Clinic struggles after doctor falls ill

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

The license of Dr. Maryam Mahmoodian, a practitioner at People’s Health Center, was suspended in May after she fell ill in April.

Suspensions of practitioner licenses are typically posted by the Department of Health and Human Services mid-month following the month in which an action is taken.

People’s director Steve Bray said the non-profit, federally qualified health center had hopes Mahmoodian’s license would be quickly reinstated, allowing her to return.

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Dr. Maryam Mahmoodian

Dr. Maryam Mahmoodian

Bray said the center had no concerns about her abilities prior to her illness.

The licensure report said Mahmoodian suffered seizures and was hospitalized April 14 to 18, and that she spent two days on a ventilator.

Afterward, her treating physician raised concerns about her immediate competency. The report listed Mahmoodian’s illness as a result of medication non-compliance, such as not taking required prescriptions. The suspension was based on non-compliance.

Bray said that with Mahmoodian absent, People’s has struggled to maintain its schedule.

“The people here have worked really hard,” he said.

A substitute physician was hired in early June to take up the slack, he said. Meanwhile, the wait time for new patients to see a doctor has increased from eight weeks to 11 weeks.

“We badly need a sixth provider,” Bray said.