Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1198635
26 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT Emory breaks ground on new orthopedic, spine institute By Laura Dyrda B Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare broke ground on the Emory Muscu- loskeletal Institute in Brookhaven, Ga., Oct. 4. Four things to know: 1. e 180,000-square-foot facility will include orthopedics, spine, physical therapy and imaging in one location. Patients will also have access to ambulatory surgery within the center. 2. In addition to clinical care, the new building will include clinical and discovery research support space. 3. Emory designed the building to meet LEED-certification and more than 95 per- cent of stormwater and runoff water will be contained through a bioswales system, re- tention pods and underground stormwater systems for onsite water management. e facility will also include strategic lighting to reduce light pollution and smart building technology to lower energy consumption. 4. Construction is anticipated to begin in the second quarter of 2021. "From the location choice to architecture design to staffing, the formation of the Em- ory Musculoskeletal Institute directly aligns with Emory Healthcare's mission to serve humanity by improving health through integration of education, discovery and healthcare delivery," said Jonathan S. Lewin, MD, president and CEO and chairman of the board of Emory Healthcare. n Louisiana Spine & Sport physician assistant sentenced to prison in oxycodone scheme By Eric Oliver A physician assistant at Baton Rouge-based Louisiana Spine & Sports was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a scheme to unlawful- ly distribute prescriptions for oxycodone pills in August. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles sentenced Christopher Armnstrong, 45, to seven years in prison with three years of supervised release and ordered him to forfeit $168,000 earned through the scheme. Mr. Armstrong worked at Louisiana Spine & Sports from August 2004 until January 2014. He admitted to logging in to the clinic's computer system and creating fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances. He printed the pre- scriptions and then either forged a physician's signature or had a physician sign them unknowingly. He then distributed the prescriptions to several co-conspirators, who filled and returned them to him in exchange for cash. He covered his tracks by deleting the fraudulent prescriptions from the clinic's records. Mr. Armstrong admitted to writing prescriptions for at least 40,470 oxycodone pills from May 2009 through March 2014. In November 2018, he pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. n Tennessee pain clinics shut down after owner accused of fraud — 5 insights By Eric Oliver A dvanced Spine and Pain and Coffey Family Medical closed in August, after the government made fraud allegations against the clinics' owner, The Tennessean reports. What you should know: 1. Easley, S.C.-based Oaktree Medical Center manages the Crossville and Oneida, Tenn.-based clinics. The government accused Oaktree and its owner, Daniel McCollum, of defrauding taxpayers by forcing unnecessary injections, drug tests and opioid prescriptions on patients. 2. Since the clinics shut down, patients have been unable to get their medical records, and former employees have not been paid. 3. Oaktree closed the two Tennessee clinics the same week it closed at least 10 clinics in North and South Carolina. 4. Mr. McCollum is also accused of using illegal kickbacks to incentivize provid- ers to overprescribe opioids and order unnecessary medical tests. 5. A lawyer for Oaktree has denied all wrongdoing in the case. n