Clinic concerns prompt community meeting

WINFIELD - Concerns about the future of the Physicians & Clinics of Henry County Hospitals and Clinics - Winfield prompted the Winfield City Council to call a town meeting to discuss the future of health care in Winfield.

During the regular city council meeting Wednesday, March 13, Mayor Chris Finnell said the two providers who staff the clinic have resigned. He said the resignations take effect at the end of this week. The community meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3 in the

'They were very loved in our community and people hate to see them leave, so there is a lot of concern,” he said. 'There are a lot of people who don't know what is going on. I thought it would be advantageous for us to take some time to have a community meeting to dispel any rumors.”

He said the largest rumor he hopes to dispel is that there will no longer be a clinic in Winfield.

During the meeting council members indicated wanting to hear what the community wants before pursuing any changes in the setup of the clinic. Members discussed the possibility of contacting the Washington County Hospital and Clinics to see if the need arises if the clinic could be staffed from Washington. The members also discussed inviting members of the Henry County Hospitals and Clinics to the meeting.

Finnell also said Winfield is in the beginning stages of renovating a building to act as a pharmacy. He commented that if there is no clinic in town, the pharmacy won't do very well. He said the coming pharmacy will be a telepharmacy. The coming pharmacy also will be discussed at the community meeting.

'I'm really motivated to have the clinic work for a number of reasons,” he said. 'Mainly so Winfield can have health care and thrive.”