Lakewalk Surgery Center

What Lakewalk Surgery Center does

Lakewalk Surgery Center is an independent outpatient ambulatory surgery center (ASC) founded in 1998 and headquartered at 1420 London Road, Suite 100, Duluth, Minnesota, on the shore of Lake Superior. The facility provides same-day surgical services across eight specialties: orthopaedics and podiatry, plastic and reconstructive surgery, gastroenterology, pediatric dentistry, ophthalmology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, general surgery, and anesthesia/pain management. Lakewalk operates an open-credentialing model in which any credentialed physician may utilize its surgical suites, and it maintains partnerships with regional practices including Orthopaedic Associates of Duluth, Northland Plastic Surgery, Northland Gastroenterology, Eversmiles, Weis Eye Center, Relf EyeCare Specialists, Northern Oral Surgery and Implant Center, Blue Water Oral and Facial Surgery, Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota, and the Pain Clinic of Lake Superior. The center is AAAHC-accredited and Medicare/Medicaid-certified, and it differentiates on lower facility fees (approximately one-third below hospital outpatient pricing), private rooms, high staff-to-patient ratios, and fast scheduling.

The center's core technology footprint centers on the Mako SmartRobotics platform for robotic-arm assisted total and partial knee and total hip arthroplasty, which uses 3D CT-based planning and AccuStop haptic boundaries to constrain bone resection. Lakewalk has performed 1,300+ total joint procedures between January 2020 and March 2023 and 201,000+ procedures in total over its 25+ year history. Supporting technology integrations include Patient Notebook for online bill payment and CareCredit for patient financing; anesthesia professional services are provided by North Shore Anesthesia.

Revenue is generated through per-procedure facility fees billed to insurance carriers (the center is an authorized provider for most carriers, plus Medicare and Medicaid), with self-pay patients offered good-faith estimates and CareCredit-financed payment plans. Insurance settlement cycles run 20-45 days. Marketing and patient acquisition rely on a physician-referral-led GTM motion supplemented by content marketing via the company blog, an active Facebook presence, community sponsorships, and patient-to-patient referrals. The center serves the Duluth/Northland region of Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin, and there is no disclosed ownership change, investor backing, or expansion outside the current single-site footprint.

Name

Lakewalk Surgery Center

Legal name

Lakewalk Surgery Center

Website

https://lakewalk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Lakewalk Surgery Center is an independent, AAAHC-accredited ambulatory surgery center in Duluth, Minnesota, providing same-day multi-specialty outpatient procedures including orthopaedics, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, and robotic joint replacement to patients across the Northland region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ambulatory Surgical Services

NAICS

Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers (621493), Outpatient Care Centers (6214)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Specialty Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) (HLAFAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Orthopedic & Spine Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAG), Ophthalmology Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAF), Plastics / Cosmetic & Dermatologic Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAK)

Keywords

• Ambulatory surgery center
• Outpatient surgical services
• Joint replacement surgery
• Multi-specialty surgery
• Robotic-assisted surgery

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Facility Charges: Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) facility charges covering operating room use, equipment, supplies, nursing staff, technicians, and other overhead costs. This replaces hospital charges for outpatient procedures.
2. Insurance Reimbursement: Authorized provider for most insurance carriers; Medicare and Medicaid certified. Bills filed with insurance companies on behalf of patients. Insurance settlement typically takes 20-45 days.
3. Self-Pay / Out-of-Pocket: Provides good faith estimates for uninsured or self-pay patients. Offers CareCredit healthcare credit card and monthly payment plans through approved payment arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lakewalk Surgery Center is an independent outpatient ambulatory surgery center (ASC) that provides multi-specialty surgical services including orthopaedics and podiatry, plastic and reconstructive surgery, gastroenterology, pediatric dentistry, ophthalmology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, general surgery, and anesthesia and pain management. The facility performs over 201,000 procedures, including total joint replacements and robotic-arm assisted procedures using Mako SmartRobotics technology. It is AAAHC accredited, Medicare- and Medicaid-certified, and serves patients across the Twin Ports region of Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Product overview

Lakewalk Surgery Center is an independent outpatient ambulatory surgery center (ASC) offering multi-specialty surgical services. The core offering includes eight primary service lines: Orthopaedics & Podiatry, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Gastroenterology, Pediatric Dentistry, Ophthalmology, Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery, General Surgery, and Anesthesia/Pain Management. The center specializes in joint replacement procedures, with both traditional total joint replacement and robotic-arm assisted surgery using Mako SmartRobotics technology for knee, hip, and partial knee replacements. Additional services include varicose vein treatments. The facility operates as an independent center where credentialed physicians from various practices can utilize the surgical suites, with partnerships including Orthopaedic Associates of Duluth, Northland Plastic Surgery, Northland Gastroenterology, Eversmiles, Weis Eye Center, Relf EyeCare Specialists, Northern Oral Surgery and Implant Center, Blue Water Oral and Facial Surgery, Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota, and Pain Clinic of Lake Superior.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orthopaedics & Podiatry Services Orthopaedic care including total joint replacements, minimally invasive surgeries, spine and neck care, sports medicine, foot and ankle treatments, and general orthopaedics performed by board-certified surgeons from Orthopaedic Associates of Duluth.
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Services Full range of cosmetic and reconstructive services including an on-site full-service Skin Care Center, provided by Northland Plastic Surgery.
• Gastroenterology Services Digestive health and endoscopy services combining state-of-the-art technology with gentle care, provided by Northland Gastroenterology.
• Pediatric Dentistry Services Dental care for children from infants through adolescents, provided by Eversmiles dental practice.
• Ophthalmology Services State-of-the-art surgical eye care including diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, cataracts, and other medical and surgical eye diseases, provided by Weis Eye Center and Relf EyeCare Specialists.
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Services Oral and maxillofacial surgery managing problems relating to the mouth, teeth, and facial regions, including extractions, corrective jaw surgery, bone grafting, and dental implant procedures, provided by Northern Oral Surgery and Implant Center and Blue Water Oral and Facial Surgery.
• General Surgery Services General surgical procedures performed by independent surgeons with experience in both traditional and robotic surgery, including hernia repair, gallbladder removal, and other outpatient procedures, provided by Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota.
• Anesthesia & Pain Management Services Chronic and acute pain management services and anesthesia administration provided by Pain Clinic of Lake Superior and North Shore Anesthesia.
• Total Joint Replacement Total joint replacement surgery for knee, hip, and shoulder joints with over 1,300 procedures performed from January 2020 through March 2023, including total hip, total knee, and total shoulder arthroplasty.
• Robotic Joint Replacement (Mako SmartRobotics) Robotic-arm assisted joint replacement utilizing Mako SmartRobotics technology for total knee, partial knee, and total hip procedures, enabling more predictable surgical experiences with 3D CT-based planning software.
• Varicose Vein Treatment Minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins and venous hypertension, including sclerotherapy, endovenous thermal ablation (laser or radiofrequency), microphlebectomy, and VenaSeal procedures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,300+ total joint procedures performed from January 1, 2020 through March 30, 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orthopaedic Associates of DuluthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard-certified orthopaedic surgeons specializing in total joint replacements, minimally invasive surgeries, spine and neck care, sports medicine, foot and ankle, and general orthopaedics. Orthopaedic Associates of Duluth offers comprehensive orthopaedic care in Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin at Lakewalk Surgery Center. Practicing physicians include Michael Momont M.D., Joshua Rother M.D., Glen H. Rudolph M.D., and Katherine Schnell D.P.M.
• Northland Plastic SurgerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent practice providing a full range of cosmetic and reconstructive services with an onsite full-service Skin Care Center. Practicing physicians include Dean Weber M.D., Thomas Rishavy M.D., and Dr. Ameya Chumble M.D.
• Northland GastroenterologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading gastroenterology practice combining state-of-the-art technology with gentle care to provide patients with the best digestive health and endoscopy services. Practicing physician: Daniel McKee M.D.
• EversmilescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPediatric dental practice specializing in dental care for children from infants through adolescents. Dentists include Kelly Plote DDS, Allison Robinson DMD, Abby Johnson DDS, Kimberly Rostvold DDS, and Hannah Rutten DMD.
• Weis Eye CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard-certified ophthalmologist Jeffrey R. Weis M.D. provides state-of-the-art surgical eye care, diagnosing and treating medical and surgical eye diseases like glaucoma and cataracts.
• Relf EyeCare SpecialistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard-certified ophthalmologists and optometrists providing comprehensive eye exams and specialized eye care services. Physicians include Lisa Graham M.D., Todd Brittain D.O., and Sam Kuchinka M.D.
• Northern Oral Surgery and Implant CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons managing wide variety of problems relating to mouth, teeth, and facial regions. Almost 100 years of combined experience. Surgeons include Marty Espe DDS, Peter Mayer MD, DDS, Timothy Morse DDS, Duncan Puffer DDS, Benjamin Heggestad MD, DDS, and Mark Ash DDS.
• Blue Water Oral and Facial SurgerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOral and facial surgery practice encompassing extractions, corrective jaw surgery, bone grafting and dental implant procedures. Surgeons include Scott K. Varland DDS, Nathan A. Jarnot DDS, MD, and Eric B. Scotland DDS.
• Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. John Bollins D.O. provides general surgery services with experience in trauma critical care surgery and general surgery since 2007. Specializes in both traditional and robotic surgery that minimizes healing time and recovery pain. Also treats varicose vein disease.
• Pain Clinic of Lake SuperiorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated pain management professionals helping address chronic and acute pain. Practicing physicians/CRNAs include Christopher Davies M.D., Neil Anderson CRNA, Albert Pitoscia CRNA, Colleen Kloehn CRNA, Jesse Stokke CRNA, Sarah Solomon CRNA, Hal Heyer M.D., Luke Borchardt CRNA, Shylee Preston CRNA, and Andrew Ballard CRNA.
• North Shore AnesthesiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnesthesia provider for professional fees related to anesthesiologist/CRNA services during surgery. Contact for anesthesia billing inquiries: (800) 766-4102.
• Gillette Children'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation partner specializing in pediatric medicine for brain, bone, and movement conditions requiring specialized expertise. Has served patients for 125 years.
• Fall General SurgerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. George Fall provides general surgery services and is partnered with Lakewalk for varicose vein disease treatment using latest techniques.
• Palisade Direct Primary CareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDr. Jay Allen's clinic destroyed by fire two weeks before opening. Lakewalk Surgery Center is providing temporary exam space while Dr. Allen continues serving patients through telehealth and in-home visits. Community support partnership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• PE GI Solutions: An ASC management company specializing in gastroenterology endoscopy centers with physician partnerships. Comparable as an ASC partner model, though narrower in specialty focus than Lakewalk's multi-specialty platform.
• ASD Management: A Nashville-based ASC management and consulting firm that operates and develops single- and multi-specialty surgery centers. Comparable for serving independent physician-owned ASCs with similar operational, billing, and credentialing support.

Broad incumbents

• United Surgical Partners International (USPI): A leading ambulatory surgery facility provider and a subsidiary of Tenet Healthcare. Comparable because it operates short-stay surgery centers across multiple specialties with an open-credentialing/physician-partner model very similar to Lakewalk's approach.
• Surgery Partners: A publicly traded owner and operator of surgical facilities, including short-stay surgical hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Comparable for its multi-specialty ASC platform, orthopedic focus, and physician-partnership GTM motion.
• SCA Health (Surgical Care Affiliates / Optum): One of the largest multi-specialty ASC operators in the U.S., now part of Optum/UnitedHealth Group. Comparable because it runs independent-style multi-specialty ASCs serving similar case mix (orthopedics, GI, ophthalmology, ENT, general surgery), though at vastly greater scale and with a national footprint.
• AmSurg: National operator of ambulatory surgery centers with deep GI and multi-specialty exposure, now part of Envision/KKR portfolio. Comparable because its ASCs serve similar outpatient case mix (GI endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopedics) and rely on physician partner networks.

Direct peers

• Regent Surgical Health: An ASC management and development company that partners with hospitals and physicians to operate multi-specialty ambulatory surgery centers. Comparable for the open-credentialing, multi-specialty operating model and physician co-investment structure.
• Compass Surgical Partners: An ASC management partner focused on developing and operating outpatient surgery centers with surgeon and hospital partners. Comparable for the multi-specialty ASC operating model and partnership-driven growth approach in regional markets.

Regional players

• St. Luke's (St. Luke's Hospital, Duluth): A Duluth-based regional health system offering hospital-based and outpatient surgical services in the Twin Ports. Comparable as a regional competitor for outpatient surgical volume in the same Duluth/Northland market.
• Essentia Health (Duluth region): A large regional health system headquartered in Duluth, MN with hospital and outpatient facilities across the same Northland service area as Lakewalk. Comparable as a competing outpatient surgery provider in the same geography, though structured as an integrated health system rather than an independent ASC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LakewalkSurgeryCenter

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lakewalk Surgery Center