Rainy Lake Medical Center officials told The Journal Thursday that obstetrics, or OB, care will continue locally.
“This is great news for the community,” said Angela Liedke, foundation and marketing coordinator for RLMC.
RLMC officials earlier this month announced that beginning Oct. 1, late-term prenatal care and baby delivery services at the RLMC clinic and hospital campuses will be temporarily halted. A shortage of doctors in the area providing prenatal care spurred the decision.
Last week, Liedke told The Journal that RLMC officials had been developing a plan to continue OB care following the announcement.
The finalized plan includes bringing in a locum doctor, or a physician who works in place of the regular doctor when that doctor is absent, or when a hospital/practice is short-staffed. These professionals are still governed by their respective regulatory bodies, despite the transient nature of their positions.
The local clinic was reduced from five doctors to three doctors who provide prenatal care after former RLMC physicians Bobbi Schneller and Jesse Heuer resigned from the clinic.
RLMC’s prenatal care team now consists of Samantha Crossley, Anthony Stone and Jeri Vergeldt. The three physicians, according to Liedke, have been working with the locum doctor, who was not named, on developing a care schedule.
Liedke said that regardless of the locum doctor’s start date, baby delivery services will not be interrupted.
“Service will continue as it has been,” she said.
Other news reports indicated the decision to come up with a plan to continue the delivery of babies locally was sparked by public outcry. However, Liedke said the intention to come up with this type of plan was in the works immediately following the two doctors’ resignations.
