SMITHFIELD -- Frank Wefald, a cardiologist who sued Johnston Memorial Hospital this year, says he will no longer treat patients at the Johnston County hospital.
Wefald is not an employee of the hospital, but he often does procedures there for his practice, Millennia Cardiovascular. But starting Tuesday,Wefald plans to take his patients to Duke Raleigh Hospital and WakeMed, he said. In the past, Wefald said, he has taken about 15 patients a day to Johnston Memorial.
Hospital officials declined to comment on Wefald's exit.
The departure of Wefald, who will not give up his privileges at Johnston Memorial, comes after a long and contentious history with the hospital.
Earlier this year, Wefald filed suit to stop Johnston Memorial from revoking his right to treat patients in its facilities.
The hospital said Wefald had physician assistants sign his medical charts for him, despite warnings to end the practice. Hospital officials also said Wefald used threatening and abusive language at work and made degrading comments about patients and hospital staff.
Wefald won an injunction that protected his privilege to practice there, and he later made a private settlement.
He said he is departing now because of hostile working conditions.
"It's not safe for me or my patients or my co-workers to be in this hospital," he said, claiming that hospital staff members told a patient's wife that Wefald was a violent man who may hurt her husband.
Throughout his spat with the hospital, Wefald has been outspoken, calling the disagreement "about greed, envy, money and power." He has referred to Chief of Surgery Craig Carter as "little Craigie Carter" and said Carter has a "limited brain."
As part of his settlement with the hospital, Wefald agreed to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, he said. After he attended a one-day initial session, Wefald was asked to attend a three-day session in Mississippi, the doctor said. Wefald said he hasn't yet done so.
