Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute Inc. sent a notice to state and local officials March 31 saying it is laying off 153 people as it closes six Northeast Florida locations and cuts employment at three others.

The layoffs and closings come about as 11 JOI physicians have decided to move into other organizations.

However, 13 physicians will stay with JOI, which is part of the Baptist Health system.

JOI will restructure in the coming months.

In 2011, Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute sold its stock to Baptist Health. A group of JOI physicians agreed to repurchase the stock and return to operating as an independent practice once the transaction closes in approximately 90 days, according to Baptist Health. The buyback process has been underway for “some time.”

“JOI has been working toward buying back its stock and returning to an independent practice,” JOI Executive Director John Ricchini, said in response to questions from the Daily Record via email.

“This transition will allow JOI to operate with greater autonomy and flexibility.”

• JOI is also closing a physicians’ office at 13534 Old St. Augustine Road.

Those layoffs will be done in two waves, one between May 30 and June 13 and the second between June 30 and July 14.

The letter was sent to the Florida Department of Commerce and to Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Chair Krista Joseph and Clay County Board of County Commissioners Chair Betsy Condon.

“It’s our understanding and hope that this transition will increase access to care in the long run and that most jobs eliminated in the short term will eventually be reabsorbed into the entities that emerge from the restructuring,” said Deegan administration Chief Communications Officer Phil Perry.

Physicians leaving JOI will not be ostracized or blackballed by the hospital, Ricchini said.

“Like the many other independent physician groups in our community, Baptist Health will partner with these physicians to provide accessible, affordable, high-quality orthopedic care to the community.”

Patients will be informed of their doctor’s decision concerning remaining with JOI.

“Patients may continue to see their current physicians. If their physician remains with JOI, they do not need to do anything. If their physician joins another practice, they will be notified. JOI is working with physicians joining another practice to transfer records to those new practices. Patients always have the right to request that JOI transfer their medical records to their doctor’s new practice.”

In past seasons, JOI had been the Jacksonville Jaguars’ official orthopedic caregiver through its agreement with Baptist Health as the team’s official health care provider.

For the 2025-26 season, UF Health Jacksonville is the team’s official health care partner, according to Jaguars Director of Business Communications Lyndsay Rossman.

The team will retain a partnership with Baptist Health by naming Wolfson Children’s Hospital as the Jaguars’ official children’s hospital, she said.

The change in partners had nothing to do with the JOI restructuring, Rossman said.

The change in health care partners may not mean much to players.

“By law, the team cannot force any of the players to use the services of our partners,” she said.

The Jaguars declined to speak to the length and terms of the new UF Health Jacksonville agreement.

“We will continue to foster relationships that promote our collective role as leaders in orthopedic care, ensure services are available throughout the region, and provide consistent quality at all our locations,” Ricchinni said.

“Baptist Health has recently established Baptist Orthopedics in Clay County, with plans to grow the practice in Nassau County by fall 2025. As a result, patients will have more options to choose from for convenient quality orthopedic care.”