Becker's ASC Review

48 ORTHOPEDICS 11 flagship facilities expanding, being developed by by US orthopedic groups in 2021 By Alan Condon E xpansion plans are rife among ortho- pedic practices in 2021. Here are 11 orthopedic groups developing flagship facilities: 1. Orthopaedic Medical Group of Tampa Bay (Fla.) is building a 37,000-square-foot complex in Lithia, Fla., that will serve as its new headquarters. e 10-surgeon practice expects to have 50 to 75 staff — with the ca- pacity to add more — at the complex, which will include an ASC and medical offices. 2. Providence-based Ortho Rhode Is- land, a 25-physician group, opened a $33 million flagship facility in Warwick. e 66,000-square-foot facility has an ASC with eight operating rooms and is on the same campus as a biotechnology research and development center. 3. Fargo, N.D.-based Northern Neurosur- gery & Spine is set to begin construction in June on a $16 million medical facility with a surgery center in Duluth, Minn., combining clinical and surgical care under one roof. e center is expected to open in late 2021. 4. Coastal Orthopedics is developing an 88,000-square-foot facility medical center and headquarters in Bradenton, Fla. e fa- cility will include a surgery center, physical therapy and imaging services, and offices. Construction is set for completion by spring 2022. 5. Akron, Ohio-based Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center is opening a $100 million hospital for orthopedic, reconstruc- tive and plastic surgery in the fall. e 165,000-square-foot facility in Fairlawn, Ohio, will include 60 private patient rooms and 12 operating rooms equipped with robots for joint replacement. 6. In February, Altamonte Springs, Fla.- based AdventHealth broke ground on a $100 million medical office building that will be Rothman Orthopaedics Florida headquarters. e 12-story, 300,000-square- foot facility will be at AdventHealth's Health Village campus in Orlando, Fla. 7. University of Tennessee Medical Center and OrthoTennessee are developing an orthopedic institute in Knoxville, Tenn., with an orthopedic ASC and a research center. e 91,000-square-foot facility will employ 150 people, including 14 orthopedic surgeons. 8. Bradley, Ill.-based Oak Orthopedics is expected to open a $15.5 million facil- ity in Bourbonnais, Ill., in January. e 43,700-square-foot center will feature a medical clinic, radiology suite and an ASC with three operating rooms. 9. Watauga Orthopaedics, a 20-physician group, is developing a $17 million surgery center in Johnson City, Tenn. e four- operating room surgery center is expected to open in 2022. 10. Newark, Del.-based ChristianaCare and Delaware Neurosurgical Group are develop- ing a joint venture spine surgery center. e ASC will cost about $4.8 million in capital expenses and be located at ChristianaCare's Wilmington, Del., campus. 11. Neenah, Wis.-based Neuroscience Group, along with edaCare and Hand to Shoulder Center of Wisconsin, both in Appleton, are developing a $144 mil- lion orthopedic and spine center. e 230,000-square-foot facility will include a medical office building, surgery center and a 25-bed orthopedic and spine hospital. It is expected to open in 2022. n Orthopedic surgeons critical of Intermountain's supplier switch By Laura Dyrda S alt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare's deci- sion to drop Arthrex for DePuy Synthes products has come under fire, according to a report in The Salt Lake Tribune. Arthrex had been the longstanding orthopedic de- vice supplier for Intermountain until January, when the system and its insurance subsidiary signed a new deal with DePuy Synthes estimated to generate $5 million in savings this year. Intermountain orthopedic surgeon Paul Winterton, MD, spoke out against the move, suggest- ing the decision was driven by payments DePuy Synthes made to colleagues. Hugh West, MD, the surgeon who led an internal commit- tee review of orthopedic device supplies, has received $13 million in royalties from DePuy Synthes in the last seven years, according to the federal government. He re- ceived royalties for his inventions and does not get paid when the devices are used. The Salt Lake Tribune said nine physicians it interviewed, in addition to Dr. Winter- ton, reported concerns about Intermountain's decision to switch suppliers, arguing the new supplier's implants are lower quality and surgeons will have a learning curve to implementing the devices, which could affect outcomes. "They are willing to compromise patient care over a few pennies," Dr. Winterton told the publication. "It's just absolutely despicable." Dr. Winterton and other Intermountain physicians received payments from Arthrex for training, consulting and other services, but not royalties. It is common for orthopedic companies to pay for surgeon training and consulting since the surgeons spend time away from their practices for these activities. Intermountain told the publication its decision to switch suppliers was driven by costs and Arthex's proposal didn't meet the system's pricing requirements. n

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