Court Overturns Recent Portner/PMC Ruling

Front Drive and Drop Off Area for Hospital

Another turn of events has developed in the legal battle between Prowers Medical Center and obstetrician Dr. Barry Portner who is employed at High Plains Community Health Center in Lamar.

The PMC Board of Directors voted on June 24 to rescind medical privileges at the hospital for Dr. Portner, who appealed the judgement in District Court in Pueblo. On July 29, 2015, the court issued a stay of action against the hospital, ruling that Dr. Portner could continue to use the hospital in his practice. The defendants, PMC, objected to that ruling.

A press release issued Friday, August 14 from Prowers Medical Center states that following further court action, Senior District Court Judge, Scott B. Epstein has determined that the Order for Stay, issued in July in favor of Dr. Portner was in error and PMC’s motion to reconsider the stay has been granted, effective August 12, 2015.

By Russ Baldwin