Family Medical welcomes new provider

Physician Assistant Ryan Ankarberg is set to join the team at Family Medical Center, an affiliate of Weiser Memorial Hospital, next week.
 Ankarberg, who has worked for Physician Primary Care Clinic (PPCC) at 400 E. 7th St. and Highway 95 for approximately nine years, joins a staff at Family Medical that includes Doctors Jordan Blanchard and Brad Terry, and Nurse Practitioner Andrea Wheeler.
 Ankarberg, who moved to Weiser in 2002 and has worked for PPCC since 2012, is making the transition after being offered a position at Family Medical, located at 360 E. Liberty St. in Weiser.
 PPCC is set to close its doors Sept. 10.
 “I received a job offer from Family Medical Center and they (PPCC) just don’t have another provider that will be covering here,” Ankarberg told the Weiser Signal American last week. “Dr. [David] Brauer, the owner of the two clinics … he just can’t find the staffing, so he’s going to close the clinic. That would be my presumption, but basically when I’m gone, there won’t be another provider.”

Brauer was not immediately available for comment.
 PPCC’s Weiser location is one of two, the other located at 335 SW. 13th St. in Ontario. Brauer belonged to a group of partnering physicians who opened the practice decades ago. Now the sole owner, Brauer continues to operate the Ontario practice.
 Ankarberg, whose first day at Family Medical is Sept. 13, said many of his patients intend to follow him to the practice where some have already transferred their medical records.
 “As far as when I’ll be taking patients, I’m not 100 percent sure,” he said. “A credentialing process has to take place, but I know they are working on my temporary provisions, so I believe it will be as soon as they are finished orienting, which, I suspect, would probably be mid-week of that same week.”
 Ankarberg received his undergraduate degree from Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., before enrolling in Idaho State University’s School of Physician Assistant Studies Program.
 He holds a Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) credential from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
 Ankarberg’s wife, Selena, is a nurse practitioner at Two Rivers Medical Clinic in Weiser. Their son, Logan, is a freshman and member of the Blue Thunder marching band at Boise State University. Their daughter, Leah, is a junior at Weiser High School.
 Family Medical’s Practice Manager, Madora Albertson, said she and her staff are thrilled that Ankarberg will soon be part of their team.
 “On behalf of Weiser Memorial Hospital and Weiser Family Medical Center, we are over joyed to be welcoming Ryan Ankarberg, PA-C,” she said. “Ryan joins a primary medical team that provides encompassed health care along with integrated mental and behavioral health services. When Family Medical had the opportunity to call Ryan to continue his valued service here in Weiser, we knew that would be a positive to our community and to his current patients.
 “It is WMH and FMC’s goal to keep patients from having to travel outside of their communities for quality care. We have a team of people working to get Ryan credentialed to enable him to see patients as soon as possible.”
 Ankarberg’s current patients can make future appointments with him by calling Family Medical Center at (208) 549-4424.
 “WMH/FMC thanks Dr. Brauer and the staff at PPCC for their many years of valued services provided to our community,” Albertson said.
 Family Medical was founded by Dr. Richard Giever in 1965, operating as Giever Medical. Dr. Bryan Drake joined Giever in 1986 and the practice became Family Medical Center. Giever retired in 1990. Family Medical became a part of Weiser Memorial Hospital in January 2010.
 Weiser Memorial purchased the Family Medical building in 2014. Dr. Blanchard began practicing at Family Medical that same year, with Dr. Drake retiring in 2015. Dr. Terry joined the practice in July 2019, with Wheeler joining the staff in 2020.