MOUNT VERNON — Dr. Brent Nimeth will return to family practice in the spring. Currently a consulting administrative physician at Knox Community Hospital, Nimeth had been a family doctor in Mount Vernon since 1995, until a dispute with his former employer, American Health Network, led to his dismissal in May of last year.
Under a non-compete clause of his contract, he was enjoined from practicing medicine within 20 miles of his former office for one year. That year expires May 22.
Nimeth said he looked at other communities, most of which also need family physicians, but Knox Community Hospital offered him the administrative position in September, with a plan for him to return to family practice in May. And maybe most importantly, he said, neighbors told him, “Mount Vernon needs doctors, too. ”
Nimeth said the plan as of now is for him to complete his administrative duties, then, still a KCH employee, begin practice after May 22, either in a temporary location or in his old office, which Nimeth still owns, but is occupied by AHN.
He said his time as an administrator has taught him a lot about the hospital organization and that will help him in the future.
“I hope to practice another 15 years or more,” he said. “I live here and I love the community. I have seen kids who grow up and have kids of their own.”
“We’re glad to have Dr. Nimeth on board as part of our team,” said hospital spokesman Jeffrey Scott.
AHN dismissed Nimeth last May for “disruptive behavior” and Nimeth revealed to the public in July that he had engaged in an “inappropriate” texting relationship with a co-worker that March during a disruptive time in his life.
No-compete clauses are common in some types of businesses where a firm doesn’t want to lose customers to a rival if an employee leaves.
The AHN office in Columbus did not return a call offering a chance to comment.
