Orthopaedic Specialists of Springfield closed Aug. 31, releasing its roughly 70 employees as Mercy purchased the OSS building at 1151 E. Montclair St. and the assets of the company for undisclosed amounts. The closure eliminates a competitor for Mercy as it builds its $116 million orthopedic hospital at the corner of U.S. Highway 65 and Evans Road.
David Globig, vice president of operations at Mercy Hospital Springfield, said Mercy purchased both the assets of OSS – such as furniture and equipment – and the building, but not the business itself. He acknowledged that a result of those purchases was that the company would be dissolved.
“In order to sell the assets, they had to go through the process of shutting down the surgery center and the nine physicians dissolving the practice,” Globig said.
OSS formerly operated as Ozarks Area Orthopaedics Associates, working under the CoxHealth umbrella until 2004, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.
Globig said roughly half of the OSS staff applied for positions at Mercy and 20 have been hired. Through the transactions, Mercy gains a 77,000-square-foot property – which holds an appraised value of $8.7 million, according to Greene County assessor records. The building includes a surgery center, an imaging center and physician offices. He said two physical therapy-related tenants not connected to OSS but operating in the building would remain there through the end of the year. Mercy has no current plans for the property, Globig said.
Globig said the move wasn't made to eliminate competition, but as a way to bring on a team of physicians.
“The driving factor was to ensure that we have appropriate orthopedic coverage as we rebuild our hospital in the Joplin market,” Globig said. “Trying to build a practice one physician at a time can be difficult and has a lot of pros and cons to it, especially in an established market. To be able with one stroke to bring in a full orthopedic group … was the motivating factor for our organization.”
Five orthopedic specialists joined the Mercy staff following the purchases. Hand surgeons Dr. Michael Grillot and Dr. J. Scott Swango are now working in Springfield and also will provide additional orthopedic coverage in Joplin and in the region, according to a Mercy news release. Dr. Thomas McClain, Dr. Paul Olive, and Dr. David B. Rogers will be based in Joplin.[[In-content Ad]]
Moseley’s Discount Office Products was purchased; Side Chick opened in Branson; and the Springfield franchise store of NoBaked Cookie Dough changed ownership.
