The drive to maintain independence is spurring more orthopedic practices to seek strategic partnerships with other groups, private equity platforms, hospitals and health systems.
Here are 21 orthopedic practices involved in mergers, acquisitions or partnerships with hospitals or health systems this year:
1. In July, Reno-based Spine Nevada and Tahoe Fracture & Orthopedic Medical Clinic in Carson City, Nev., merged to create a 60-provider group, which is the largest musculoskeletal care platform in the state.
2. PartnerCare, a portfolio company of private equity firm Shore Capital Partners, affiliated with Hollywood-based Florida Spine & Pain Center in September.
3. Tucson (Ariz.) Orthopaedic Institute became the ninth practice to affiliate with Gainesville, Fla.-based Orthopedic Care Partners in July. The private equity-backed platform also acquired Jackson Anesthesia Pain Centers and Oxford Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine earlier this year.
4. Central Kansas Orthopedic Group in Great Bend became part of the University of Kansas Health System. The four-surgeon practice is keeping its current location open and continuing to serve patients as normal.
5. Southern Illinois Hand Center, a three-surgeon group in Effingham, Ill., joined Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center on Aug. 2. The practice cited rising regulatory and administrative burdens as a significant driver of the affiliation.
6. Rezin Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Joliet, Ill., affiliated with Morris (Ill.) Hospital on June 1. Morris Hospital now manages the practice, which changed its name to Morris Hospital Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.
7. Gilford, N.H.-based Advanced Orthopedics, formerly Advanced Orthopedic Specialists, joined Appledore Medical Group and Frisbie Memorial Hospital.
8. Des Plaines-based Illinois Bone & Joint Institute added two surgeons from The Foot & Ankle Treatment Center in Glenview, Ill.
9. The CORE Institute, with locations in Arizona and Michigan, merged with Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists, a three-physician group in Howell and Dexter, Mich.
10. Seven orthopedic practices in New Jersey merged to form Ortho Alliance NJ. The partnership joined more than 100 physicians from the practices, which have more than 25 New Jersey locations.
11. Cincinnati-based Wellington Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine merged with OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine to form OrthoCincy Wellington Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. The combined group has 45 physicians and locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
12. Six orthopedic groups in Texas merged to form OrthoLoneStar, which has more than 150 physicians, over 40 locations and 1,000 employees.
13. Longmont, Colo.-based Front Range Orthopedics & Spine merged with Fort Collins, Colo.-based Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies.
14. Leawood. Kan.-based Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Consultants and Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedics merged March 1.
15. Marriottsville, Md.-based Bon Secours agreed to acquire Tuckahoe Orthopaedics, a 13-physician group in Richmond, Va., for an undisclosed price. The deal is expected to close in October.
16. Active Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, an 11-physician group based in Hackensack, N.J., joined Summit Health.
17. Broomfield, Colo.-based SCL Health acquired Butte-based Montana Orthopedics, which has four physicians and 29 employees.
18. Spectrum Orthopaedics-Auburn, an eight-physician group in Lewiston, Maine, joined Central Maine Healthcare.
19. Watertown, N.Y.-based North Country Orthopaedic Group partnered with two New York hospitals, where its physicians will see patients and perform surgery.
20. Peoria, Ill.-based Great Plains Orthopedics expanded its practice to OSF HealthCare's St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Ill.
21. Conway (Ark.) Regional Health System acquired Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center and took over the group's management and operations.