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Show Physician Shortage At Garfield Memorial Causes Temporary Clinic Closures PANGUITCH - Garfield Memorial Hospital Administrator Alberto Vasquez announced this week a temporary tempo-rary shortage of physicians at the Panguitch facility which has ' resulted in necessary closures of outlying community clinics in Escalante, Bryce Valley, Circleville and Long Valley. Vasquez noted "due to the departure of staff physician Dr. R.W. Walters to North Carolina and the standard vacations planned for remaining physicians physi-cians on staff in June and July," clinics have had to be periodically periodi-cally reduced for lack of coverage. cover-age. He hopes the public will bear with them and be as patient as possible during what is a frustrating frus-trating situation for all involved. Apologizing to the public for the inconvenience, he likewise assured patrons these are merely temporary closures and clinics will go back on full rotation as soon as an additional physician is hired. Recruiting is underway and everyone involved is hoping for rapid resolution some time this summer. On the weekends physician coverage is being provided by residents associated with the Utah Family Practice Residency program from Orem. Also two independent physicians, both familiar with the Panguitch Intermountain Health Care facility facil-ity and county residents have been hired. Physicians Mike Frazier of Orem and Andy Peiffer of Salt Lake City will fill in as required until a new hire is brought on board. "Closures of clinics will be on a rotating basis as we go through this transition," reported Vasquez, "with, we hope, as minimal of inconvenience as possible. We would appreciate the public's understanding and continued support." |