If there’s one thing that’s important to western Oklahoma energy industry people, it’s health care. Hospitals.
But now the hospitals in Clinton and Weatherford might be closed by the end of the year.
County and state officials were notified this week by Clinton HMA, LLC and Clinton HMPN, LLC that “due to market changes,” they will not review the lease agreement that expires on December 31, 2022.
“With the expiration of the lease, all operations will permanently cease and all employees will be permanently terminated,” stated Tracy Byers, CEO in a notification to the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development.
The letter stated that 192 employees will be affected by the closing of operations at the Clinton hospital and the clinic. Four sites in Clinton and one in Weatherford are part of the shutdown.
There is still a possibility another operator might be located to maintain hospital operations.
“—a hospital operator not associated with Clinton HMA, LLC or Clinton HMPN, LLC might enter into its own agreement with the owners of the hospital and clinic to continue operations. However, any such agreement is not within Clinton HMA, LLC or Clinton HMPH, LLC’s control,” explained Byers in her WARN letter to the state.
The state also notified Custer County Commissioners, the mayors of Clinton and Weatherford and the Clinton City Manager.
