WILMINGTON, NC, October 27, 2014— OrthoWilmington, southeastern North Carolina’s most comprehensive orthopaedic practice, is pleased to announce the planned addition of Orthopaedic Specialists, effective January 1, 2015.

Combining with Orthopaedic Specialists will bring OrthoWilmington to 23 physicians, 17 physician assistants, and three nurse practitioners. It will also add seven offices in the five towns of Southport, Leland, Supply, Sunset Beach and Carolina Beach to

OrthoWilmington’s six area locations in New Hanover, Brunswick and Onslow counties.

“The practices will continue to operate independently until January first,” said

OrthoWilmington Chief Executive Officer Stephen L. DeBiasi, CMPE, FACHE. “ In fact,

day-to-day operations at all locations of the two practices will not be significantly

affected, so patients should continue to contact their current providers at the same

locations, by the same means they currently use.

“The real change will be OrthoWilmington’s increased reach into southern Brunswick

County, and better access to our range of sub-specialists for people living in those

areas,” he continued. DeBiasi commented that combining practices will significantly augment both practices’ already expansive physical therapy services, and also give OrthoWilmington a significant presence at the two Brunswick County hospitals: Dosher Memorial Hospital and Brunswick Novant Medical Center.

“We are very excited about coming together to enhance orthopaedic care throughout

southeastern North Carolina,” said Michael M. Marushack, MD, of Orthopaedic

Specialists. “We already refer patients back and forth to each other, so joining forces as a single practice will feel very natural.”

“From both business and clinical perspectives, there is strength in numbers,” said

DeBiasi. “By integrating our services, we can create an even more efficient organization to help reduce healthcare costs, improve clinical outcomes, and enhance patient satisfaction.”

ABOUT ORTHOWILMINGTON

OrthoWilmington is the regional referral center for comprehensive orthopaedic care.

Through a medical team of 18 specialists, the practice offers fellowship-trained and

board-certified experts in a variety of subspecialties within orthopaedics including spine, sports medicine, hip and knee joint reconstruction and revision, hand and upper

extremity, foot and ankle, trauma as well as physical medicine and rehabilitation.

OrthoWilmington’s offices are headquartered at 2716 Ashton Drive and 3787 Shipyard

Boulevard in Wilmington, with satellite offices in Porters Neck, Brunswick Forest and

Jacksonville. In addition to the full range of specialty orthopaedic care, the group offers

AccessOrtho, a walk-in clinic for immediate non-emergency care at the Ashton Drive

location, physical therapy services through all office locations, and a high-field MRI

Imaging Center.

ABOUT ORTHOPAEDIC SPECIALISTS

For more than 25 years, Orthopaedic Specialists has provided comprehensive, state-of-the-art orthopaedic care to southeastern North Carolina through offices in Southport,

Supply, Sunset Beach, Carolina Beach and Leland. Offering a range of surgical and nonsurgical treatment options, the five physicians specialize in sports medicine, spinal care, joint replacement and reconstruction, fracture care, arthritis, hand and foot disorders, as well as work-related injuries. Additionally, the practice offers physical therapists and pain management professionals who provide a high standard of care from the operating room through recovery.

Orthopaedic Specialists is headquartered at 902 N. Howe Street in Southport, with

additional physician offices and physical therapy facilities in Southport, Supply, Sunset

Beach, Carolina Beach, and Leland at Waterford Medical Plaza.

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