‘Mad dash of panic’: Patients scrambling for treatment after abrupt closure of Spokane Allergy & Asthma Clinic

Spokane Allergy & Asthma Clinic abruptly announced its immediate closure on Wednesday, stunning patients who relied on the specialty clinic for allergy shots and other medications.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share that our practice closed indefinitely on February 18, 2026,” the clinic wrote on its Facebook page Wednesday.

The social media post described the closure as “heartbreaking for our providers and staff.”

Patients were not informed of the closure ahead of the public announcement, and many are not sure where they can find care.

Both of Robin Storm’s children have been treated at the clinic for the past 10 years. Her 15-year-old son had a Friday appointment this week for his monthly allergy shot.

“We had an appointment scheduled, and there was no communication and no transparency over what is happening. A heads-up would have been nice so we don’t have a lapse in care,” she said.

A letter to patients taped to the clinic’s door told patients to seek care elsewhere without explanation of what led to the closure after 30 years.

“It is very important for you to find a new Allergy-Immunology provider to give you care,” the letter reads.

The clinic has affiliations with the major health care systems in Spokane – Providence Health Care and MultiCare.

Providence listed four physicians as associated practitioners, including Drs. Ronald W. England III, Kerry L. Drain, Steven M. Kernerman and Rayna Traen.

After missing his allergy shot this month, Storm’s son will need to go back to the doctor much more often to regain the immunity he has now.

“If we miss that maintenance dose, then we have to go every few days and then every two weeks, and only then can we go back to once a month. It is time-consuming and puts a hardship on our family,” she said.

Jacque Bloom drove into Spokane from more than two hours away in the Idaho Panhandle. Living in a small town north of Sandpoint, the Spokane clinic was the only place her rare condition could be treated locally.

“My doctor was really the only one in the region that really had much knowledge about my condition. I’m hopeful that maybe now there are other providers. But there wasn’t anyone else when I was referred there two years ago,” she said.

Bloom has mast cell activation syndrome, which can cause persistent allergic reactions without a specific allergen as the cause. Bloom last had an appointment in December, so she is hopeful she will find another provider before her medication runs out.

“Having a heads-up to be able to try to prepare and given any sort of resources or information of other clinics that may be an option would have been really helpful. Because now everybody’s kind of in a mad dash of panic trying to get placed,” she said.

The clinic listed two other regional allergy and asthma clinics for its patients to contact.

Advanced Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in Spokane Valley is being overwhelmed by patients from the closed clinic.

“At this time, we are receiving hundreds of phone calls daily and have thousands of patients seeking to establish care. We are working diligently to respond to every inquiry and to prioritize patients with urgent needs,” the Valley clinic wrote on its Facebook page. “We kindly ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate these overwhelming numbers.”

After hearing of the closure, patient Shannon Callant went to the office Thursday to see it with her own eyes.

Callant began visiting the clinic three years ago and had an appointment Monday she was unable to make due to illness. That same day, she called and rescheduled the appointment for Feb. 23.

“There was no indication that something was weird,” she said.

Callant said she has yet to hear from the clinic. She said after she saw the clinic’s social media post, she received an automated message reminding her of her appointment next week.

Callant said she’s not sure what she will do for continuing her care.

She has placed a call to the Spokane Valley clinic and is waiting to hear back.

“My good friends have cats, and I can’t go over there without my shots,” she said.

Spokane Allergy & Asthma Clinic did not respond to an inquiry left by The Spokesman-Review on Thursday.