Patients want family docs hired soon

Published 2:36 am Friday, January 5, 2007

PORT ANGELES – Harlan Knudson might have expected smooth sailing Wednesday night at his first meeting as chairman of the Olympic Medical Center board of commissioners.

Instead, he cruised into a squall of controversy over prolonged contract negotiations with primary care doctors who staff the former Virginia Mason clinic on Eighth Street.

Knudson, who enjoyed a reputation as being outspoken as one of OMC’s seven commissioners, cut off comments and questions from the audience regarding the contracts.

Since the hospital took over the Eighth Street facility- now the Olympic Medical Physicians Primary Care Clinic – its nine primary-care providers have worked under contracts with OMC.

Those contracts expired Dec. 31.