by Annette Pinder
When Mary sustained a wrist injury, it took hours before she was finally told it was broken at the local emergency room (ER). Instead of being treated immediately, she had to wait several more days for an appointment with an orthopaedic specialist. Mary didn’t know that she could have skipped the hassle of the ER and gone to an orthopaedic urgent care provider, where she would have been diagnosed and treated by an orthopaedic specialist just minutes from her home.
I spoke with David Pula, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon and Medical Director of Excelsior Orthopaedics Express (Excelsior Express). Dr. Pula explained that Excelsior Express offers patients immediate care and treatment for acute orthopaedic injuries, such as sprains, strains, and breaks.
If you, or a loved one, experience an orthopaedic injury (sudden injury to a muscle, bone, tendon, ligament, or joint) that requires prompt or emergency care, Excelsior Express sees patients as young as two years old. Best of all, patients can skip the hassle of an ER and get the care they need from an orthopaedic expert much more quickly.
Dr. Pula says, “Unlike traditional urgent care centers or emergency departments, Excelsior Express is specifically designed to focus only on musculoskeletal care, allowing patients to get the specialized care they need faster, and without a referral.” As a result, he believes that whether a patient suffers a sprain, strain, fracture, tendon tear, or shoulder injury, Excelsior Express is an ideal choice for their care.
In addition to offering patients immediate access to care for an acute injury, Excelsior Express also offers onsite X-ray, MRI, and durable medical equipment, such as crutches and braces. “It is truly one stop shopping,” said Dr. Pula. He adds, “We take pride in being able to offer patients both comprehensive care and convenient access.” To streamline the process, patients are strongly encouraged to schedule their visit online at www.excelsiorortho.com/express-care. Scheduling online is helpful because the website will prompt you to answer some questions to make sure your injury can be treated at Express.
While Excelsior Express is the ideal choice for many orthopaedic injuries, it is not always the ideal choice for certain injuries that may be more serious and require more comprehensive care. These include open wounds and animal bites; compound fractures with bone visible through the skin; any trauma to the head, neck, back, or hip; suspected broken ribs; warm, swollen, and painful joint and/or hand conditions that are not the result of trauma; and injuries older than 14 days.
Since the providers at Excelsior Express understand that injuries and accidents don’t always occur at a convenient time, their urgent care clinics are open from 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday, and the Amherst location has extended hours from 8 am to 9 pm Monday through Friday, and Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. Appointments are encouraged to reduce wait time, but walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment call 716-245-7209 or schedule one online at www.excelsiorortho.com/express-care.
