A Mega-Ortho Practice Is Born in Colorado

A practice is born…and it’s a big one. Actually, the newly created Orthopedic Centers of Colorado (OCC), created from seven existing practices, is the largest orthopedic practice in the state.

OCC encompasses 56 orthopedic physicians in 19 offices. The seven practices coming together as Orthopedic Centers of Colorado, LLC are:

• Advanced Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists P.C.
• Colorado Orthopedic Consultants, P.C.
• Denver Spine Surgeons, LLC
• Denver-Vail Orthopedics, P.C.
• Hand Surgery Associates, P.C.
• Orthopedic Associates, LLC
• Peak Orthopedics & Spine, PLLC

“The private-practice model has proven to deliver a higher level of quality at a more competitive price,” said Davis Hurley, M.D., president of Orthopedic Centers of Colorado, in the August 31, 2017 news release. “Patients will continue to benefit from the more personalized approach that private practice delivers to accommodate each patient’s needs.”

Asked how this will make care more personalized, Dr. Hurley told OTW, “OCC’s patients will continue to enjoy a more personal relationship with their surgeons than what they may encounter in a large academic or corporate hospital system. OCC is committed to building a culture that promotes longevity and tenure amongst our staff.”

“Often times a patient’s relationship with a long-standing staff member can offer reassurance that specific needs will be met. This continuity and familiarity isn’t found in the large hospital systems. Flexibility exists in the private practice model that isn’t found in the more corporate medical settings. OCC’s physicians will still be able to manage their own schedules and make accommodations for special circumstances. Patient feedback and comments can be acted on and followed up on more quickly under the private practice model.

“When forming OCC we had a core group of visionaries, from each of the divisions, that were able to shed their instinctual competitiveness and work together towards the bigger picture goal of establishing something that would preserve their ability to remain in private practice. Uniting all of the existing partners from the seven divisions, behind this vision, has taken time and constant focus.”

“It also took a considerable amount of time to really connect with the payers and help them understand our mission and value proposition to overcome initial skepticism about the motivation for coming together as a large group. It has been a delicate balance between acting like a large company and making sure that each of our members’ opinions and needs are being considered. We strike that balance by blending the cultures and practices of each of our seven divisions into one uniform and consistent set of policies and culture.”