Chesterfield, Mo.-based Mercy is being sued by Cooper Clinic, a physician-owned multispecialty practice based in Fort Smith, Ark., over Mercy's physician recruitment tactics, according to an Arkansas Business Journal report.
Mercy, which includes a hospital in Fort Smith and six others in Arkansas, has recruited 15 of Cooper Clinic's physicians since 2010, according to the report. Cooper Clinic charges that Mercy recruited the physicians despite knowing they had contracts with the practice. This led to financial losses for Cooper and caused difficulties in treating patients in various specialties, according to the report.
"It is our belief Mercy has done nothing wrong and will defend itself vigorously against the allegations made by Cooper Clinic in the complaint," a Mercy Fort Smith spokesperson told the Arkansas Business Journal.
The case does not yet have a trial date.
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