The president and CEO of Cleveland-based MetroHealth System called for an independent investigation into allegations of improper spending at the system and free Botox injections for hospital executives, according to Cleveland.com.
The lawsuit, filed Monday by MetroHealth's internal audit director Simpson Huggins, contends unnamed company vice presidents and a relative illegally received free Botox injections at a MetroHealth clinic. The suit also accuses MetroHealth president and CEO Akram Boutros, MD, of improperly accepting reimbursement for personal travel expenses.
Dr. Boutros denied the claims and has instructed the hospital's board to ask KPMG to investigate the allegations.
"It is my expectation that the review will be expeditious and exonerate MetroHealth and me of any wrongdoing," Dr. Boutros wrote in a letter to hospital employees.
Mr. Huggins claims the hospital suspended his employment after he presented his audit report at the board of trustee's quarterly meeting this month.
A MetroHealth spokeswoman issued a statement contending Mr. Huggins' suspension was not related to his audit report and that the report did not mention the claims in his lawsuit, according to Cleveland.com.