Phoenix, Ariz. - Banner Health and The CORE Institute have expanded their partnership to offer a unique, state-of-the-art, academic and research-focused clinic called the Orthopedic & Spine Institute. The Orthopedic & Spine Institute is a multi-specialty musculoskeletal clinic located on the campus of Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix. This new clinic location will initially be staffed with The CORE Institute physicians, as well as faculty from the Orthopedic Department of the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix.

This new branch of the Banner CORE Center for Orthopedics joint venture will provide patients with access to orthopedic care in Downtown Phoenix, focusing on academic care from leading experts in Arizona, and will continue to recruit best-in-class clinicians and researchers dedicated to improving musculoskeletal care and patient outcomes..

“Because of the existing relationship with The CORE Institute and Banner, developing an academic-based clinic was a natural opportunity,” said Dr. Steve Narang, chief executive officer of Banner University Medical Center – Phoenix. “The Orthopedic & Spine Institute is highly aligned providing access to research and innovations from the University of Arizona, and will demonstrate a commitment to quality outcomes and improved patient experience.”

“Innovation and learning are at the forefront of The CORE Institute’s mission and this new partnership,” said David J. Jacofsky, MD, CEO of The CORE Institute. “More and more patients will continue to seek academic experts in medicine as robotics, bioscience, genomics and research become more integral to healthcare delivery. Academic centers, such as Banner – University Medical Center, will allow The CORE Institute to position our physician faculty, researchers and staff to continue to lead in orthopedic and spine surgery and to continue to be recognized among the best in the country. We are excited for this change and look forward to continued expansion in the future.”

Working together, The CORE Institute and Banner Health have experienced great success in their orthopedic co-management partnership over the last five years. Banner Health and CORE launched the first joint venture, the Banner CORE Center for Orthopedics, at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City West in 2011. Objective improvements in outcomes, value, and efficiencies led to expansion of the program at additional sites. The Banner CORE Center for Orthopedics has since grown to also include Banner – University Medical Center in Phoenix, Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa and Banner Estrella Medical Center in West Phoenix, and now Banner Boswell Medical Center, Banner Baywood Medical Center, Banner Ironwood Medical Center and Banner Casa Grande Medical Center.  The new Orthopedic & Spine Institute is the first outpatient clinic in the Banner CORE Center for Orthopedics co-management partnership and is the natural next step to continuously optimize patient outcomes in an inpatient, outpatient and now outpatient clinic setting.

The CORE Institute delivers integrated, comprehensive musculoskeletal and neurological care. The CORE Institute is built upon a foundation of pioneering research, academics, community service, and a passion for excellence in patient care. The CORE Institute has locations in Arizona and Michigan, with clinics planned to open in other states, as well as overseas, in the near future. The organization continues to be a leader in payor-reform initiatives, and it is at the forefront of systems-based quality programs which drive value and improve the quality of patient care.

The CORE Institute's fellowship-trained physicians provide specialized care in the areas of surgical, non-surgical and rehabilitative hip, knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle procedures, joint replacement, sports medicine, arthroscopy, fracture management, orthopedic traumatology, hand and wrist procedures, complex articular cartilage restoration, musculoskeletal oncology, foot and ankle reconstruction, physical medicine and rehabilitation, comprehensive spine care, pain management, clinical neurophysiology, epilepsy, headache and facial pain, neuromuscular medicine, spine and peripheral nerve disease, clinical neuroimmunology, multiple sclerosis and general neurology care.

Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 28 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, academic and employed physician groups, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services; including Banner Urgent Care, family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming.