On August 1, the Graves Gilbert Clinic in Bowling Green will take over operations of the WKU Health Services Center.
WKU decided earlier this year to privatize the facility in a move that’s expected to save the university about $1 million a year.
Graves Gilbert Human Resources Director Debbie Diamond confirmed to WKU Public Radio that the three doctors and a nurse practitioner currently on staff were not retained.
"They have sent in applications and resumes to us. At this time, we're not hiring any physicians," said Diamond. "We're using our current family medicine physicians, but that could change down the road."
July 24 is the last day that doctors Patricia Blewett, Allen Redden, and Ray Rowland will see patients. According to Diamond, the campus health facility will continue to offer the same level of care, with additional expertise.
"We have 89 physicians and over 21 specialties, so if a patient needed more specialized care, we have the internal departments that can offer that care. I think everybody will have better access to health care," added Diamond. "We'll also be able to offer more access to insurance carriers just because of our size and capability of negotiating with the carriers."
Starting August 1, the campus facility will be open to the general public and have new hours of operation from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The WKU Board of Regents will hold a special meeting Thursday to vote on a contract with Graves Gilbert.
