A significant change is underway at The Corvallis Clinic, located in the mid-Willamette Valley, as it plans to discontinue maternity and women’s health services on February 12, 2024. This decision has raised concerns among patients about where they will seek care in the future. The clinic, which is now part of Optum Inc., a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, has cited a shortage of OB-GYN doctors as a key reason for this closure.
In letters sent to patients earlier this month, clinic management explained that they have struggled to retain specialists due to retirements and relocations, along with challenges in recruiting new providers. The announcement comes as The Corvallis Clinic operates 11 facilities serving thousands across Benton, Linn, and Lincoln counties, where access to women’s health services is already limited.
The letter, signed by “The care team at The Corvallis Clinic, Part of Optum,” expressed empathy for the affected patients, stating, “This was a tremendously hard decision. Our top priority is ensuring a smooth and supportive transition of care.” Yet, for many patients, the transition appears anything but smooth.
Michelle Calbreath, a 39-year-old patient who is currently pregnant and due at the end of April, learned about the clinic’s impending closure during a prenatal appointment in late November. Her doctor informed her that the remaining OB-GYN physicians would resign in February and advised her to seek alternative care. “It was really worrying,” Calbreath noted. “I felt extremely comfortable with this clinic… it’s so jarring to be told one day that your care just can’t continue because of forces completely outside your control.”
Patients like Alex Aljets, a Stayton resident who has delivered all three of her children at The Corvallis Clinic, are now feeling the pressure to find new healthcare providers. Aljets, who is currently receiving postpartum care, expressed frustration over the distance she may have to travel for services. “When you’re pregnant or dealing with a serious health issue, that distance really matters,” she stated. Aljets has continued to visit the clinic despite moving farther away because of the trust she has established with her doctor.
Concerns are growing among patients regarding the loss of not only their trusted OB-GYNs but also access to urgent and preventive women’s health care. McKenzie Huber, a long-time patient, vividly recalled her experience with a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy last December, when she needed emergency surgery. Her OB-GYN was able to facilitate immediate care, a level of access that Huber fears may diminish with the closure. “This isn’t abstract,” she said. “If you’re in labor and have to drive 20 or 30 minutes because local services are gone, that can be a matter of life or death.”
The closure of the OB-GYN department has renewed scrutiny over the impact of corporate ownership on local healthcare services. Optum’s acquisition of The Corvallis Clinic was part of a fast-tracked deal that bypassed the state’s typical regulatory review processes designed to safeguard local care access. Since taking over, the company has expanded its reach across Oregon, controlling various clinics, hundreds of physicians, and multiple healthcare facilities.
While Optum has defended its operational model, emphasizing the financial stability and administrative support it provides, concerns linger among patients and healthcare professionals. Dr. John Santa, a retired physician and former board member of the Oregon Health Authority, believes the situation at The Corvallis Clinic reflects broader trends in healthcare consolidation. He noted that when for-profit companies acquire practices, they often prioritize financial metrics over patient care.
“OB-GYN departments are particularly vulnerable due to physician shortages and high malpractice insurance costs,” Santa explained. “If a service were making money, it’s very unlikely a company would just walk away from it.” He highlighted that about half of all obstetric patients in Oregon are covered by Medicaid, which typically offers lower reimbursement rates compared to commercial insurance.
As the community grapples with the implications of this decision, representatives from Optum and The Corvallis Clinic have not clarified whether the closure is directly linked to the exodus of physicians. Patients have reported difficulties in securing appointments for routine examinations and preventive screenings, with some extending months out due to staffing shortages.
This situation serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by healthcare systems in smaller communities, particularly as corporate acquisitions reshape the landscape of medical services. For now, patients in the mid-Willamette Valley are left navigating an uncertain future regarding their women’s health care needs.
