WEBB PEDIATRICIAN
Credit: WKTV
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The town of webb is losing its only pediatrician, forcing people who live there to drive about an hour to see one.
And they are not happy about that.
Newschannel 2's joleen ferris is live in the studio to tell us why this situation-which no one wanted to happen- is happening.
Joleen?
It's the perfect illustration of the challenge of delivering health care to rural, underserved communities.
And why sometimes the challenge cannot be met.
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None .
None the problem of delivering healthcare to more rural, underserved communities is hitting home in the town of webb 7:02 "yeah, the dedicated pediatrician who was there part time was seeing less than a dozen patients a week.
It was not a real viable option for us to support" mvhs says they tried, but this year, they stand to hemhorrage more than half a million dollars from this office 6:07 "the community really wanted those providers.
We tried to support it.
We tried to grow it, it just didn't grow and then with the covid 19 hitting that practice, we were at a clip to lose three quarters of a million dollars, $750,000, on that one location.
We cannot afford to do that" and so, the town of webb is losing its only pediatrician.
Dr. rhea ivins says she is the town of webb's first practicing pediatrician.
It's a calling and distinction she treasured 3:48 "they're my patients, they're my families" and hanging a sign and opening her own practice isn't an option.
6:05 "it's a lot.
It takes a lot to run a practice and that's why most physicians aren't going into private practice anymore.
They're working for hospitals because it's just too expensive" patients voiced on community facebook message boards, their disappointment over losing ivins and another doctor in the office.
Ivins is moved by the support 2:17 "i have been overwhelmed" 2:33 "i can't believe it...i am absolutely overwhelmed with the response, unbelievable" a solution to serving the underserved in rural communities seems elusive.
Dr. ivins is sad, but not bitter 8:48 "i'm not blaming mvhs for any of this.
It just is" > the town of webb office is moving from two full-time and one part time provider, to one full-time provider this summer.
Other staff will remain.
With so