Orthopedic Urgent Care or Emergency Room? - Covid-19 Update

In many ways, the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed us all to do better and be better. MD West ONE Orthopedic & Spine Urgent Care Center at Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest was established in 2020 out of necessity to reduce exposure of non-infected patients to Covid-19 in Nebraska's emergency rooms. Our orthopedic urgent care walk-in clinic became one of a kind as it provides full-service orthopedic care at a convenient location (160th & Dodge). We can give the Nebraskans timely, high-quality care while reducing costs associated with hospital emergency room visits. At the same time, our primary care and specialist doctors can ensure immediate continuity of care with same-day patient access to proper treatment of orthopedic conditions and injuries.

When to visit the Orthopedic Urgent Care?
Most orthopedic injuries, including hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder, are not life-threatening and can be safely treated by expert care at MD West ONE Orthopedic & Spine Urgent Care Center. These include:

• Sprains and strains
• Cuts and lacerations
• Closed fractures (you can't see the broken bone)
• Joint injuries
• Ligament tears
• Painful, swollen joints
• Pain due to acute injuries or chronic conditions 
• Sports injuries
• Cast or splint issues
• Work-related conditions and injuries

If, during an office visit with your primary care physician, he suspects an orthopedic condition or an orthopedic injury, he can call us directly with any questions regarding your symptoms. We can take care of you immediately in our walk-in orthopedic urgent care center or make an appointment for you with one of our orthopedic providers. Our goal is to give you the best medical care, experience and help reduce your discomfort as quickly as possible.

When to visit the Emergency Room for Orthopedic Injuries and Conditions?
Emergency rooms prioritize patients based on life-threatening injuries, which is the main reason for the long wait times. Think of a construction worker falling from a scaffold and breaking a hand. While a broken hand is not necessarily a life-threatening injury, a traumatic injury to the head and internal organs is life-threatening. It is common for an elderly patient with a broken hip to be initially evaluated in the emergency room for the same reasons. 

There are several orthopedic emergencies, which need immediate surgery and warrant a visit to the emergency room. They are:

1. Exposed or open fractures or joints - you can see the broken bone or a joint.
2. Numbness or tingling with skin color changes after injury 
3. Acute compartment syndrome - increased pressure within the muscles causing severe pain, which can occur after a fracture, muscle bruising, crush injuries, and anabolic steroid use. 
4. Joint infection - severe pain and swelling of a joint accompanied by fever and chills. ​

If you have any questions or need guidance on what to do, please don't hesitate to call MD West ONE Orthopedic Urgent Care Center at (402) 390-4110.

​We are here for you and will help you in any way possible.