To our patients:
On August 1, 2016, OrthoWilmington became part of an alliance that includes three other independent orthopedic physician groups across North Carolina who share our mission to provide streamlined, patient-centered care. Called EmergeOrtho, the new practice will have the strength of 49 office locations in 21 counties statewide, thereby creating one of the largest physician-owned orthopedic practices in North Carolina.
It’s important to note, however, that you still have access to the same local specialists you have come to know and trust. You will still use the same contact numbers and access all of your providers and services in the same locations. Rest assured that this alliance will not take away any of the care you depend on, but will expand your options for services and care statewide.
The four practices that are combining to become EmergeOrtho are all well-established, highly reputable independent physician groups. These practices include: Blue Ridge Bone and Joint of Asheville, Hendersonville and Arden; Carolina Orthopedic Specialists of Hickory, Morganton and Lenoir; OrthoWilmington with offices in New Hanover, Brunswick and Onslow counties; and Triangle Orthopedic Associates of the greater Raleigh-Durham area. Additional practices are preparing to join the alliance in a second phase of growth.
We chose the name EmergeOrtho because it describes the alliance’s mission. The goal of orthopedics is for patients to emerge from treatment, healed from debilitating pain or limited motion. Through excellent care, our patients can emerge stronger and healthier, better able to lead an active life.
A primary purpose in forming this alliance is to preserve the private practice model, a standard of care that puts patients first and allows each group to provide their own higher quality, lower cost care. The new organization will continue to build on proven strategies and implement programs that improve outcomes and lower costs for patients. Additionally, each group is committed to present and future alternative payment concepts, and all accept a broad range of insurance options.
An additional patient benefit that comes with integrating our network statewide, all EmergeOrtho offices will use the same Electronic Health Records system. Patients treated for injury while on vacation, for example, can follow up with an EmergeOrtho provider in their hometown who has seamless access to their medical chart.
At OrthoWilmington, we see this union as the next phase in the evolution of our practice. The recent alliance leverages the previous successes of these individual practices to create new opportunities that may not have been available to each group independently. It allows us to strengthen and expand existing healthcare partnerships, positions us for exciting clinical and research opportunities, and makes possible greater economies of scale, such as volume discounts on equipment, technology and medical supplies. In all these ways, this alliance better prepares us for the changing healthcare landscape and future healthcare reform so that we may better serve our community.
As EmergeOrtho, the former OrthoWilmington will also continue to build on our strong history of community service, including serving as team physicians for many local and regional sports teams and organizations, including UNCW Athletics, Wilmington Hammerheads, Wilmington Sharks, Cape Fear Community College, Cape Fear Rugby Club, and numerous other public and private school athletic programs. We are also proud to continue support of many community organizations, such as Coastal Horizons, NHRMC Foundation, Brunswick Community College, Brunswick County Schools and the Semper Fi Fund Beat the Bridge 10k/5k to support military families.
While the name and brand logo are changing, the bottom line is that our mission has not. We will continue our focus on delivering the best orthopedic care possible, in the most streamlined, cost-effective manner available.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the new structure, please call us at 910-332-3800 or 910-332-3800. We are in the process of developing a comprehensive new website; in the meantime, all of the alliance members’ existing websites remain fully operational. We hope you find this new structure as exciting as we do, and we sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve you and this community.
Kind regards,
The Physicians and Staff of OrthoWilmington
