Vision care services in the Spokane area will be impacted in the new year, as three MultiCare Rockwood eye clinics will close in Spokane County effective Dec. 31.

MultiCare Health System is scheduled to close: Rockwood Eye & Optical Center-Downtown, at 300 E. Fifth, in Spokane; Rockwood Eye Center-Valley, at 1414 N. Houk Road, in Spokane Valley; and Rockwood Eye Center-Northpointe, at 605 E. Holland, in North Spokane, says Kevin Maloney, media relations manager, Inland Northwest region, in a statement to the Journal.

The closure impacts 56 employees, including physicians and optometrists, Maloney says. The healthcare provider is helping affected employees access resources and information about available job opportunities across MultiCare Health System, according to the statement.

"This decision follows a careful review of our services and our responsibility to ensure Rockwood can continue meeting community needs in a sustainable way," he says. 

A reason for the closure has not been provided. MultiCare is reaching out to patients who will be impacted by the closure directly.

"Decisions that affect patients and employees are never made lightly," Maloney says. "MultiCare remains committed to delivering high-quality care and supporting the communities we serve during this transition."

MultiCare Rockwood currently operates four eye clinics in Spokane County: downtown, North Spokane, Spokane Valley, in addition to a surgery center downtown, according to the provider's website. MultiCare acquired Rockwood Health System from Tennessee-based Community Health Systems Inc. for $425 million in July 2017, the Journal previously reported. The purchase included Deaconess and Valley hospitals and Rockwood Clinic at 300 E. Fifth.