The physicians of Chattanooga Neurosurgery & Spine Clinic are (seated, from left) Dr. Phil Megison, Dr. Peter Boehm Sr., and Dr. Timothy Strait; (standing, from left) Dr. Peter Boehm Jr., Dr. Lee Kern, Dr. Michael Gallagher, Dr. Paul Hoffman and Dr. Daniel Kueter.CNS PHYSICIANS JOINING ERLANGER
Dr. Peter Boehm, Sr.Dr. Peter Boehm, Jr. Dr. Michael Gallagher Dr. Paul Hoffman Dr. Daniel Kueter Dr. Lee Kern Dr. Phil Megison Dr. Timothy Strait Source: Erlanger Health System
Chattanooga’s only neurosurgery and spine specialty group has been acquired by Erlanger Health System, as the hospital looks to move ahead with its vision for a destination neuroscience and stroke center.
Chattanooga Neurosurgery & Spine Clinic (CNS), which has been in the region for more than 50 years, announced its decision to join Erlanger’s UT Physician Network on Thursday. Erlanger CEO Kevin Spiegel said talks about the acquisition had been ongoing for months.
“Neuroscience is an integral part of what Erlanger does and is very important to this community,” Spiegel said. “Having the best neurosurgeons in town will really allow us to create a neuroscience center of excellence.”
Erlanger recently issued $71 million in new bonds to put toward capital projects, including building such a center at its downtown campus.
The hospital is hiring the eight specialists with the practice, which employs 40 additional employees. It was unclear Thursday what the status of the other employees’ jobs would be once the physicians join Erlanger. CNS will continue operating under the same name and remain at its current location at 1010 E. Third Street.
The move is in line with a growing national trend of independent practices being acquired by large health systems as they try to build out referral networks and position to position themselves to meet insurance reforms under the Affordable Care Act.
Meanwhile, a growing numbers of private practice physicians have become attracted to the stability of large systems, and of washing their hands of the increasing burden of government and insurance-related administrative work physicians face.
Physicians with CNS could not be reached for comment on Thursday, but in a prepared statement, Dr. Daniel Kueter said the group was “excited about this new partnership,”
“Great healthcare requires a broad network of doctors, and we feel this affiliation with the region’s leading healthcare provider is the ideal way to meet the challenging and multifaceted needs of our patients.”
The Chattanooga Neurosurgery group was founded 54 years ago by Drs. Augustus McCravey, Walter E. Boehm, Robert Waters and Edwin Chobot. Today, the group focuses on minimally invasive surgical procedures.
While employed by Erlanger, the physicians will be able to maintain their practicing privileges at the other area hospitals, Spiegel said.
Contact staff writer Kate Belz at kbelz@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6673.