Becker's ASC Review

25 ORTHOPEDICS 22-physician orthopedic group plans to build $18.7M surgery center By Alan Condon T he Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics has begun building an $18.7 million surgery center in Tyler, Tenn., the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported May 24. The 37,500-square-foot ASC will replace the 22-physician orthopedic group's surgical facilities in downtown Chat- tanooga. It will feature eight operating rooms, two proce- dure rooms and 40 preoperative and recovery bays. "We are thrilled to break ground on our new surgery cen- ter, which we anticipate will be a destination for ortho- pedics in our region," said Benjamin Miller, MD, medical director for the group's ASC. "We made the decision to pursue the new ambulatory surgery center to expand our footprint and be a leader — both in our community and across the country — for innovative outpatient orthopedic surgical care." About 75 to 80 people, including up to 21 physicians, are expected to staff the ASC, according to the report. It is expected to open in summer 2023. n $200M+ orthopedic campus on track to open ASC by year's end By Alan Condon R ochester, N.Y.-based UR Medicine plans to open a surgery center at a 300,000-square foot outpatient orthopedic campus by the end of the year, roches- terfirst.com reported July 1. The campus will be one of the country's largest ortho- pedic campuses, which UR Medicine estimates will see about 250,000 patients annually. It will cost more than $200 million to develop and will employ almost 700 staff, with almost 200 new jobs introduced, according to the report. The campus will include a four-story tower, slated to open in the fall of 2023, that will feature diagnostic im- aging, exam rooms, sports medicine facilities and well- ness services. "There will be a dedicated space for sports perfor- mance and injury prevention, an ambulatory surgery space, and then also the ability for people to have sur- geries that require an overnight stay, which is a real in- novation," Paul Rubery, MD, chair of UR Orthopedics, told the publication. n Minnesota orthopedic group hit with $111M negligence verdict By Alan Condon A jury has awarded a man more than $111 million in dam- ages as a result of alleged negligent care provided by Sartell, Minn.-based St. Cloud Orthopedic Associates in relation to surgery on his le leg, according to documents filed with the U.S. District Court for Minnesota on May 17. Five details: 1. Aer fracturing his le leg on Jan. 14, 2017, Anuj apa, 24, was taken by ambulance to St. Cloud Hospital. Chad Holien, MD, the orthopedic surgeon on call at the hospital, performed surgery to ad- dress the fracture. 2. Mr. Thapa said he informed St. Cloud providers of "severe, difficult-to-control pain in his left lower leg" as well as "numb- ness, a burning sensation and reduced contraction of his muscles," according to court documents. Despite these symptoms, he was discharged the day after surgery and told to call a physician if his condition worsened. 3. Six days aer he was discharged, Mr. apa returned to the hos- pital because of pain in his leg. Matthew Hwang, MD, another St. Cloud orthopedic surgeon, discovered Mr. apa experienced acute compartment syndrome — the muscles in the anterior compart- ment of his leg were gray in color and had no contractility. Mr. apa underwent more than 20 surgeries and "has been le with severe, disabling, permanent damage to his le leg," the complaint said. 4. Attorneys representing Mr. apa said St. Cloud did not provide him with acceptable care, alleging providers failed to appropriately evaluate his symptoms and diagnose and treat his acute compart- ment syndrome, and did not appropriately discharge him. e lawsuit against St. Cloud Orthopedic Associates was filed in September 2019. 5. e verdict comprises $110 million in past pain, disability, disfig- urement, embarrassment and emotional distress, $493,073 in past medical expenses and $758,486 in future medical expenses. A administrator for St. Cloud Orthopedics told Becker's the practice maintains "the care provided in this case was in accordance with ac- cepted standards of care." St. Cloud Orthopedics continues to support Dr. Holien and physician assistant Will Paschke, who were named in this case, and is evaluating "options regarding this verdict."n

• Cover