Nearly 100 physicians split from Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health last year to form an independent medical group called Tryon Medical Partners. Now, more physicians are joining the group, according to The Charlotte Observer.
In mid-September, seven physicians said they plan to join Tryon Medical Partners after leaving CaroMont Medical Group's South Point Family Practice, part of Gastonia, N.C.-based CaroMont Health. Tryon Medical Partners CEO Dale Owen, MD, expects more physicians to break away from hospitals and join independent practices.
Dr. Owen, one of the physicians who spearheaded the effort to split from Atrium last year, says there are many benefits of having more independent physicians in the area.
"The whole area is better served from a cost and value standpoint on the patients' behalf if there are more independent doctors, rather than controlled referral patterns," he told The Charlotte Observer.
Tryon Medical Partners filed a lawsuit against Atrium in 2018, alleging physicians employed by the system were ordered to refer patients to facilities owned or managed by Atrium.
Atrium denies those allegations.
"Atrium Health physicians always focus on what is best for patients," the system said in a statement to The Charlotte Observer. "… Atrium works hard to be the first and best choice for care, and we are proud that is so often the case."
Access the full article from The Charlotte Observer here.
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