MetroHealth System and University Hospitals, both based in Cleveland, have clashed over comments made regarding MetroHealth's ophthalmology department by a UH representative, according to a May 29 report from cleveland.com.
A UH representative attended a Cuyahoga County Council meeting to request $500,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act money to upgrade the system's specialized ophthalmology equipment and staff training.
A council member asked the UH representative if MetroHealth could provide a high level of ophthalmology care.
"Metro has its strengths, but the level at which we work is a little higher in ophthalmology," Shree Kurup, MD, vice chair of clinical operations and practices for ophthalmology at University Hospitals, said at the meeting.
Dr. Kurup also said long wait times at MetroHealth are driving patients to UH for eye care.
MetroHealth said it disagrees with UH's characterization of its ophthalmology department.
"At Metro we were actually disheartened to read those comments in the newspaper," Elisa Bala, MD, director of ophthalmology at MetroHealth, told the news outlet. "We have up-to-date equipment and we continue to get what's new in the market."
MetroHealth's ophthalmology department sees about 40,000 patient visits each year, the health system said.
A County Council decision on awarding the $500,000 could come as early as June 4.