UT Medical Center Proposes Orthopedic Surgery Center at UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm

The University of Tennessee Medical Center and OrthoTennessee, including University Orthopedic Surgeons, are teaming up to open a freestanding orthopedic ambulatory surgery center in Knoxville at UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm. The organizations recently submitted an application to the Health Services Development Agency (HSDA) of the Tennessee Department of Health for a Certificate of Need to create the surgery center.

“This project represents a partnership to provide patients with the most ideal site of service for outpatient orthopedic care,” said Jon-David Deeson, CEO of OrthoTennessee. “Its scope of services is orthopedic focused, and the location is aimed at improving the experience and cost of care for patients while maintaining the longstanding commitment of both our organizations to provide high quality care.”

An ambulatory surgery center provides a high quality, cost effective alternative with convenient patient access and parking when an overnight hospital stay is not expected. Some of the most common orthopedic procedures that will be performed at the center include surgery of the hand and foot, arthroscopy and reconstruction of the shoulder, hip and knee, as well as total joints and spine procedures.

“This plan brings together expertise in orthopedics to serve our patients with high quality care in a place they can easily get to,” said Joe Landsman, president and CEO of The University of Tennessee Medical Center. “Our partnership combines great orthopedic clinical and surgical knowledge with a research collaboration that best fits the growing needs of our community.”

The proposal calls for an 81,000-square-foot three-story building to be built on the research park, which is across Alcoa Highway from the main UT Medical Center campus. The first floor of the proposed center will serve as the ambulatory surgery center. The second and third floors will house physical therapy and medical and administration offices. There will also be dedicated space for orthopedic and other medical research through the medical center’s UT Advanced Orthopaedic Institute, which project organizers describe as the ideal fit for the mission of the research park. This will be the third building constructed at the research park.

UT Interim President Randy Boyd said he was excited about the partnership with Ortho Tennessee/University Orthopedic Surgeons and The University of Tennessee Medical Center. “We are especially looking forward to the medically related research and development partnerships with this new center,” Boyd said. “Our research park provides a gateway to collaborating with the University, our renowned researchers and top-quality students.”

The plan must be approved by HSDA. A hearing could occur by the end of the year. If approved, the center, to be developed by Knoxville-based healthcare real estate firm Realty Trust Group, could be completed and opened within 18 to 24 months after approval.

About OrthoTennessee/University Orthopedic Surgeons

OrthoTennessee is the region’s largest provider of orthopedic care and services with over 250,000 patient visits annually at 10 East Tennessee locations. University Orthopedic Surgeons is one of four physician group divisions of OrthoTennessee and includes 13 orthopedic surgeons providing the region’s only Level I orthopedic trauma and orthopedic oncology services as well as comprehensive subspecialty orthopedic care. For more information about University Orthopedic Surgeons, visit online at uosortho.com.

About The University of Tennessee Medical Center

The mission of The University of Tennessee Medical Center, the region’s only hospital to achieve status as a Magnet® recognized organization, is to serve through healing, education and discovery. UT Medical Center, a 630-bed, not-for-profit academic medical center, serves as a referral center for Eastern Tennessee, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina. The medical center, the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, is one of the largest employers in Knoxville. For more information about The University of Tennessee Medical Center, visit online at utmedicalcenter.org.

About the University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Martin and Memphis; the UT Space Institute in Tullahoma; the UT Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. The UT system manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory through its UT-Battelle partnership; enrolls about 50,000 students statewide; produces about 10,000 new graduates every year; and represents more than 387,000 alumni around the world.