ROCK SPRINGS (AP) - The Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County could lose six emergency room doctors if contract negotiations remain stalled.

The hospital claims it is losing money because of an unfair contract, but doctors say they are willing to re-negotiate the contract but the hospital is refusing to come to the table.

Meanwhile other physicians in the county worry about patient care and added workloads.

The doctors with High Desert Emergency Physicians claim they were given a proposed contract by the hospital and told by administrator John Ferry nothing could be changed.

But hospital officials claim attempts have been made to establish a dialogue with the physicians, and that High Desert's attorney informed the MHSC board of trustees on Feb. 9 and again on Feb. 24 that his clients are not interested.

Under the current agreement, the ER doctors are paid 70 cents of every dollar billed by the hospital, regardless if payment is collected from the patient. The press release states the hospital collects an average of 56 percent of what is owed. All billing services are done by the hospital.

The press release also says the community should "see no change in services provided."

Dr. Lo-fu Tan, speaking as the president of the medical staff of Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, disagreed, saying, "I think with this group of six emergency room physicians leaving it will greatly affect the quality of health care in the county."

It will also affect "the rest of us" he said. He said other local doctors will have to work "longer days because of it."

"It's a mess when six leave," Tan said, saying that is 20 percent of the medical staff. "We can't replace them."

Tan said he feels negotiations with the emergency room doctors were "carried out in poor faith" by the hospital administration.

Hospital trustee Louise Ryckman said Thursday that contract negotiations with the physicians were ongoing.

Hospital officials say they are in talks with several other providers to secure physicians for the emergency room.