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ORTHOPEDICS
Georgia's largest
orthopedic group
lands private equity
deal: 9 transactions
for surgeons to know
By Alan Condon
T
he largest physician-owned orthopedic group in Georgia
secured investment from a private equity firm Dec. 9, among
a growing number of independent practices this year that
looked for new ways to expand in a challenging healthcare environ-
ment.
Here are nine private equity transactions with orthopedic
groups in 2021:
1. Atlanta-based Resurgens Orthopaedics partnered with New York
City-based private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe to
build an orthopedic platform to be led by CEO Alex Bateman.
2. PartnerCare, a portfolio company of private equity firm Shore
Capital Partners, affiliated with Hollywood-based Florida Spine
& Pain Center.
3. Reno, Nev.-based Spine Nevada and Tahoe Fracture & Orthope-
dic Medical Clinic in Carson City, Nev., merged to create a 60-pro-
vider group, the largest musculoskeletal care platform in the state.
4. Trinity Hunt Partners teamed with Los Angeles Orthopaedic Sur-
gery Specialists and Portland-based Northwest Extremity Specialists
to form a musculoskeletal practice management platform.
5. Tucson (Ariz.) Orthopaedic Institute became the ninth practice to
affiliate with Gainesville, Fla.-based Orthopedic Care Partners.
6. Stone Point Capital invested in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based
American Orthopedic Partners, with orthopedic surgeons James
Andrews, MD, and Russell Warren, MD, joining the practice as
board members.
7. Summit Spine & Joint Centers, a 21-provider group with ASCs
and pain management clinics in greater Atlanta, was acquired by
MSouth Equity Partners.
8. U.S. Orthopedic Partners, a management services organization
backed by urston Group, acquired six practices, including Jack-
son (Miss.) Anesthesia Pain Center, Oxford (Miss.) Orthopaedics
and Sports Medicine and Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopae-
dic Center in Birmingham, Ala.
9. Trivest Partners invested in Lexington, Ky.-based Bluegrass Or-
thopaedics, creating a nationally focused orthopedic management
services organization. Bluegrass Orthopaedics anchors Trivest's
orthopedic platform. n
'We have to take control
of our future': How
the pandemic affected
3 surgeons' outlook
on orthopedics
By Carly Behm
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has shifted how health-
care, including orthopedics, is carried out. Some
surgeons are optimistic about changes, including
increased telehealth visits and outpatient care. Others
say the pandemic gave them time to notice problems
with insurance reimbursement.
Three orthopedic surgeons told Becker's how the pan-
demic affected their mindset toward the specialty.
Question: Almost two years into the pandemic, how
has it changed your outlook on orthopedics?
Mihir Patel, MD. OrthoIndy (Indianapolis): The pan-
demic has advanced orthopedic surgery in the out-
patient setting. Phone and video visits have helped
communication between practitioners and patients.
With two-year follow-up, now outpatient procedures
have proven to be safe and effective. Packaging of
supplies has transformed to reduce turnover times
and labor-intensive processes, allowing resources to
be shifted toward fighting the pandemic in the acute
setting. Obviously, we never wanted a pandemic, and
we want it to end ASAP, but we have come out stron-
ger, with safer, efficient processes for patients and
providers as a result.
Mark Wichman, MD. Advocate Aurora (Milwaukee):
My experience is that the pandemic has not significantly
altered the need for orthopedic care. In fact, people
have not taken care of themselves. This has exacerbated
underlying orthopedic problems significantly. Athletes
are back to full participation, also pushing orthopedic
volumes. I am very bullish on the outlook for orthopedic
care currently and in the years to come.
Jason Snibbe, MD. Snibbe Orthopedics (Los Ange-
les): The pandemic has changed my outlook on ortho-
pedics. The pandemic gave me more time to analyze my
practice and organize the patient process. It also allowed
me to realize the issues with insurance reimbursement.
The insurance companies are becoming more difficult
to deal with and impose more restrictions on the prac-
tice of orthopedics. I think the future of orthopedics will
see more surgeons leaving insurance plans and charg-
ing the patients directly for better care. The reimburse-
ment is not sustainable for private practice doctors. We
have to take control of our future. n
