Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1439613
28 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT IU Health sues 6-location orthopedic practice for alleged trademark infringement By Alan Condon I ndianapolis-based IU Health and Meth- odist Health Group filed a lawsuit with the Southern District of Indiana on Nov. 1 accusing an orthopedic sports medicine practice of trademark infringement. For almost 100 years, Methodist Hospital of Indiana had been operated by Methodist Health Group and its predecessors. IU Health began operating Methodist Hospital in 1997 and gained exclusive rights to use and subli- cense the "Methodist" mark in connection with healthcare services, according to the lawsuit. In 1990, the defendant in the suit, omas A. Brady Sports Medicine Center, began oper- ating a clinic on the hospital's campus called Methodist Sports Medicine. Since then the clinic has expanded to six locations across Central Indiana, according to its website. e organizations also became partners and developed ASCs together. But IU Health and Methodist Health Group learned in 2019 that the practice planned to move its primary location from the Method- ist campus to that of Franciscan Alliance, a competing health system in Mishawaka, Ind., according to the lawsuit. e plaintiffs requested that the practice stop using the "Methodist" mark, but the practice allegedly refused. "[omas A. Brady Sports Medicine Center] is and has been wilfully and intentionally trading upon the goodwill in the Methodist mark that plaintiffs developed at their con- siderable expense and effort ... and is causing plaintiffs substantial and irreparable harm and injury," the lawsuit states. IU Health and Methodist Health Group have requested a jury trial to address the allega- tions raised in the complaint. omas A. Brady Sports Medicine Center did not respond to Becker's request for com- ment. n 2 Florida orthopedic groups form 100-provider integrated network By Alan Condon O rthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine (Fla.) has affiliated with Jacksonville, Fla.-based Southeast Orthopedic Specialists to create a multispecialty musculoskeletal care platform with more than 100 providers. Under the partnership, Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine will join Healthcare Outcomes Performance Co.'s integrated care network, accord- ing to an Oct. 29 news release. Both orthopedic groups will have access to HOPCo's clinical and quality infrastructure, IT tools and claims analytics to partner with health systems, provider groups and payers. Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine will transition to the Southeast Orthopedic Specialists brand in the coming months, and the practices will operate under one consolidated platform. "We know the best way for us to continue successful growth and to help lead value-based care efforts is through alignment with organizations with a dedicated growth infrastructure and proven track record like HOPCo and SOS," Albert Volk, MD, president of Orthopaedic Associates of St. Au- gustine, said in the release. HOPCo is a private, equity-backed musculoskeletal practice management and value-based care platform in Phoenix. The company aims to team with musculoskeletal practices, health systems and payers to develop val- ue-based care programs — such as bundled payments, shared savings and population health — that improve quality and reduce the cost of care. n Spire Orthopedic Partners affiliates with 3 practices in 1 year By Carly Behm S pire Orthopedic Partners, a practice management organization, has part- nered with Danbury-based Connecti- cut Neck & Back Specialists, according to an Oct. 26 news release. The practice was founded in 2005 and is an affiliate of the Spine Center at Dan- bury Hospital. Three surgeons work out of the practice, according to its website. The partnership will help Spire expand its reach in Danbury. This was Spire's third partnership tin 2021. Spire Orthopedic Partners was initially founded with Orthopaedic & Neurosur- gery Specialists in Greenwich, Conn. It is also affiliated with Great Neck, N.Y.-based Orthopaedic Associates of Manhasset and Orthopedic Associates of Middle- town (Conn.). n