Dr. James Barnes, M.D.
Contact & Location
928-854-3333
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86404
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
Brawley, CA 92227
Dr. Barnes performs more knee replacement procedures than 19% of orthopedic surgeons in California, based on 2024 Medicare claims volume.Derived from the state ranking shown on this page: #395 of 491 ranked knee surgeons in California.
About Dr. Barnes
Practice. Dr. James Barnes is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon practicing in Santa Monica, California. The latest annual CMS data records 16 knee replacements. That is #395 in California for knee replacement. A Medicare provider since 2012.
Trend. Dr. Barnes first appears in the Medicare data in 2024. With 1 year on record, the trend is still short.
National context. Among 6,612 knee replacement surgeons tracked nationally, 16 procedures is below the national average of 45. Medicare covers part of all joint replacements, so true volume is likely higher.
Local context. Santa Monica has 11 orthopedic surgeons in the current Medicare data. Comparing volume and procedure mix across them is one way to narrow a shortlist.
Verified Case Volume
Verified Medicare data is available for 1 year: 16 procedures in the most recent reporting year. A multi-year trend chart is shown once at least 3 years of data are available.
Verified Medicare Cases
How is this estimated?
Medicare Part B fee-for-service claims are one payer stream among several, and the share they represent differs by procedure. In 2024 it was 23% to 28% for knee replacement. Each verified count above is divided by its own procedure's range, and the results are added, to estimate total practice volume across all payers. The verified Medicare count is the definitive, audited figure; this is a range derived from published national volume projections, not a measurement, and an individual practice can sit well outside it: how these ranges are derived, and their sources.
How Dr. Barnes Compares
Procedure volume compared to the California state average.
Hospital Affiliations & Quality
Quality ratings and complication rates are hospital-level metrics from CMS Hospital Compare and do not reflect individual surgeon performance. Star ratings updated quarterly. Complication data covers a rolling 3-year period.
Patient Resources: Preparing for Knee Replacement
If you are considering knee replacement surgery, these evidence-based guides can help you prepare and recover:
An overview of current surgical approaches including robotic-assisted and minimally invasive techniques, implant options, and expected outcomes.
What to Expect on the Day of SurgeryA step-by-step walkthrough of your surgical day, from pre-op preparation through anesthesia, the procedure itself, and the first hours of recovery.
Nutrition and Recovery After Joint ReplacementHow protein intake, anti-inflammatory foods, hydration, and targeted supplements support bone healing and tissue repair after surgery.
Medicare Coverage for Joint ReplacementWhat Medicare Part A and Part B cover for joint replacement surgery, including hospital stays, surgeon fees, anesthesia, and physical therapy.
Knee Replacement Recovery Overview
Recovery timelines vary by patient, but here is a general overview of what to expect after knee replacement surgery:
Individual recovery varies based on overall health, age, and adherence to physical therapy. View full knee replacement recovery guide and product recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Barnes
How does Dr. Barnes's procedure volume compare to other California surgeons?
Dr. Barnes has performed 16 Medicare-verified joint replacement procedures. The California average is 68 procedures per surgeon. Medicare data captures roughly one-third of all joint replacements, so total volume may be higher. Dr. Barnes ranks #505 out of 613 orthopedic surgeons in California.
What types of joint replacement does Dr. Barnes perform?
Dr. Barnes's reported Medicare volume is focused on knee replacement, with 16 verified procedures. Some surgeons choose to concentrate on a single joint type to build deep procedural expertise.
Where is Dr. Barnes's practice located?
Dr. Barnes's current practice address is in Lake Havasu City, AZ. That address is the current practice address in Dr. Barnes's own CMS NPPES registry entry, which providers maintain themselves. The Medicare claims data used for the rankings on this page was billed from Santa Monica, California.
What does the Medicare data for Dr. Barnes represent?
The procedure counts shown are based on 2024 Medicare Part B fee-for-service claims data, published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare fee-for-service is only one payer stream, and the share of national volume it represents differs by procedure. In 2024 the share was 23% to 28% for knee replacement, which puts Dr. Barnes's total volume across all insurers at roughly 60 to 70 procedures against the 16 verified here. Those shares are derived from published national volume projections rather than quoted from a single publication, and they are estimates with real uncertainty. The OrthoProcedures methodology page shows the full derivation, the sources, and the limits at orthoprocedures.com/data-methodology.html.
Which hospitals is Dr. Barnes affiliated with?
According to CMS facility affiliation data, Dr. Barnes is affiliated with Havasu Regional Medical Center, La Paz Regional Hospital, Kingman Regional Medical Center. Dr. Barnes maintains hospital privileges across state lines, indicating a practice that serves patients in multiple states.
How does Dr. Barnes compare to other orthopedic surgeons in Santa Monica?
Among the 11 orthopedic surgeons in Santa Monica, Dr. Barnes ranks #11 by total Medicare procedure volume. The highest-volume surgeon in Santa Monica has 173 verified Medicare procedures.
What are the quality ratings for hospitals where Dr. Barnes practices?
Havasu Regional Medical Center (3 out of 5 CMS stars, hip/knee complication rate similar to national average); La Paz Regional Hospital (insufficient case volume for complication rate comparison); Kingman Regional Medical Center (4 out of 5 CMS stars, insufficient case volume for complication rate comparison). These are hospital-level quality metrics from CMS Hospital Compare and do not reflect individual surgeon outcomes.
Other Orthopedic Surgeons in Santa Monica, California
Dr. Barnes's 16 Medicare procedures are below the Santa Monica average of 86. The table below compares verified procedure volumes for orthopedic surgeons practicing in Santa Monica.
| Surgeon | Procedures | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Jeffrey Zarin | 173 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Umesh Bhagia | 156 | Hip, Knee, Shoulder |
| Dr. Michael Gerhardt | 105 | Hip |
| Dr. Alexandra Stavrakis | 69 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Kevin Ehrhart | 46 | Knee |
| Dr. Ryan Bennett | 34 | Knee |
Patient Resources & Verification
Research reviews, verify credentials, and check official quality data through these trusted sources:
Medicare Care Compare and NPI Registry are official U.S. government sources. Google reviews reflect user-submitted feedback. OrthoProcedures.com does not verify the accuracy of third-party review content.