The Orthopaedic Immediate Care was founded to meet the emergency needs of families and individuals with acute orthopaedic injuries in Palos Hills and the surrounding communities. The clinic is located at MidAmerica Orthopaedics, 10330 S. Roberts Rd., Palos Hills.

Anyone who has been injured has dealt with long waits in the emergency room, ultimately to be referred back to a primary care physician and then, if necessary, referred to a specialist for definitive care and surgery. This is very time consuming and not cost efficient.

What if the system could be streamlined? Clearly, the important aspects are to be seen immediately by the specialist and to avoid the other points along the health care continuum.
 
“Immediate care” is a unique concept in medicine. It means anyone with an injury can receive prompt medical attention, appropriate testing including X-ray and/or open MRI, a diagnosis, on-the-spot treatment and a continuing care plan in one visit and immediately following the injury. 

This is now possible. A patient can be seen directly by the specialist at the time of his or her injury.

“Orthopaedic injuries and conditions are one area that’s amenable to this type of medical care,” said Gary Kronen, M.D., a physician with MidAmerica Orthopaedics. “In the majority of circumstances, it is not necessary for the individual to be treated in a hospital emergency room.”

The physicians of MidAmerica Orthopaedics in Palos Hills are taking this new approach to healthcare and are at the forefront of changing the way in which healthcare is provided.

Should a procedure or surgery be required, it can be performed at the Immediate Care Clinic at the time of the visit or promptly scheduled. There is no need for additional referrals since the patient is seeing the orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians at the time of their visit.

Examples of orthopaedic conditions treated include:

• fractures, sprains, dislocations, lacerations
• sports injuries
• work injuries
• hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries
• knee, leg, ankle and foot injuries
• neck and back injuries

“Our goal is to minimize the time from the patient’s injury to establishing a diagnosis and instituting a plan of treatment,” Dr. Kronen said. “Definitive care can often be undertaken at the first visit such as casting for a fracture or repair of lacerated tendons.”

Doctors at MidAmerica Orthopaedics believe that facilitating prompt care, reducing waiting times, and providing for definitive care will return patients much earlier to their full level of function, reduce the amount of time which they spend obtaining medical care, while reducing the overall costs to both the patient and our healthcare system.

“By restructuring the way in which care can be provided for acute injuries, we are seeing something quite new and exciting,” Dr. Kronen said. “This is change we can all believe in.”

Hours are:

• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday – Friday
• 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays
• Specialists are available after hours by calling 708-237-7200.

For more information, call 708-237-7200 or visit: http://www.midamericaortho.com.