Four independent orthopedic practices in North Carolina are banding together to create a practice that will span 49 locations and 21 counties in the state.
The new 126-physician practice, EmergeOrtho, will be one of the largest physician-owned orthopedic practices in the U.S., according to the physician groups involved. EmergeOrtho is comprised of the following practices:
- Blue Ridge Bone and Joint in Asheville, Hendersonville and Arden;
- Carolina Orthopaedic Specialists in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties;
- OrthoWilmington in New Hanover, Brunswick and Onslow counties;
- and Triangle Orthopaedic Associates in the greater Raleigh-Durham area.
The four practices became one on August 1. As part of this consolidation, the groups will use the same EHR. The hope is that the new organization will be able to build on current strategies to improve outcomes and lower costs, according to Thomas Dimmig, MD, president of Triangle Orthopaedic Associates. This includes a commitment to participating in alternative payment programs, such as bundled payments.
EmergeOrtho also said in a statement announcing its launch that additional practices plan to join in a second expansion phase slated for early 2017, which would bring the count of participating physicians up to 170.
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