Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1368676
51 JOINT VENTURES Orthopedic laser center to open 10 facilities through franchisee group By Carly Behm R ochester, N.Y.-based OrthoLazer Orthopedic Laser Centers will open 10 new facilities in Wisconsin and Texas through a franchisee group. An investor group of six physicians and two business executives will open four OrthoLazer centers in Wisconsin and six in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas in Texas, accord- ing to a March 16 news release. The move comes on the heels of OrthoLazer's success at its first new center, which opened last year in Milwaukee. OrthoLazer centers treat pain and inflammation with their MLS M8 Robotic laser. It also provides a franchise model to orthopedic surgeons who want to offer drug-free pain management. n CRH Medical's 33rd acquisition is an Arkansas GI anesthesia practice By Alan Condon CRH Medical acquired a majority stake ownership in Little Rock-based Middle Arkansas Sedation Associates, a gastroenterology-focused anesthesia practice. Middle Arkansas Sedation Associates provides anes- thesia services to one ASC in the area. The practice has an estimated annual revenue of $1.4 million, and is both EBITDA and cash flow accretive. The transaction marks CRH Medical's move into the Arkansas market. CRH Anesthesia has completed three acquisitions in 2021 — 33 total — and operates 72 ASCs in 15 states, according to an April 1 news release. Jay Kreiger, president of CRH Anesthesia, said, "We expect to remain active as we look to execute upon ad- ditional de novo and acquisition opportunities in order to continue to strengthen our anesthesia footprint." n Capital Digestive Care partners with independent practice By Patsy Newitt S ilver Spring, Md.-based Capital Digestive Care is part- nering with independent gastroenterology practice Temple Hills (Md.) Gastroenterology. The partnership will expand Capital Digestive Care's reach in southern Maryland and help meet patients and physi- cian groups in the underserved Temple Hills community, according to a March 22 press release. The partnership will also streamline operations at Temple Hills Gastroenterology through the PE Practice Solutions platform under PE GI Solutions, which entered a joint part- nership with Capital Digestive Care in August 2019. Capital Digestive Care is the largest private gastroenterol- ogy practice in the mid-Atlantic. The company owns more than 20 office locations and outpatient surgery centers and employs more than 80 physicians and advanced care practitioners. n ACG's joint venture partners with genetic testing service By Carly Behm G I OnDemand, a joint venture between the American College of Gastroenterology and Gastro Girl, partnered with Ambry Genetics on genetic counseling and testing. Through the partnership, GI OnDemand will offer Ambry Genetics' Comprehensive, Assessment, Risk and Education program, according to a March 17 news release. The program automates the genetic screening process and provides information to patients in one online platform. The partnership will help patients identify hereditary GI cancer syndromes and make decisions for their health. Many GI cancer patients may have underlying muta- tions, according to Heather Hampel, senior director of genetic services at GI OnDemand. n