Dr. Munoz moves to Seymour clinic

Olney Hamilton Hospital loses a staff physician this week with the departure of Dr. Christie Munoz who is moving her practice to Seymour Hospital Rural Health Clinic, leaving the remaining three physicians to pick up the slack as the hospital searches for a replacement.

Dr. Munoz did not renew her contract with OHH after completing her first three-year term in Olney. She came to town after completing a fellowship in Global Health at Florida State University College of Medicine at Lee Health, and a residency at Louisiana State University’s Rural Family Medicine program.

Dr. Munoz is a family practitioner whose area of practice specialty spans neonatal to geriatric care. She delivered babies and performed a range of minor outpatient surgeries in Olney, saving her patients trips to Graham and Wichita Falls. Dr. Munoz also is a native Spanish speaker - a skill that Olney hospital administrators are keen to see in her replacement.

“She’s a great doctor, a really fine person,” hospital administrator Michael Huff said. “I wish her Godspeed and hope she is very successful.”

The hospital has not found a replacement for Dr. Munoz and will turn to its existing staff to try to recruit a new doctor to Olney Family Clinic and OHH.

“They usually have friends, acquaintances, people they already know and have confidence in,” Mr. Huff said. “So that’s where I’m starting now. And if that doesn’t turn up, we’ll probably engage one of the recruiting firms.”

In the past, OHH has had little trouble recruiting physicians to Olney, Mr. Huff said. “You’ve got to have good churches, good schools and good health care, and fortunately this community has all three.”

Mr. Huff said he is confident that the remaining physicians and two nurse practitioners can handle an increased patient load until he can add a new physician to the roster. He said Dr. Munoz will retain admitting privileges at OHH.

Patients who want to continue to see Dr. Munoz can sign a release of information in the Olney Family Clinic and Olney Hamilton Hospital, and have their records sent to her new office in Seymour, where she will be starting July 18.