Construction Underway on UT Medical Center’s Advanced Orthopaedic Institute

Leaders from The University of Tennessee Medical Center and OrthoTennessee gathered at the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm to break ground on UT Medical Center’s Advanced Orthopaedic Institute. The organizations teamed up to construct a freestanding orthopaedic ambulatory surgery center with physicians and team members committed to providing outstanding patient care advancing orthopaedic research. The UT Research Park is across Alcoa Highway from the main campus of UT Medical Center.

“This project represents a partnership to provide patients with the most ideal site of service for outpatient orthopaedic care,” said Jon-David Deeson, CEO of OrthoTennessee. “Its scope of services is orthopaedic 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 orthopaedic 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 joint and spine procedures.

“The UT Medical Center Advanced Orthopaedic Institute will serve our patients with high-quality care delivered by experts in orthopaedics in a convenient location,” said Joe Landsman, president and CEO of The University of Tennessee Medical Center. “This partnership with OrthoTennessee/University Orthopedic Surgeons combines outstanding orthopaedic clinical and surgical knowledge with a research collaboration to address the growing needs of our community.”

Project leaders expect to have approximately 150 employees, including 14 orthopaedic surgeons, when the center opens. That total number of employees could expand to 180 with growth of the facility. Team members at the 91,000-square-foot center will care for around 225-275 patients a day for surgery, clinic, imaging and therapy.

The first floor of the three-story building will serve as the ambulatory surgery center including five operating rooms and an advanced imaging center. The second and third floors will house clinical areas as well as research and administrative offices. The facility will dedicate 17,000-square-feet of space for orthopaedic and other medical research, which project organizers describe as the ideal fit for the mission of the research park.

“With this groundbreaking, the UT Research Park is expanding in an exciting new direction that will provide opportunities for collaboration with our renowned researchers and students,” said UT President Randy Boyd. “We look forward to how this project will impact the lives who come before the center seeking help and researchers and students who seek to contribute to the latest in medical technology and practices.”

Realty Trust Group (RTG) is the real estate development partner for the project. The facility was designed by BarberMcMurry Architects, and the Christman Company is the general contractor. Financing is by First Horizon. Construction is expected take about 18 months, with an estimated opening date in the Spring of 2022.

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 www.uosortho.com.

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 400,000 alumni around the world.

About The University of Tennessee Medical Center

The mission of The University of Tennessee Medical Center, a Magnet® recognized hospital also certified by The Joint Commission as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and Comprehensive Cardiac Center, is to serve through healing, education and discovery. UT Medical Center is a 685-bed, not-for-profit academic medical center, with a regional network of primary care and specialty care physicians and practices as well as outpatient regional health centers and urgent care locations throughout its 21-county primary service area. The medical center, the region’s ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center and state designated regional perinatal referral center with a Level III private room NICU, is one of the largest employers in Knoxville. UT Medical Center features seven Centers of Excellence, including the Brain & Spine Institute, Cancer Institute, Emergency & Trauma Center, Heart Lung Vascular Institute, Advanced Orthopaedic Center, Primary Care Collaborative and Center for Women & Infants. Visit UTMedicalCenter.org for more information about The University of Tennessee Medical Center.