Singing River Health System to close Gautier, D'Iberville primary care clinics next month

Singing River Health System CEO Kevin Holland (File)

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Singing River Health System will close its primary care clinics in Gautier and D'Iberville on Aug. 29, system leaders announced this afternoon.

The system said earlier this month that it would also close its occupational medicine clinic, Medworks, on Old Mobile Highway in Pascagoula on Thursday.

The latest move is part of a consolidation project to direct patient flow to other existing SRHS clinics in Biloxi, Hurley, Pascagoula, Ocean Springs and Vancleave, leaders said.

The clinic at the Pascagoula Walmart will also continue to see patients on a walk-in basis.

"Due to the organization's financial challenges brought on by declining reimbursement and rising levels of uninsured we are serving, we are presently assessing all of our operations to ensure we are performing as optimally and efficiently as possible to meet the healthcare needs of our community," CEO Kevin Holland said.

"While reviewing our clinic practices, we believe we can consolidate the locations we are operating and still continue to provide access to needed primary care services for our communities," he said.

Currently, there are 16 employees -- including four providers -- working at the D'Iberville and Gautier clinics.

When the clinics close, six employee positions and one provider position will be eliminated. Those employees may reapply for positions as they become available.

The other six staffers and three providers will move to positions at the other clinic locations.

"Realigning the clinics is a tough decision that we feel will help make our organization stronger without compromising our quality of care," said Dr. Randy Roth, SRHS interim chief medical officer.

"The actions we are taking, along with issues concerning reimbursement, are very prevalent industry-wide trends," Roth said. "As a whole, SRHS has a lot of positives that we believe affirm our commitment to providing our community with world-class care."

To get a listing of available SRHS clinics locations, phone numbers to schedule appointments and a list of providers at each clinic, visit www.mysrhs.com.

Singing River Health System is a multimillion-dollar operation with hospitals in Pascagoula and Ocean Springs and additional facilities in George County and Harrison County.

Its annual budget is $370 million, and it serves the six southern counties of Mississippi and Mobile County in Alabama.

The health system is county-owned, and the county backs its debt, but county tax dollars do not fund the system's operations.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.