Evolve Orthopedic Partners, a new physician-led management services organization (MSO), has officially launched with its first partnership and a veteran executive at the helm.
The MSO announced on Aug. 12 that it has partnered with OrthoNY, a New York-based orthopedic group that operates a network of orthopedic ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the state.
Backed by health care investment firm Zenyth Partners, Evolve will provide orthopedic practices and ambulatory surgery centers with support in billing, HR, compliance, marketing and IT while preserving local clinical autonomy.
Evolve appointed Jerry Tillinger as chief executive officer. Tillinger previously led the U.S. Digestive Health.
“Evolve is here to meet a clear need in today’s orthopedic landscape,” Tillinger said in a press release. “Physician groups want to modernize and expand, but they don’t want to compromise their identity or care quality. We provide that bridge, with physician leadership at the center.”
OrthoNY, which operates in Albany, Clifton Park, Glens Falls, Saratoga and Schenectady, will retain its brand while operating under the Evolve platform.
“By partnering with Evolve, we’re strengthening the operational foundation that allows us to grow with purpose, so we can stay focused on what matters most: delivering exceptional care for our patients and the communities we serve,” OrthoNY President Frank Congiusta said in a press release.
Evolve is actively exploring additional partnerships within and beyond its current markets, executives wrote in the release.
Zenyth’s investment portfolio includes companies from across health care. Among them are Helping Hands Family, LifeCare Home Health Family, 360 Renal Care and others.
The launch of Evolve comes at a time when orthopedic practices are increasingly looking for scale and professional management support. Rising costs, reimbursement pressures and a growing demand for outpatient surgical care have pushed many physician groups to explore partnerships with MSOs and private equity-backed platforms.
What’s more, the orthopedic sector has been particularly active in adopting the ASC model, which allows for lower-cost, high-quality procedures outside of the hospital setting. According to industry experts, outpatient orthopedic procedures are expected to grow significantly over the next decade, creating an attractive opportunity for MSOs like Evolve to help providers expand capacity, streamline operations and tap into new revenue streams.
“While orthopedics has already managed this shift for quite some time, an increasing number of spine procedures have recently moved to outpatient settings as technology and facilities improve,” a recent report from Colliers notes.
