09:51 ET USOP Names Johnson & Johnson Its Official Vendor for Total Joint Products

, /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Orthopaedic Partners (USOP) announced a strategic agreement today with Johnson & Johnson to make the medtech solutions giant its official vendor for total joint products. The agreement is projected to deliver immediate, meaningful value for the platform as it continues to elevate clinical quality and patient outcomes. Clinical Quality Was the Overriding CriterionFrom day one, clinical performance and long-term outcomes were the non-negotiable drivers of this decision. USOP's Physician Board led the evaluation, requiring head-to-head clinical reviews and outcomes benchmarking, and every selected product met rigorous performance and durability standards before receiving final sign-off. "This was first and foremost about clinical quality," said Stephen W. Samelson, MD, president of Southern Orthopaedic Surgeons, and chair of both the USOP Board of Directors and USOP Physician Board. "We tested, evaluated, and validated the products, then chose what we believe will result in the best care for our patients, as well as significant value for our practices." Physician Leadership, Measurable Value, and Operational EfficiencyThis physician-led initiative demonstrates the unique ability of a physician-led MSO to align practicing surgeons, practice leadership, and investor partners around a shared objective: improve clinical outcomes while reducing cost. Standardizing implants and related supplies for total joint procedures across USOP's platform enables more efficient contracting, simplified logistics, and savings that can be reinvested into patient care and practice operations. Importantly, this agreement includes access to Johnson & Johnson's latest innovations, including the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution, ensuring USOP surgeons have the most advanced tools and technology from a renowned medtech leader. Incorporating these next-generation solutions was a key part of the surgeon-led evaluation process, and underscores USOP's commitment to pairing value with cutting-edge clinical capability. "This agreement shows what happens when physician leadership, operational expertise, and investor support are truly aligned," said Steve Holtzclaw, MD, MBA, CEO of USOP. "Too often, the promise of MSOs — value through scale and clinical alignment — never fully materializes, but we got it done. We're proud of the patient-first decisions our doctors made, and of the financial headroom this creates to reinvest in care for our communities." Key benefits of the agreement include: Clinical-first selection: Products chosen based on rigorous surgeon-led testing, performance benchmarks, and real-world outcomes. Immediate and long-term cost value: Expected to free up millions annually for technology investments and programs that benefit patients and communities. Operational efficiencies: Simplified supply chains, consolidated purchasing, and streamlined inventory management across the USOP platform. Physician-led oversight: Ongoing outcomes monitoring led by practicing surgeons to ensure performance standards are met. USOP recognizes the change management required for vendor standardization and has supported the transition with physician-led evaluation sessions and targeted training to ensure clinical confidence with the selected products. These products will begin rolling out at USOP practices starting next week. About U.S. Orthopaedic Partners (USOP) USOP is a physician-led orthopedic MSO that partners with elite orthopedic practices across the Southeast to deliver operational excellence, clinical innovation, and improved patient outcomes and access. USOP supports ASC development, practice growth, and data-driven performance improvement to help practices thrive in an evolving healthcare landscape. Learn more at us-orthopartners.com. SOURCE U.S. Orthopaedic Partners