Garfield medical clinic to close

Whitman Medical Group’s Garfield clinic will close at the end of this year, Dec. 31.

Citing a lack of patient volume, administrator Jennifer Broeckel said the clinic’s doctor, Tony Lundberg, will now spend two days per week at Tekoa instead. His main office is the Whitman Medical Group’s St. John clinic.

Dr. Lundberg had been in Garfield for two days per week. Whitman Medical Group leases the Garfield clinic space from the Garfield Hospital District.

The decision to close the Garfield clinic was made Wednesday night, Nov. 19, by the group’s board. The organization also has doctors in St. John and Colfax.

The on-site Garfield Pharmacy will remain open, continuing its operation since May 2013.

“The town is very supportive,” said Michelle Welch, the pharmacy’s owner. “Whitman Medical Group has been wonderful too. I’m sorry to see them close the clinic. It is going to be a big loss there.”

Welch also owns the St. John Pharmacy.