Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1511473
11 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT Why mediation is necessary in orthopedic practice- hospital partnerships By Carly Behm S maller orthopedic practices may want to explore partnering with a hospital, but it should be done carefully, according to Bruce Prager, MD. Dr. Prager, of Orthopedic Center of Arlington in Texas, shared his advice for orthopedic practices considering hospital partnerships. Question: What should smaller practices know before entering a hospital partnership? Dr. Bruce Prager: Smaller practices are at a definite disadvantage when dealing with a hospital. If the hospital becomes the owner of the practice it can be in several different forms: own the entire practice 100 percent or own some portion of the practice — the non-physician employees, the lease and the EMR. Either way the physician loses control and needs to have some safeguard in effect. is could be some contract that covers a certain number of years. e physician needs to make sure there is no noncompete clause. If not then the hospital can unilaterally force the doctors to move at the end of the contract leaving them with nothing but their names. ere should also be mediation in all contracts if there is a disagreement because these arrangements are evolving. Hospitals have too many resources and may at the end of the day decide to terminate the agreement. n American Medical Administrators acquires Midwest Bone and Joint, ASC By Carly Behm A merican Medical Administrators acquired Macon, Mo.-based Midwest Bone and Joint Center and its ASC, according to a Sept. 22 news release. Chris Main, DO, an orthopedic surgeon with the practice, is also joining American Medical Administrators as head of orthopedics. The deal is American Medical Administrators' first ASC acquisition. "I have a passion for sports medicine, and American Medical's orthopedic centers under my guidance will now be custom-tailored for sports and worker's compensation injuries," Dr. Main said in the release. "American Medical has provided me [with] the resources to rapidly expand into new states, with the first being Georgia and Texas." n Spire Orthopedic Partners names chief legal officer By Carly Behm S pire Orthopedic Partners named JoAnna Nicholson as its chief legal officer, the management services organization said Sept. 5. Ms. Nicholson will lead strategic legal operations for Spire, according to a news release. She previously worked with North American Partners in Anesthesia as vice president and deputy general counsel. "JoAnna is an accomplished attorney with demonstrated success in providing strategic legal advice to organizations in the healthcare industry," Christopher Fusco, CEO of Spire, said in the release. "Her experience navigating complex legal matters across a broad range of disciplines unique to our growing business will be key to Spire's success going forward." n OrthoIndy opens new hospital By Carly Behm Indianapolis-based OrthoIndy opened a new hospital and facility in Brownsburg, Ind. The Brownsburg location replaces a previous location in the city, according to a Sept. 25 news release shared with Becker's. The hospital includes a walk-in urgent care, physical therapy facilities, imaging and outpatient surgery. The new hospital comes on the heels of OrthoIndy's expansions into Westfield and Lafayette, Ind. n