Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1439613
26 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT OrthoSC toppled residency program to maintain monopoly, lawsuit claims By Carly Behm A former OrthoSC surgeon is suing the Conway, S.C.-based practice, al- leging an executive board member made threats to a now-canceled residency program, e Sun News reported Nov. 22. Orthopedic surgeon Scott Duncan, MD, was hired by HCA Healthcare to start a residency program at Myrtle Beach, S.C.-based Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in 2017, the report said. e job came with the promise of a five-year director role, and there were plans to bring on OrthoSC physicians to serve as staff for the program. Dr. Duncan began interviewing other candi- dates for staff positions aer feeling OrthoSC representatives weren't interested in partici- pating, the report said. OrthoSC was given a deadline to decide, and one of its executive board members alleged- ly sent an email to Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA threatening to pull surgical cases from Grand Strand Regional Medical Center if the residency continued. e email allegedly said the residency program threatened the practice's monopoly in Myrtle Beach and that doctors didn't want "to be training their competition." HCA canceled the residency program and let Dr. Duncan go without cause in April before the five years promised in his employment agreement ended, according to the lawsuit. Dr. Duncan is seeking unspecified financial damages. OrthoSC did not respond to a request for comment. n Bon Secours acquires Maryland orthopedic group with 13 surgeons By Alan Condon Marriottsville, Md.-based Bon Secours has acquired Tuckahoe Orthopaedics, a 13-surgeon practice in Richmond, Va., according to the Henrico Citizen. For more than 40 years, Tuckahoe Orthopaedics has provided spine, joint and sports medicine care in Central Virginia. It has a long-standing relationship with Bon Secours, with its physicians performing surgeries and having offices at the system's hospitals in Richmond. "Being part of the enhanced care network of Bon Secours provides enhanced access to many new resources and increased efficiencies for our patients," Jed Vanichkachorn, MD, spine surgeon and president of Tuckahoe Orthopaedics, told the publication. The partnership will benefit Tuckahoe Orthopaedics' patients through in- creased access to care and services, including MRI, primary care, orthopedic surgery, physical therapy, home health and outpatient rehabilitation, along with the latest technology for spine and joint procedures, according to the report. Tuckahoe Orthopaedics will maintain its existing practice locations. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. n The 4 largest orthopedic mergers announced or launched in 2021 By Carly Behm Four orthopedic practices announced or launched mergers involving 50 or more physicians in 2021: 1. OrthoLoneStar launched in January 2021. Carrell Clinic in Dallas, Texas Orthopaedic Associates in Dallas, Fondren Orthopedic Group in Houston, Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Houston, Texas Orthopedics, Sports and Rehabilitation Associates in Austin and Azalea Orthopedics in Tyler combined their more than 150 physicians. 2. Seven New Jersey orthopedic practices announced the formation of Ortho Alliance NJ in April. Brielle Orthopedics in Brick, Orthopedic Institute of Central Jersey in Manasquan, Princeton Orthopaedic Associates in Princeton, Ridge- wood Orthopedic Group in Ridgewood, Shore Orthopaedic University Associ- ates in Somers Point, Union County Orthopaedic Group in Clark and University Orthopaedic Associates in Somerset merged to form the group with more than 100 physicians. 3. Reno-based Spine Nevada and Tahoe Fracture & Orthopedic Medical Clinic in Carson City merged to create a 60-provider group, which is the largest mus- culoskeletal care platform in the state. 4. Three physician-owned orthopedic practices in California merged to create a 60-physician network on Jan. 1. Walnut Creek-based Muir Orthopaedic Spe- cialists, Los Gatos-based OrthoNorCal and San Ramon-based Webster Ortho- pedics combined to create Golden State Spine. n