Central State Orthopedics and Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center merged, according to a report from GTR Newspapers.
Here are five things to know:
1. The two groups joined to form the Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma in Tulsa and include 29 physicians.
2. The large group is not affiliated with a health system. The physicians sought to merge and preserve their independence so the organization can "focus on a patient-centered approach and the doctor-patient relationship."
3. Both groups partnered in the past to form Oklahoma Surgical Hospital, a 5-Star rated hospital from Medicare. The hospital offers the second lowest readmission rate for hip and knee surgery in the nation among Medicare patients.
4. Surgeons from the group will still operate at local hospitals and work with several insurance plans.
5. The practice locations will remain the same in the short term until full integration occurs over the next two years.