Indiana University Health officials say they’re considering maintaining a presence in the small town of Gosport, after hearing from concerned residents.
The healthcare provider announced in May it would close IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians Gosport and serve patients out of a new facility under construction in Spencer.
That didn’t sit well with the town’s residents and IU Health staff in the current facility. Many people from the community of less than 1,000 voiced their concerns. IU Health’s Vice Preisdent of Marketing and Community Relations for the South Central region, Teri Dematas says the healthcare provider determined it’s best to find a way to keep an office in Gosport.
"We understand that people who live in rural communities do have transportation issues," Dematas says. "So we want to be a good partner and a good advocate for our patients to make sure that they can stay as healthy as they can."
The proposal includes having a nurse practitioner at the office, but Dematas says IU Health will likely reduce overall staffing in Gosport. It’s unclear whether the office would remain in the current building, or be located elsewhere in town.
There’s no timeline for IU Health to make a decision.