One of two urology practices in Central Oregon, Bend Urology Associates will join the large multispecialty practice formerly known as BMC next year.

The acquisition is the first since BMC became Summit Medical Group Oregon-Bend Memorial Clinic in January. The four doctors and three physician assistants who form Bend Urology Associates will be joining a practice with more than 120 providers and 30 specialties.

That means Bend Urology Associates will have more support for the business side of the practice, and patients will see better coordination with oncology and nephrology providers, Drs. Meredith Baker of Bend Urology and Russell Massine of Summit-BMC said.

“We will be maintaining the same continuity of care, hopefully delivering a higher level of care,” Baker said. “We will be really amplifying what we’ll be able to deliver to patients.”

Summit-BMC has been looking to expand it services, including in urology, said Massine, chief governance officer. The doctors at Summit-BMC and Bend Urology already had positive working relationships, he said. “It was an opportune time to approach them and build a more formal relationship.”

Bend Urology has been in existence since 1964, Baker said, but it has recently seen changes. One doctor retired after 30 years and was replaced by Dr. Matt Ashley more than a year ago, she said. Baker and her other two partners, Drs. Brian O’Hollaren and Nora Takla, have been with the practice for more than a decade.

Demand for urology services is high and comes from a wide range of patients, from newborns to 100-year-olds, Baker said. Trying to keep up with all the changes in private insurance, the Affordable Care Act and Medicare absorbs a lot of the doctors’ time and resources, she said.

Bend Memorial Clinic was already the largest independent medical practice in the region when it partnered with Summit Health Management, based in New Jersey. Summit began providing administrative, clinical and financial management services to the practice Jan. 1.

Bend Urology, which has offices in Bend and Redmond, will keep its name until after the acquisition is closed, and switch to Summit-BMC’s moniker, Summit-BMC spokeswoman Lindsey Petersen said.

— Reporter: 541-617-7860, kmclaughlin@bendbulletin.com