Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1242960
34 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT Washington hospital lays off 2 orthopedic surgeons ahead of bankruptcy filing — 6 details By Angie Stewart Y akima, Wash.-based Astria Health report- edly laid off multiple specialists — in- cluding two orthopedic surgeons — and closed several clinics aer filing for bankruptcy last year, according to the Yakima Herald-Repub- lic. Six things to know: 1. In a move to achieve financial stability, Astria Health plans to filed for bankruptcy in May. 2. Astria Health shuttered Yakima-based Astria Regional Medical Center in mid-January and closed several clinics that provided gastroenterol- ogy, orthopedic, urology and cardiology services on the campus. Astria Regional Medical Center lost tens of millions of dollars, officials said. 3. As recently as late February, Astria Health laid off two orthopedic surgeons, two general surgeons and a cardiologist. Several current and former Astria Health employees confirmed the layoffs and contract terminations to the Yakima Her- ald-Republic. 4. Upon contract termination, one orthopedic surgeon reportedly had patients scheduled for surgery a day out and didn't have sufficient time to help them transition care. 5. Astria Sunnyside (Wash.) Hospital and Astria Toppenish (Wash.) Hospital remain open. Five specialty facilities, including an ASC, are still listed on Astria Health's website. 6. Astria Health is seeking financing for a bank- ruptcy reorganization plan. n 5 orthopedic expansion projects costing $200M+ By Angie Stewart Since Jan. 1, Becker's Spine Review has covered five expansion projects that cost at least $200 million and expand orthopedic services: Chester County (Pa.) Hospital-Penn Medicine completed a $300 mil- lion expansion, which expands orthopedic services at the facility. Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital is making progress on a $250 million tower with 24 operating rooms for spine and orthopedic surgery. Orlando (Fla.) Health announced plans to build a $250 million ortho- pedic hospital after acquiring one of the area's largest independent or- thopedic practices. The University of Rochester (N.Y.) is building a $240 million campus devoted to spine, orthopedics and sports medicine. Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health outlined plans to build an ortho- pedic hospital and two clinics as part of a $209.5 million expansion over the next three years. n COVID-19-related losses cause postponement of new facility By Angie Stewart A mherst, N.Y.-based Excelsior Orthopaedics is rethinking its business strategy and postponing plans for a new facility over projected financial losses related to COVID-19, Buffalo Business First reports. Along with delaying construction of the downtown physical therapy site, Excelsior plans to reduce capacity or temporarily close a location in Springville, N.Y. Excelsior's surgery centers remain open with addi- tional capacity, as some patients have voluntarily delayed nonessential procedures. Continued operations will require more collaboration among providers than normal, Vice President of Business Development Mark Wolbert told Buffalo Business First. "We haven't seen a wild swing in volume, but that's not to say we don't think it will happen, especially if we are locked down or forced," Mr. Wol- bert said. "The reality of the situation is, especially for a specialty group like ours, we have to see patients and perform surgeries to be paid, so the reduction in that capacity and our ability to do that will inevitably result in our need to consolidate." n