As part of a new strategy, Henderson, Ky.-based Methodist Hospital partnered with a local independent orthopedic group to provide orthopedic services after closing the orthopedic clinic it ran earlier this year, according to the Courier & Press.
Here are five things to know:
1. Methodist closed its orthopedic clinic in September and has recently made other changes amid struggles with financial debt. The hospital has around $20 million in debt and affiliated with Evansville, Ind.-based Deaconess Health System in July. The health system has since "retired" $2.5 million of the debt and invested in some upgrades.
2. After closing its orthopedic clinic, Methodist partnered with Evansville-based Orthopaedic Associates to provide medical services. Orthopaedic Associates is aligned with Deaconess, but remains an independent company.
3. Although Methodist still has majority ownership of the hospital and its governance, not all community members are satisfied with the changes since it's affiliation with Deaconess, according to the report.
4. The partnership with Orthopaedic Associates was announced in August as a plan to grow its orthopedic service line. The practice opened an office in Western Kentucky in 2011, and operates a joint venture with Deaconess.
5. In October, Orthopaedic Associates welcomed two new orthopedic surgeons to provide hand surgery and general orthopedics.