Ritzville hospital’s primary care clinic will remain open

Ritzville, WASH. — Following an announcement that it would have to close, East Adams Rural Healthcare says its primary care clinic will remain open.

EARH wrote, “the community spoke, and we listened” in a post to Facebook. The board of commissioners voted on Tuesday to keep it open with one provider. It says more will be released once everything is finalized, including which provider will run the clinic.

Last month, EARH announced a plan to avoid closure after facing $10 million in debt but said the changes will significantly reduce services available to the rural community.

The hospital will transition to a rural emergency hospital model, which allows it to receive Medicare funding while cutting certain services. The facility will maintain emergency services, a walk-in clinic for short-term stays and 911 transfers, but said it would eliminate its primary care clinic and up to 14 staff positions within 30-60 days.

Hospital leaders also said they reached settlements with their two largest creditors, covering $3.9 million of the $5.3 million in total claims. They are working to negotiate agreements with 175 creditors for the remaining $1.4 million in debt.