Published: June 30, 2007 04:52 pm      

Trinity doctor contacts patients

Letter says four primary care practices to remain

While Trinity Mother Frances Health System hasn’t released exact figures on the number of physicians leaving or remaining with Trinity Clinic-Corsicana as a result of its announced “reorganization” of the facility, a letter sent to patients by one departing Trinity physician may shed some light on who is staying, and who is leaving.

The Daily Sun obtained a copy of the letter sent to patients of one Trinity physician dated June 26, 2007, and postmarked June 28. In the letter, Dr. Douglas Hibbs stated he is resigning from Trinity Clinic-Corsicana effective July 1. Hibbs said in the letter he will “pursue other practice opportunities in hospital-based practice.” He did not elaborate in the letter on where the hospital based practice would be.

Frank Martinez, a spokesman for Navarro Regional Hospital, confirmed Friday that Hibbs will be a part of a group of physicians that will serve the Corsicana hospital, working as “hospitalists,” doctors who will be available at Navarro Regional to provide on-going patient care and treatment in conjunction with a patient’s primary physician.

“We’re pleased to say that Dr. Hibbs will be a part of the team Navarro Regional will be working with implementing the hospitalists program,” Martinez said.

What the letter to Hibbs’ patients did spell out was a list of “primary care physicians with established practices” that would be making efforts to accommodate new patients as a result of Hibbs’ departure from Trinity Clinic-Corsicana.

“Drs. Kent Rogers, Howard Katz, Bill Ray Lee, John Sawtelle and nurse practitioner Jan Merida,” were identified by Hibbs as the physicians that would be available at Trinity Clinic-Corsicana. Hibbs’ letter did not specify if there were other primary care physicians that would remain with Trinity, but not seek to accommodate new patients.

Dr. Kent Rogers told the Daily Sun in an interview June 22 that he, along with a core of primary care physicians and a cardiology unit would remain at the Trinity Clinic-Corsicana location. He said that the Corsicana clinic would be losing about 50 percent of the physicians on staff, and hoped those leaving would still remain in practice in the area.

Earlier this week, a statement released by Trinity Mother Frances Health System acknowledged there would be physicians leaving the Trinity umbrella, but declined to identify either the doctors remaining or those leaving.

One other doctor that has confirmed his departure from the Trinity umbrella is Dr. Dan McCoy, former medical director of Trinity Clinic-Corsicana. McCoy is joining another doctor in a dermatology practice in Dallas, but will maintain an office in Corsicana and continue to see patients locally, he said.

Navarro Regional Hospital told the Daily Sun it is in talks with at least six current Trinity Clinic-Corsicana physicians about joining the hospital’s staff.

Navarro Regional is building a new medical office building adjacent to the hospital that will provide office space for up to 40 medical professionals. It is expected to open this fall.

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Bob Belcher may be reached via e-mail at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com