MultiCare Health System plans to close several Rockwood clinics by the end of 2026 due to financial challenges in the health care industry.

The healthcare provider 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 eye clinics are scheduled for closure on Dec. 31, but limited eye services will be available at Rockwood's downtown clinic, Maloney adds. Its downtown Spokane Eye Surgery Center was closed earlier this year, he notes.

Additionally, MultiCare is planning to close its Rockwood Primary Care Access Clinic by Oct. 27, and the Rockwood Dermatology Center by Dec. 4, Maloney says. Both the access clinic and the dermatology center are located at 300 E. Fifth, at Rockwood's downtown clinic.

In all, the closures impact 83 employees, including staff, physicians, and optometrists, Maloney says. The healthcare provider is helping affected employees access resources and information about available job opportunities across the MultiCare Health System, according to a 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. 

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 is continuing operations at the affected clinics until their closing date, says Maloney.

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.