APRIL 3, 2025 |
Photo – MHCC’s Hanna Clinic – Bigfoot99 file photo
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County has announced the indefinite closure of its satellite clinic in Hanna.
On March 31st, Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Hinkle released a statement saying the Hanna clinic location would be closing, effective April 1st.
Hinkle wrote, “Over the past year and a half, continuity of care has been challenged due to a lack of provider coverage. Mounting operational losses for the location led the Board of Trustees to make the difficult decision during the March 27th, 2025, Board of Trustees meeting. Future use of the site and consideration of resuming services will be reevaluated dependent upon provider recruitment.”
The announcement comes after the departure of Physician Assistant Peggy Lake. Last September, Lake, who worked at the Hanna clinic for eight years, announced her retirement and plans to move out of Carbon County. However, a housing delay resulted in Lake agreeing to stay in the area for an additional six months.
Speaking to Bigfoot99 in September, Chief Operating Officer Hinkle explained that Lake, upon learning that she will remain in Carbon County longer than expected, asked to continue seeing patients in Hanna.
Audio PlayerIn the meantime, Memorial Hospital searched for a new provider to run the Hanna clinic. However, finding qualified employees remains a challenge nationwide, especially in healthcare.
Last September, Hinkle explained to Bigfoot99 that the largest hurdle to attracting qualified candidates is convincing applicants and their families to live in Carbon County.
Audio PlayerSix months have passed, and Physician Assistant Peggy Lake has retired and moved closer to her family. Without a new provider to oversee its Hanna location, the Memorial Hospital of Carbon County Board of Trustees chose to indefinitely close the clinic.
Memorial Hospital encourages its Hanna patients to visit either the Rawlins or Saratoga locations. Appointments for Rawlins can be made by calling 324-8494 or Saratoga at 326-3580.
The Memorial Hospital Board is evaluating what to do with the Hanna clinic until a new provider can be found.
