having on access to health care in the region.

Logan Health has said Hipolito was “not the right fit” for the organization, citing patient satisfaction surveys.

The following was sent over Union of American Physicians and Dentists:

Community leaders, patients, physicians, healthcare providers, and labor leaders will gather outside Logan Health Medical Center on Tuesday, July 7, after Logan Health’s decision to terminate the employment of Dr. Ruben Hipolito. A decision that will leave approximately 2,000 patients without access to their primary care provider this fall and further straining access to care across the Flathead Valley.

Dr. Hipolito has cared for patients at Logan Health for the past seven years while also helping train the next generation of family physicians serving Western Montana. Logan Health informed him that his employment will end on September 30. The health system said he was “not the right fit” for the organization and cited patient satisfaction surveys as the reason for its decision. However, according to the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD), his personnel and medical staff files contain no disciplinary actions or concerns about the quality of his care. The union disputes Logan Health’s characterization of his patient satisfaction surveys, noting that Dr. Hipolito holds a 4.6 out of 5 star patient rating on the organization’s website.

The UAPD believes the decision is retaliation against Dr. Hipolito for his outspoken advocacy on behalf of his patients, including his leadership role in unionizing his colleagues at Logan Health’s primary care clinics.

“After nearly a decade serving the community, Logan Health suddenly decides he’s not a good fit? This isn’t about patient satisfaction, it’s retaliation for being an outspoken doctor who cares about his patients,” said Dr. Stuart Bussey, UAPD President. “Dr. Hipolito used his voice to speak up for the needs of his patients and his colleagues and now he’s paying the price for it. We cannot let healthcare systems dictate care by getting rid of the doctors who speak up. If providers lose their voice, patients lose their fiercest advocate. Logan Health needs to reverse this decision before even more harm is done to healthcare access in the region.”

Logan Health’s decision raises serious public health concerns in an area already struggling with access to care. The health system faces high provider turnover while residents struggle to establish care with a primary care provider and schedule timely appointments. The loss of another experienced family physician stands to disrupt care for patients across the entire system. Thousands of patients may face longer wait times, interrupted continuity of care, and additional barriers to accessing healthcare services.

“I chose to stay in the Flathead Valley because this community became my home. For nearly 10 years, I’ve had the privilege of caring for patients and their families through some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their lives. Those relationships are why I became a family physician,” said Dr. Ruben Hipolito. “Last month I was told that my position would end in September. My greatest concern isn’t what happens to me—it’s what happens to my patients. Access to care in Kalispell is already limited and I refuse to stay silent. I will continue to speak up because our community deserves better.”

The July 7 press conference will address the impact of provider turnover on patient access and the community’s stake in preserving accessible, high-quality healthcare in the Flathead Valley.