WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — MercyOne has announced it's ending Gynecology Oncology surgical services on June 1, leaving The Iowa Clinic as the only central Iowa facility for patients to go to.
Gynecology Oncology surgical services deal with cancer of the female reproductive system, including operations like hysterectomies, debunking surgeries for ovarian cancer and removal of lymph nodes.
Due to the closure of the MercyOne specialty clinic, The Iowa Clinic in West Des Moines is preparing for an increase in patients seeking these services. It currently has one MD specialized in Gynecology Oncology surgeries: Dr. Kevin Kremer. The Iowa Clinic has also recently hired nurse practitioners to meet the need.
"It's important because women's health is often overlooked," explained Sadie Forey, director of operations at The Iowa Clinic. "We want to make sure that patients know we are here to take care of them. And want to continue to do so and we have the access and the team to be able to do that."
Patients will continue to travel from across the state to The Iowa Clinic for care once MercyOne ends its gynecological oncology surgical services on June 1.
The closure of MercyOne's specialty clinic in Des Moines occurred because the hospital system said they were unable to recruit a specialty physician after a two-year search following a physician’s retirement.
MercyOne sent the following statement to Local 5 News on Wednesday:
"MercyOne patients continue to have access to our comprehensive circle of gynecological and cancer care across Iowa. MercyOne Richard Deming Cancer Center, including integrative cancer care and radiation oncology, was not impacted. MercyOne continues to partner with Mission Cancer for Medical Oncology services."
The Iowa Clinic told Local 5 News that MercyOne had a locum (temporary provider) working two weeks per month for the majority of the past year, splitting time and traveling back and forth between California and Iowa.
Recruitment for these specialized physicians are not only affecting MercyOne. In fact, Iowa has the fewest OBGYNs per capita of any U.S. state, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.