What is Orthopedic Urgent Care?

When you have an injury to a bone, joint, or muscle – think a sprained ankle, broken wrist, sports injury, or joint pain – there is a specialized type of urgent care you can visit that offers specialized care and multiple treatment options in one place.

Zana Rashed, PA, specializes in orthopedics at our Orthopedic Urgent Care in Victor and explains why someone might seek out an orthopedic urgent care over a standard urgent care.

What is orthopedic urgent care?

Orthopedic urgent care is similar to a regular urgent care, but focuses only on orthopedic conditions and injuries.

Patients of all ages can walk in or schedule an appointment and be seen by an orthopedic specialist for many injuries or conditions, including:

• foot/ankle injuries
• fractures
• hand/wrist injuries
• knee injuries
• shoulder injuries
• spine/back pain
• sports injuries
• sprains or strains
• sudden joint pain

X-rays, as well as splints, casts, braces, boots, crutches and more, are also located within the center, so patients are able to come in, receive a diagnosis, have imaging done, and be fitted for any supports without needing to go elsewhere. Through the entire process, each patient is treated by an orthopedic specialist.

If any follow-up appointments for additional care or treatment are needed, patients can schedule them with the necessary provider through the orthopedic urgent care before leaving.

Benefits of orthopedic urgent care over urgent care or emergency department

Having orthopedic specialties available for specific injuries is very helpful, but there are other reasons why orthopedic urgent cares can make a stressful situation less challenging.

Shorter wait times: Patients at orthopedic urgent cares often wait less to be seen, especially compared to an emergency room. If you or the patient you are bringing might have a fracture, getting in quickly makes a big difference.

Specialized care: Urgent care providers see many types of acute and chronic health conditions and injuries, from colds to broken bones to chest pain. Orthopedic urgent care providers are all experts in specifically treating bones, joints, and muscles.

“For someone with a fracture at a regular urgent care, they would refer you to orthopedics,” Rashed said. “At an orthopedic urgent care, you are being seen by an orthopedist. So, if you need a cast or splint, you are being treated for that injury. All of it can be done in the same visit.”

Evaluation to treatment: Since orthopedic urgent cares have x-ray imaging and splinting, casting, and bracing available, you can be seen, diagnosed, and have the injury treated all in the same location.

No appointment needed: While you are welcome to schedule an appointment for sudden joint pain or an injury, our orthopedic urgent care allows for walk-in visits.

Extended hours: Orthopedic urgent care centers are open during regular business hours, as well as evenings and weekends. That can be helpful on saving time and reducing stress on parents.

When to visit orthopedic urgent care

Life hands us plenty of unexpected situations that might lead to medical care. Here are a few examples of what might lead you to visit an orthopedic urgent care.

• Feeling a tear or pop in your knee or shoulder during a pickup basketball game
• A sports injury on the field
• Tripping and falling at home with lingering hip pain
• Twisting your ankle in the garden and feeling pain & swelling
• Lifting a heavy object and feeling sudden sharp back pain

“You can come in from wherever you are,” Rashed said. “There is no need to already be a current patient with Rochester Regional Health.”