County contracts for clinic medical director

Wahkiakum County has contracted with Dr. Paul Schneider for services as supervising physician and medical director of the Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic.

Dr. Schneider will assume duties July 30, the day after the county's contract with Dr. Janice McClean expires.

Schneider lives at West Cape Horn. He is an emergency room physician at St. John Hospital in Longview. He currently serves as medical director for Wahkiakum County Emergency Medical Services.

The commissioners set the end of the contract at December 31, 2009. They have asked the Cowlitz Family Health Clinic to take over the Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic; Family Health is analyzing the feasibility of operating the clinic and plans to make a decision this month.