Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute (JOI) Joins Baptist Health

Jacksonville, Florida, February 2, 2011 -- Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute's Board of Directors and the Baptist Health Board of Directors have signed an agreement that officially makes JOI a subsidiary of Baptist Health. The agreement became effective February 1, 2011.

All JOI employees' jobs and benefits are preserved, and JOI's seven physician practices and nine rehabilitation centers will retain their respected Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute brand identity.

The agreement is consistent with the mission of Baptist Health, the region's most comprehensive healthcare provider, to continually enhance community access to Baptist's circle of care to most effectively meet healthcare needs.

"We have had a long-term, collaborative relationship with Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute for many years. With this agreement, patients with muscle, bone and joint disorders can continue to receive the well-recognized expertise of JOI's premier group of orthopaedic surgeons, coupled with the complete continuum of services we provide at Baptist Health," said A. Hugh Greene, president and chief executive officer, Baptist Health. "As the future landscape of health care changes, we will be well-positioned to continue meeting the challenges and provide accessible, excellent orthopaedic care."

A January collaboration between Baptist Health and JOI culminated with the opening of the Baptist Beaches Surgery Center, providing patients in the Beaches community with a one-stop destination for -- among other surgical services -- outpatient orthopaedic procedures using the latest technologies, including high-tech, "smart" operating suites. "The committed expertise of JOI surgeons and the full range of Baptist Health services have come together to provide patients with a positive surgical experience and outcome," said Edward Sim, hospital president of Baptist Medical Center Beaches.

This recent agreement combines the strengths of JOI and Baptist Health to expand the availability of orthopaedic care throughout our community.

"Through our more integrated relationship with Baptist and our shared vision for the future, JOI can recruit additional orthopaedic subspecialty surgeons to add capacity, expand services and access, and enhance quality of care and patient satisfaction," said Michael S. Scharf, MD, president of Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute.

JOI's first physician practice was established in 1994 on Baptist Health's outpatient campus in San Marco. Baptist Health is consistently rated the most preferred provider for orthopaedic services and other services by healthcare consumers in our region and has earned the prestigious Magnet-designation for excellence in patient care.