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Doctor warns of risks as Ephraim McDowell plans Fort Logan OB unit closure
Summary
At the Feb. 10 Lincoln County Fiscal Court meeting, Dr. James Miller described the Feb. 16, 2026 planned closure of the Fort Logan Hospital OB unit and urged county action; County Attorney Daryl Day will draft a letter opposing the closure while reviewing deed language and notice timelines.
Lincoln County officials heard urgent testimony Feb. 10 about a planned closure of the obstetrics unit at Fort Logan Hospital, which Ephraim McDowell has said will occur on Feb. 16, 2026.
Dr. James Miller told the Fiscal Court that Fort Logan has been one of the region's primary locations for childbirth and said the announced closure was "sudden and unexpected." He warned that women with emergencies could be forced to travel farther for care and said that, in his view, "babies will not receive the necessary services during delivery warranting unnecessary infant deaths." Miller said newspaper coverage suggested the county might have a right of first refusal to buy back hospital property, but that the deed text he read did not contain that language.
County Attorney Daryl Day told the court he believes a 30-day period to review options would begin only after the county receives formal notice from the grantor; he said he is not aware that the county has received such notice. Day said he will draft correspondence to Ephraim McDowell expressing the court's opposition to the closure and outlining that the county is investigating options.
The Fiscal Court voted to authorize Day to prepare the letter. Magistrate Stanley made the motion; Magistrate Gutenson seconded. Judge Adams abstained from that vote, citing a conflict of interest from serving on the hospital board. The motion carried.
The court did not record any formal offer to purchase the facility during the meeting, and it was not specified whether Ephraim McDowell has given formal written notice that would trigger the county's review period. Next steps identified at the meeting were the County Attorney's drafting of a letter to Ephraim McDowell and further legal review by the court.
