Orthopedic surgeons who left SSM Health two years ago to form Orthopedic and Spine Centers of Wisconsin can now treat their former patients, following the expiration of a noncompete clause on Jan. 1, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The clause, which restricted access to patients seen during the doctors’ last three years at SSM Health, had affected thousands, according to group leader Dr. Jason Sansone.
The independent practice, launched in early 2023 with 13 surgeons, is set to open an ambulatory surgery center in Dane County by early 2026. Details about the location will be shared this spring.
The group currently performs surgeries at several regional hospitals, including Beloit Memorial, Edgerton Hospital, and UnityPoint Health-Meriter, among others. Despite leaving SSM Health, some surgeons maintain privileges at its facilities in Madison, Janesville, and Baraboo.
The split occurred after disagreements with SSM Health administrators, who rejected Sansone’s proposal to establish a semi-independent orthopedic division within SSM Health Dean Medical Group. The group’s practice is now managed by Phoenix-based Healthcare Outcomes Performance.
In response, SSM Health has bolstered its orthopedic program, hiring new surgeons and planning a $60 million ambulatory surgery center in Sun Prairie, set to open this fall.
Legal battles remain unresolved. SSM Health’s lawsuit against Sansone and another surgeon, alleging contract violations, is ongoing. A countersuit by the surgeons was dismissed in 2023.
