After 32 years in practice, gastroenterologist William Morris, MD, will retire and close his Newark, Ohio-based office on Nov. 30, the Newark Advocate reports.
Dr. Morris said he spoke with several "larger institutions" about the possibility of selling his practice, but found that none "expressed an interest to take the patients as a responsibility," according to the publication.
He is giving his patients advanced notice so they can find another nearby provider, such as Licking Memorial Health Systems in Heath, Columbus-based Ohio State University or another large gastroenterology group in Columbus.
Dr. Morris told the Advocate that being an independent practitioner has been the most enjoyable part of his career, as it allowed him to "tailor-fit" the best care possible, sending patients to where they need to go, as opposed to being restricted on where he could refer patients by being in a system.