Saint Agnes to take over Northwest Medical Center

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Northwest Medical Clinic is a busy place. It attracts patients not only from the growing northwest part of Fresno, but out-of-town folks like Ben Ledesma.

"This location is very easy for me. I'm from Kerman, so it's very easy for me to come here to see my doctor, and I get my prescriptions here," said Ledesma.

But things could be changing for Ledesma and other patients. Saint Agnes Hospital owns the building, but the doctors here work for a competing medical group. They've been given until June to relocate.

Saint Agnes CEO Nancy Collingsworth says Saint Agnes and their physicians group needs the space. She said, "We are growing here at Saint Agnes, and our physician group, Saint Agnes Medical Providers, is growing and we just needed more room for expansion for those services, so it was really natural to be able think about that northwest location for expanded services."

The 12 doctors at Northwest are part of Sante -- the largest physicians group in the area, and closely affiliated with Community Medical Centers. Saint Agnes filed suit against Sante two years ago, alleging they were diverting patients away from Saint Agnes Hospital. The case is still in court. Sante has also been in the center of the conflict between Community Hospitals and Valley Children's Hospital. No one from Sante or Community was available for a comment.

Northwest patient Ben Ledesma is concerned about changing doctors. He said, "I didn't know anything about them moving, so now I'm going to have to see where he's gonna move to, so maybe I'm going to have to change doctors now."

But Collingsworth says maybe not. She said, "Certainly any of the physicians that are currently practicing out of that Northwest location we would be delighted to have them be a part of our team as well."