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Psychiatric doctors in Spokane resign, say they can't keep up with workload

Published  June 26, 2015 8:57am PDT
Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane is scrambling to hire psychiatrists after its entire team of psychiatric doctors put in resignation notices last month.

KXLY-TV in Spokane says the current group of eight psychiatrists will work through August. They each gave notice over two weeks in May, saying they couldn't keep up with the increasing workload.

The psychiatric unit has more than 70 inpatient beds and is often at capacity.

Dr. Kirk Rowbotham, chief medical officer for Providence Medical Group, says workload has been on ongoing issue but the hospital had been actively working to recruit more physicians when the doctors decided to resign.

The hospital says it hopes to replace the psychiatrists soon so patient care will not be affected.

Mental health advocates say the psychiatric beds at Sacred Heart play a crucial role in mental health treatment in Spokane.