JULES VUOTTO
Lower Bucks
By Dr. Menachem M. Meller, M.D., Ph.D., FAAOS
Spring has finally arrived and with it showers, flowers and orthopedic injuries. With the COVID-19 virus still upon us, care options have changed.
Along with the masks comes curbside urgent care evaluations, mid-level providers, and telehealth audio and visual consultations. Primary care referrals, typically the first gateway towards treatment, may not be readily available.
Along with these newer approaches to access basic musculoskeletal care comes new obstacles. An injury to an extremity may get evaluated by a general health care practitioner who does basic x-rays, splinting, and triage. Often times, the work-up is done outside of the mainstream electronic medical record and the diagnostic images are sent on CDs with non-mainstream software. When these are presented to an orthopedist, some of the basic information may not be accessible. Attempting to obtain this additional information by phone can also be challenging.
Fortunately, basic health care options still exist and can be accessed. Local community hospitals, such as Lower Bucks Hospital, still have all the central components for comprehensive musculoskeletal evaluations and minimizing some of the obstacles listed.
Essential components include access to the emergency department, treatment by musculoskeletal physicians and a comprehensive group of mainstream tests which can provide appropriate diagnosis. This results in the fastest and most complete resolution.
The advantages of modern electronic medical records (EMR) are that each of the team members has access and can share information. Patient information includes the chief complaint and reason for seeking care, any previous relevant medical history (including prior hospital admissions) and medical injury reconciliation, as they may be relevant to the current injury.
The frontline physicians can work quickly when they have the resources available to fully evaluate an injury. Along with basic tools utilized both by the emergency department and the orthopedic surgeons’ diagnostic imaging, correct diagnoses can be made using diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests that provide anatomical detail of the bones and the hard and the soft tissues.
Lower Bucks Hospital is fortunate to have such a comprehensive team with the appropriate tools. Routine x-rays are basic studies used in finding fractures or broken bones. Occasionally painful swelling may be a manifestation of an illness rather than the injury and tests such as ultrasounds or MRIs may provide critical information in the right circumstances. Certain types of injuries are more subtle and require invasive types of treatments, such as drainage of fluid from the joint or soft tissues. Joint injections may be needed to evaluate injuries such as labral tears in the shoulder or hip.
Once a diagnosis is established, advanced care may be needed quickly to minimize the time interval from injury onset of symptoms until resolution. This type of care is time tested, Covid resistant and in the best interest of each and every individual who trusts us with his or her care.
Dr. Menachem M. Meller, M.D., Ph.D., FAAOS is an orthopedic surgeon practicing at Lower Bucks Hospital. For more information about Dr. Meller, visit www.lowerbuckshosp.com/find-a-provider/menachem-m-meller-md. To schedule an appointment, call one of our convenient locations or visit us online. Lower Bucks 215-785-9818; Town Center Drive, Langhorne 267-789-2074.