With Dr. Mary Girling’s plans to close her clinic on the horizon, Jackson Hole finds itself in serious trouble of experiencing a dramatic shift in their local obstetrical care. Despite her best efforts to hire a new OB/GYN doctor through St. John Health, the problems facing the region often remain for Dr. Giovannina Anthony of the Women’s Health Center and Family Care facing similar hurdles.
Dr. Mary Girling to Close Clinic June 1
Jackson’s local obstetrical care will soon undergo a dramatic shift as Dr. Mary Girling, a 54-year-old OB/GYN, announces her plans to close her clinic June 1. Despite serving an average of five births, four surgeries and 65 appointments each week, Wyoming’s politics on reproductive rights and Jackson Hole’s high housing costs have made it impossible for her to remain in practice. While Gros Ventre OB/GYN will remain the only clinic in town willing to accept patients, Dr. Girling has proudly provided vital care for many moms-to-be over the years and her absence will be sorely missed.
Despite the challenges of a rising rent, high average household income and limited capital, Dr. Girling has remained determined to ensure her 16-year-old private OB/GYN clinic in Jackson Hole continues to provide care for all patients, regardless of their insurance status. In March, she offered an attractive salary to Natalie Eggleston, a local OB/GYN finishing her residency at a Stanford-based clinic, though she ultimately decided against it. Consequently, Dr. Girling has been reaching out to St. John’s Health for assistance with recruiting a new physician, hopeful that their far greater capital can help provide a competitive enough salary guarantee for a successful hire.
Meanwhile, Dr. Giovannina Anthony of the Women’s Health Center and Family Care in town is also experiencing the same hiring difficulty.
But she is confident that the clinic will continue to thrive, and is exploring other potential solutions.
Rural obstetricians demonstrate resilience and adaptability in providing care to a wide range of patients who might already be travelling for hours. Girling, Anthony and Eggleston all noted the longer on-call hours and higher-risk clients common to rural medicine as another reason obstetrical recruiting for a small town is challenging, yet these professionals remain undeterred. Furthermore, despite closures of labor and delivery services at hospitals like Memorial Hospital of Carbon County and South Lincoln Hospital in Kemmerer, Dr. Christopher Nidhues has confirmed that OB care is “pretty well-supported” in towns like Cheyenne, Casper, Gillette, Rock Springs and Evanston.
Dr. Maura Lofaro, an obstetrician at Gros Ventre OB/GYN, has proudly declared that her practice has “plenty of space to assimilate any of Dr. Girling’s patients who are pregnant,” and that with two board-certified obstetricians and one nurse midwife, they are prepared to deliver babies and accommodate a higher number of expectant mothers.
Andrea Jones, a Pinedale resident who had recurrent miscarriages and who found the “bedside manner and care” she was looking for in Dr. Girling, plans to look outside of Jackson for her perinatal care. Similarly, Elizabeth Keane, a former labor and delivery nurse at St. John’s Health, is due within a month of Jackson Hole Care for Women closing and Makayla Parker, who was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease lupus days before learning she was pregnant, are both facing the challenge of finding a doctor to provide them with the care they require. Despite this, Girling has reported that some of her patients have courageously decided to move to different states in order to find the care they need.
Jeff Sollis, the CEO of St. John’s Health, has expressed his support for these patients, saying that “women who have been served by Dr. Girling in the past will continue to have access to care for their OB/GYN needs with longstanding community providers.” Sarah Glawe, the county’s maternal and child health coordinator, also attested that she has not heard of any individuals being denied the care they need at Gros Ventre. Despite the challenges faced, these inspiring women are determined to gain the best care available for themselves and their unborn children.
Katina Krajniak, the nurse manager at Turning Point, is committed to ensuring that all women have access to safe and timely care, especially during their first trimester. She has encouraged the community to reach out to Turning Point for free, confidential ultrasounds and pregnancy tests. With the support of local healthcare providers, Jackson is determined to supply its citizens with quality prenatal care.
Katina Krajniak, the proud nurse manager at Turning Point, is deeply committed to ensuring that all women have access to safe and timely care, especially during their first trimester. She has positively encouraged the community to reach out to Turning Point for free, confidential ultrasounds and pregnancy tests. With the strong support of local healthcare providers, Jackson is confidently determined to supply its citizens with quality prenatal care.
Dr. Mary Girling has been a dedicated local OB/GYN for 16 years, fighting to keep her clinic open despite Jackson Hole’s struggles. Despite her attempts to recruit a new physician and avoid the burden of closure, Dr. Girling was ultimately unable to do so and made the difficult but brave decision to suspend operations at her clinic come June 1. Though she will be greatly missed in the community, her legacy of providing quality reproductive healthcare to many in need should not be forgotten. The difficulties Dr. Girling encountered in the recruiting process provide a stark reminder of our current political struggle involving reproductive rights, high housing costs, and limited capital resources that coordinately contribute unjust burdens on what is consider common medical care.
