MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake hired Terry Murphy as medical director of emergency medicine.

"I have been impressed by everyone I have met and look forward to working closely with the medical, nursing, support and EMS staffs to provide patient care for the community," Murphy said.

Vice President of Planning and Development Scott Campbell said Northwest Emergency Physicians of TEAMHealth contracted with Samaritan Healthcare to provide the emergency department with physicians and management services.

Campbell said 26 hospitals are working with Northwest Emergency Physicians, and the combined emergency room care for all the hospitals totals more than 500,000 patients.

Murphy, a medical doctor, has more than 10 years of experience working in emergency departments. She has board certification in emergency medicine and is a fellow at the American College of Emergency Physicians.

She said she is excited to move to Grant County after serving as an attending physician in the emergency department at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton, Calif. She is moving to the community with her husband, Jack Becker.

Becker said he is looking forward to the opportunities in the area available to him with his background in construction.