Big players expanding into new territories, the expansion of telemedicine and patients increasingly demanding more convenient access to care are some of the major trends affecting competition among spine practices.

Orthopedic practices have banded together through mergers, growing their footprint in their markets. Here are three mergers announced since Aug. 15:

Gainesville, Ga.-based Specialty Orthopaedics held a ribbon cutting for its new expansion, DawsonCountyNews reported Oct. 21.

Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth AdventHealth and Philadelphia-based Rothman opened an office in Winter Garden, Fla. that sees about 80 to 100 patients daily, the Orange Observer reported Oct. 21.

Fort Walton Beach, Fla.-based Orthopaedic Associates and Panama City, Fla.-based Southern Orthopedic Specialists will merge in November.

Los Angeles Orthopedic Surgery Specialists and Advanced Orthopedics, a practice with Unity MSK, opened a clinic at Glendale (Calif.) Adventist Hospital.

Burnsville, Minn.-based Inspired Spine opened a remodeled clinic in the same city.

Oxford (Miss.) Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, part of U.S. Orthopaedic Partners, added two physicians.

Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is a leader in orthopedic care. Here are three leaders to know from the group:

NorthShore University HealthSystem hired neurosurgeon Amin Kassam, MD, to lead the NorthShore Neurological Institute at Northwest Community Healthcare in Arlington Heights, Ill.

Kris Radcliff, MD, has left Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in Philadelphia, where he practiced for more than 12 years, to start his own spine practice, Spinal Disc Center, which has four locations in New Jersey.

Cleveland-based St. Vincent Charity Medical Center's orthopedic surgeons will join Crystal Clinic in Fairlawn, Ohio, the practice said Oct. 12.

UVA Health Orthopedics Center in Charlottesville, Va. opened new operating rooms, NBC 29 reported Oct. 6.

Orthopaedic Institute of Dayton (Ohio) joined OrthoAlliance, according to an Oct. 5 news release shared with Becker's.

Spine Nevada and Tahoe Fracture changed its name to Swift Institute.

Chicago-based Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush has expanded its pediatric orthopedic presence across three locations in Illinois. 

DISC Sports & Spine Center in Newport Beach, Calif. added Vivek Babaria, DO, as a physician partner.

Hattiesburg, Miss.-based Southern Bone & Joint will build a facility in Laurel, Miss. costing up to $12 million, the Leader-Call reported Sept. 28.

Indianapolis-based OrthoIndy will open a new 15,000-square-foot medical office building in Westfield, Ind., in early October, according to a Sept. 26 report from local news site the Current.

Houston-based Texas Orthopedic Hospital opened a satellite location in Kingwood, Texas, Sept. 13, Community Impact reported Sept. 23.