East-side orthopedic group to expand with new 47,000-square-foot building

Advanced Orthopedic Associates, a physician-owned practice, is about to break ground on a new 47,000-square-foot building just east of its current practice at 2778 N. Webb Road.

“We’re building a whole new facility,” said executive director Amanda Ermey.

The current practice is in 36,000 square feet, including a basement business office. Though 47,000 square feet may not sound like a lot more, Ermey said it will make a big difference.

“We’re building more for efficiency.”

She said there will be less open space and less unnecessary movement around the practice.

“Our goal is to have 10 physicians in clinic a day. Currently, we can only accommodate seven.”

The goal is to have 50 exam rooms, or five per physician.

“That allows us to see more patients in a day,” Ermey said.

There are 18 providers now. Ermey said there needs to be room for a total of 20 physicians.

“We are going to be doing some recruiting in the next couple of years.”

The practice started in 1995 and has had a few different names and addresses.

It offers a variety of orthopedic treatments, including sports medicine, total joint replacement and treatment for upper extremities, feet and ankles. There are no pediatrics or spine treatments.

Advanced Orthopedic Associates has been in its current space since 2002. In, 2012, it sold the building to Ascension Via Christi and has been renting since then.

Partners have been discussing building a new facility for a few years.

“We really can’t fit any more physicians in this building — or staff,” Ermey said.

The new building will include a 9,500-square-foot physical therapy suite that Ascension will rent and manage.

“So it’s connected to our building, but it’s totally separate,” Ermey said.

The practice used to offer physical therapy years ago, and she said that’s something its physicians wanted to bring back through Ascension.

“We have a really great relationship with them.”

The practice also is adding an MRI suite.

There’s an extremity MRI machine now, but the practice will have a full MRI machine at the new building. Ermey said there’s been no decision on whether that will be an open or closed MRI.

Dirt work will begin in the next few weeks, and the building should be ready by about March 2023.