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Orthopedic practices join forces
By Conner Hammett, chammett@acnpapers.com
Four orthopedic medicine practices in Collin and Denton counties have recently merged to create one of the largest orthopedic groups in Texas.
OrthoTexas, as the group is called, brings together 25 physicians from Metrocrest Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, located in Carrollton and Flower Mound; Associated Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, located in Plano and Frisco; Orthopaedic Associates of North Texas, located in Allen and McKinney; and Orthopedic Specialists of North Texas, located in Denton. The merger was made official Jan. 1.
The group -- which specializes in general orthopedics, sports medicine, adult and pediatric spine surgery, hip and knee reconstruction, rehabilitation, pain management, and physical and occupational therapy -- employs 247 people and serves about 500,000 patients at seven different locations.
"If we need someone to see a spine surgeon, we don't need to call any of our other groups or find a place we can get them in," Schwartz said. "We know we have a spine surgeon, so our scheduling person in Plano can get them an appointment with a spine surgeon. It expedites their care."
Schwartz said the merger is also hoped to increase accessibility for patients who may need care while a doctor is on vacation or away at a conference trip.
"Perhaps in the past, someone would call [the Plano office] and there was no appointment this week because all of our doctors were gone," he said. "But now, maybe you call Plano and you can't get in, but there are one or two in Plano or Carrollton who are, and we can get you in."
From the business side, Schwartz said, the merger will see a reduction in overhead costs -- for example, consolidating the four practices' billing and collections departments -- and make for a happier, healthier employee base through an improved health care benefits package.
"With everything going on in health care, being bigger is much more beneficial," he said. "With more doctors, we can realize a lot of cost savings and benefits."
Schwartz said planning for the merger goes back more than one year -- and the work's not done yet. Conceptually, the project has arrived, he said, but it will still require a lot of hands-on effort moving forward to keep the operation moving smoothly.
"When you bring 25 doctors together -- and I think we're at over 200 employees -- that's a lot of moving parts to get everyone coordinated," he said. "That's what we're working through -- the nuts and bolts, if you will."
For information about OrthoTexas, visit www.orthotexas.com.
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