Doctors move to health clinic

MOSES LAKE - Two of the three doctors terminated from the Samaritan Clinic earlier this month are now at Moses Lake Community Health Center.

Dr. Cole Hemmerling began practicing at the center on Monday and Dr. Andrea Carter begins practicing at the center on Aug. 1, said Sheila Chilson, chief executive officer of the health center.

"Our goal in hiring doctors Hemmerling and Carter was just to continue to provide the care to the patient population of Moses Lake and we're excited about retaining high quality, compassionate and dedicated physicians who are already in our community," she said.

"I started on Monday and have been there two days now and I'm very pleased," said Hemmerling. "I look forward to serving my patients."

The doctors will perform family medicine and continue to offer the same practice options as they did at Samaritan, said Chilson.

"Nothing has changed, just the location," she said.

Former patients of doctors Hemmerling and Carter, who wish to transfer to the health center, can call 509-765-0674, said Chilson.

"We can register them over the phone and give them all of the information they need to transfer their care," she said.

Everyone is welcome at the health center and they accept all forms of insurance, she said.

Doctor Tiffany Friesen, the third doctor terminated from Samaritan, said she is still looking for employment.

"This was completely unexpected," she said of the firing. "I have made absolutely no plans and have no idea whatsoever if I'll be staying in town or not ... I'm in the process of looking for jobs, but I don't have any idea what I'm doing or where I'm going."