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Iowa may be facing a shortage of pediatricians but that is not going to affect Washington County. Washington County Hospital and Clinics Chief Executive Officer Don Patterson says they do not see any that problem here in Washington County. He says all pediatric services are handled by several family practitioners and Washington County does not have a big enough population to support the need for a pediatrician. Patterson also says if there should be any in-depth treatment needed, patients are referred to an Iowa City pediatrician. Patterson notes that while the hospital would work with a pediatrician who would want to establish a practice, he says they do not have it in their recruiting plan to hire any pediatricians because of the need already filled by the family practitioners.