Surgeon at Cleveland Clinic’s Fairview Hospital says he’s leaving over cost-cutting efforts
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CLEVELAND, Ohio — An orthopedic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic’s Fairview Hospital is removing his practice from the Clinic because leadership is requiring him to use an implant he says would jeopardize care in the name of cutting costs.
Dr. Raymond L. Horwood wrote a letter recently informing his patients that the Clinic’s decision to limit implant options is prompting him to take his practice to St. John Medical Center, a University Hospitals facility in Westlake.
“Dr. Horwood does not feel in good conscience that he can jeopardize his patients by switching to an unfamiliar implant system simply to save money for the hospital,” the letter said.
The letter explained that the Clinic, as part of a broader cost-cutting effort, has sought to limit implants used in joint replacements to two vendors – Stryker Corp. and Zimmer Holdings. Horwood’s letter said that he used DePuy J&J implants for 28 years and experienced “excellent clinical outcomes.”
His decision to leave the Clinic’s network highlights tensions over the organization’s efforts to standardize surgical procedures and transform the way it delivers care. Hospital executives said the effort is meant to generate more consistent results, improve quality, and cut costs.
