Changes Coming to LG Orthopedic Landscape

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Russell Clark and St. Mark’s Medical Center parted ways last week.

St. Mark’s CEO Mark Kimball said he couldn’t comment on the split, calling it a private personnel matter.

“Since the staffing change, we do have an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James Westmoreland, he is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and he’s going to be providing services at the clinic,” Kimball said.

Kimball said Westmoreland would serve in an interim capacity. He said St. Mark’s would soon announce a new orthopedic surgeon.

“There has not been a gap in our orthopedic line of services,” Kimball said.

In an interview with the Record on Tuesday, Clark said he plans to eventually open a private practice in La Grange. Clark had been employed by the hospital for nearly eight years.

“From a practice-standpoint, things have gone fabulous in this town, as far as the patients and having a good reputation with surgeries,” Clark told the Record. “But I’ve been in an employed status the whole time. Basically, a difference of opinion and difference of ideals have caused us to sever those employer-employee ties.”

Clark said he hopes to retain his admission privileges at St. Mark’s so he can keep performing surgeries at the hospital. Clark praised the hospital staff, especially those he works with in the operating room.

“I’m hoping to maintain a good working relationship with the hospital going forward,” Clark said. “I think they have a great OR team. Obviously they have some staffing trouble like every rural hospital. But I’m pretty happy with my crew in the operating room. Now it’s just a matter of working out an agreement with the hospital where I can continue to provide orthopedic services at St. Mark’s, which I think the community would appreciate.”

Clark said he was looking for office space in La Grange to house a new practice. He said it may take three to four months to open a new office.

Kimball said Clark’s last day at the hospital was Dec. 30. He said the hospital began notifying orthopedic patients the following day.