Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1242960
36 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT 15K+ patients informed of data breach at Arkansas orthopedic group By Alan Condon O zark Orthopaedics in Fayetteville, Ark., informed patients Feb. 28, of a data breach after it noticed unusual activity within its email system in October. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Ser- vices, 15,240 patients may have been affected. Four employee email accounts were found to have personal and medical information belonging to Ozark patients. This information may have included patient names and treat- ment information, health insurance details, Social Security numbers and financial account information. Ozark notified potentially affected patients Feb. 28 after an investigation revealed details of the security breach. This is the third data breach in Arkansas reported to HHS this year. n Florida spine group lays off 62 employees amid COVID-19 pandemic By Alan Condon C learwater-based Florida Spine Institute and its surgery center is laying off 62 employees and suspending operations due to mounting eco- nomic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tampa Bay Business Journal reports. The practice is unsure whether the layoffs will be tempo- rary or permanent. Nurses, physical therapists, X-ray technicians and ad- ministrative staff are among the positions most affected. The nine-physician practice specializes in the treatment of spine, orthopedic and neurosurgical conditions, but has been hit hard after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or- dered all facilities to stop performing elective surgeries in March. n Johnson & Johnson makes 2nd investment in OrthoSpin — 5 details By Angie Stewart Johnson & Johnson invested in OrthoSpin, an Israeli medical technology startup, according to a March 31 announcement. Five things to know: 1. OrthoSpin raised $5 million in series B financing for its or- thopedic fixation system. 2. Johnson & Johnson led the investment round with The Trendlines Group. OrthoSpin is part of the Trendlines portfolio. 3. This is Johnson & Johnson's second investment in Ortho- Spin; it led a $3 million investment round in July 2018. 4. OrthoSpin will use the funding to accelerate development and clinical use of its Generation 2 smart external fixation sys- tem, which is designed to reduce the need for in-person fol- low-up care, as well as dependency on patient compliance. 5. OrthoSpin's Generation 1 system gained FDA clearance in September 2019. It automatically adjusts and lengthens struts in accordance with prescribed treatment regimens. n Ex-Laser Spine Institute surgeon offering care at 6-location Florida practice By Alan Condon P ain Relief Centers in Orlando, Fla., as part of Tampa, Fla.-based Physician Partners of Ameri- ca, is now providing orthopedic care with Keith Girton, MD. For nine years, Dr. Girton practiced with the now defunct Tampa-based Laser Spine Institute. He was the lead spine surgeon at the group's office in Wayne, Pa., but also per- formed surgeries at the Tampa, Cleveland and Cincinnati locations, according to his LinkedIn profile. Dr. Girton has more than 30 years of experience at several organizations including Ashland (Pa.) Regional Medical Center, Lock Haven (Pa.) Hospital and Grand- view Surgery Center in Mechanicsburg, Pa. Pain Relief Centers has six locations in Florida and a team of nine pain management physicians, according to its website. n