Northwestern Medical Center (NMC) is pleased to announce the creation of “Northwestern Orthopaedics” through the acquisition of Synergy Orthopaedics. Dr. Rob Beattie and his staff have joined Dr. Michael Barnum and Dr. Jeremy Hatch as employees of NMC, effective January 1st, 2011.
“I’m delighted to be an employee of Northwestern Medical Center,” said Dr. Beattie. “It’s an excellent hospital with a culture of true caring, and I’m pleased to be joining my two superb colleagues, Dr. Hatch and Dr. Barnum, as an employee of NMC.”
“This transition helps ensure the continuity of orthopaedic care in our community,” said Jill Berry Bowen, NMC’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are looking forward to expanding access to orthopaedics and are currently recruiting for a fourth orthopaedic surgeon to join the practice.”
Eric Culbertson, Physician Assistant, has also joined the new practice. Culbertson has been an employee of NMC since June of 2009, and transitioned to the Orthopaedic practice in October of 2010. Culbertson works primarily with Dr. Barnum.
According to Sidney Phelps, NMC’s Physician Services Manager, the biggest immediate change for current patients will be that their billing statements will now be sent from NMC, rather than from Synergy Orthopaedics.
“Patients can be assured that they will continue to see the same providers and receive the same high quality care they’ve come to expect,” said Phelps. “In fact, we’ve been actively working on improving workflows and have reduced wait times within the Northwestern Orthopaedics practice. It’s a work in progress and we will continue to work on making improvements so that we can provide exceptional customer service.”
In addition to Northwestern Orthopaedics, Dr. Jan Gellis of the Synergy Center for Interventional Pain Management and Dr. Steve Landfish of Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Medicine will continue to retain space for their distinct, separate practices within the Northwestern Orthopaedics suite.
Northwestern Orthopaedics will be located in the former Synergy Orthopaedics office at 3 Crest Road in the Doctors’ Office Common on the hospital campus.
