Lakes Regional Healthcare’s Board of Trustees approved a collaborative business relationship with Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons during its December board meeting. Known as “provider-based status,” the regional orthopedic practice essentially becomes a department of the hospital.
Lakes Regional Healthcare President and CEO Jason Harrington shared that the hospital has appreciated a collegial relationship with the professionals of Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons for years. The establishment of a formal relationship will enhance long-term planning, service integration, business efficiency and physician recruitment.
“Healthcare has changed significantly and will continue to do so,” Harrington said. “This collaborative initiative allows our mutually successful organizations to more effectively integrate care delivery and manage future business and care system opportunities and challenges.”
Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons will continue to manage the day-to-day clinic operations at all three locations, and also coordinate outreach clinic and services provided at other hospitals in the region. In addition to the main three office locations, the group provides satellite clinics in Cherokee, Primghar, Pocahontas, Emmetsburg, Estherville, Sibley, Algona and Worthington, Minn. The clinic name will also be revised to reflect the new relationship, becoming, Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons a department of Lakes Regional Healthcare.
Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeon’s orthopedic specialists have been members of Lakes Regional Healthcare’s medical staff for many years. As an independent practice group, it has developed one of the most successful rural orthopedic practices in the State of Iowa. In addition to Lakes Regional Healthcare, the group is also establishing provider-based arrangements with Buena Vista Regional Medical Center and Spencer Hospital.
“Our physicians and healthcare team are excited to further advance our relationship with each of these medical centers,” said Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeon orthopedic surgeon Dr. Chris Rierson. “We are fully invested in providing exceptional orthopedic services, including proven state-of-the-art care to the patients we serve throughout northwest Iowa.”
Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons consists of six orthopedic surgeons and two doctors of podiatry, plus orthopedic advanced practice professionals, imaging specialists, physical therapists, medical office professionals and other support staff.
The arrangement is effective January 1, 2020.
