Dr. Jensen will stay on; new doctor coming
By Don Nelson
Methow Valley Family Practice in Twisp, acquired by longtime local physician Dr. Joe Jensen in 1992, will officially become a Family Health Centers (FHC) clinic on Friday (May 1).
Jensen sold the practice to FHC in a deal announced several months ago. He will continue to work at the clinic under a contract.
FHC also said this week that another physician will join the practice in September. Dr. Allison Fitzgerald, who has worked at the Twisp clinic before, will relocate to the Methow Valley with her family and is “very excited” about the move, said FHC spokesperson Megan Barton.
Barton said the clinic will be closed on Friday while staff members attend training, and will reopen Monday (May 4) with all the same personnel, hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday) and phone number (997-2011). A new sign is being prepared for the clinic on West Second Avenue, she said.
Steve Brown, manager of FHC’s Omak Medical Clinic, will also oversee the Twisp clinic.
There will be a grand opening celebration at the clinic on May 27 at 10 a.m., Barton said.
Jensen, who has been in practice for 43 years, acquired the Twisp clinic after legendary Methow Valley physician Dr. William Henry retired, having operated the practice for 30 years.
FHC, a nonprofit health care system based in Okanogan and established in 1985, provides health care services for all Okanogan County residents, including dental care and some pharmacies. It has locations in Omak, Okanogan, Brewster, Oroville, Tonasket and Bridgeport, and recently opened a family dental clinic in Twisp in the former office of Dr. John Nickell.
FHC clinics serve anyone regardless of their ability to pay, and that will be the policy in Twisp as well.
“FHC ownership and management will provide long-term stability and improve the ability of Methow Valley Family Practice to continue serving the Methow Valley, including many Medicaid and uninsured patients who cannot get care locally,” FHC said in an earlier press release.
For more information, visit the FHC website, www.myfamilyhealth.org.
