Cleveland Clinic will acquire Youngstown, Ohio-based Youngstown Orthopaedic Associates, and the practice will join the system Nov. 1, according to an Oct. 15 letter to patients.
The deal comes amid a legal battle with a local physician-owned hospital, which alleges that noncompete agreements bar two of the practice’s surgeons from joining Cleveland Clinic.
The practice signed a nonbinding letter of intent in June to sell its assets to Cleveland Clinic, according to a lawsuit filed Oct. 1 in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. In that suit, Boardman, Ohio-based Southwoods Health is seeking to block two of the practice’s partners from taking part in the deal.
The acquisition folds a multisite orthopedic, pain management and podiatry practice into Cleveland Clinic’s outpatient network in northeast Ohio.
The practice’s orthopedic surgeons, physiatrist, podiatrists, advanced practice providers and staff will continue seeing patients across the Mahoning Valley as part of Cleveland Clinic. The practice said it does “not anticipate any interruption in patient care” during the transition.
The Poland and Warren/Howland offices will become Cleveland Clinic Medical Outpatient Centers. Both will stay at their current locations and keep their rehabilitation services. The Boardman location will remain open for imaging and convert to an Ortho Express Care site, which gives patients quick access to orthopedic specialists.
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