When Heather Kuklinksi’s 14-year-old son Rylan recently dislocated his pinky finger playing basketball, she knew just where to go, and it wasn’t a hospital emergency room or urgent care clinic, where there would almost certainly be a long wait and probable exposure to flu, strep and COVID-19, among other illnesses.
Instead, she took him to Ortho Stat, a new clinic recently established by Ortho Central (and located in the same location, at 3400 W. Tecumseh Road, Suite 101).
Fortunately, Heather had “inside” information on the new clinic: she is Ortho Central’s director of Operations!
“Ortho Stat is an orthopedic same-day clinic,” she said. “If you’ve a broken bone, or suspect it’s broken, if you’ve twisted your knee, or if you’ve hurt your elbow, we’re there to help, seven days a week, no appointment necessary.”
The clinic also will see patients suffering from closed fractures (when the bone does not break the skin), various sports-related injuries, sprains and strains, lacerations and cuts, swollen joints and work-related orthopedic injuries.
Heather noted that the idea for the clinic was borne out of the pandemic.
“When COVID hit, we knew we needed to think outside the box, to find a way to relieve some of the pressure at emergency rooms. And this winter, we were hit with a triple threat of flu, strep and COVID, and very sick people filling up our ERs, urgent care clinics and hospital rooms.
“When you come to Ortho Stat, you won’t have to expose yourself to these germs,” she added. “And you get the benefit of our extensive orthopedic experience in diagnosing, casting, splinting, and advanced imaging. We can also schedule all follow-up treatment before the patient leaves the clinic. It’s more economical and convenient, truly full service.”
Ortho Stat patients also save valuable time because, unlike at ERs and urgent care clinics, they won’t find long waiting lines. “We realize that injuries don’t always happen during business hours, so we have done everything possible to ensure Ortho Stat provides great care in a convenient setting,” Heather said.
Last but not least is the cost savings: ER visits are significantly more expensive than clinic visits.
Ortho Stat’s hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday–Friday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Ortho Stat accepts patients from age 2 up.
