Clinical Resource: Expert Orthopaedic Care Without the Wait | Sean Parham, M.D.

Hey, if you haven’t heard the news,  UAMS Health has launched a walk-in clinic that provides expert care for orthopaedic  patients ages 12 and up. It’s called OrthoNow. Dr. Sean Parham is an orthopaedic surgeon who  specializes in foot and ankle injuries. He’s here to explain how this new service helps  patients avoid long emergency room waits. Thank you for being here—great to see you! This is such a brilliant idea. Orthopaedic injuries can happen any time of day, and usually, we end up in  the ER, waiting for hours. Yeah, and if you look at the numbers, about 70% of all primary care visits are  for musculoskeletal complaints. It’s not just the ER—primary care  doctors are overwhelmed, too. That’s why opening this clinic  has been a real game-changer. Right. And in the ER, those doctors are  seeing everything—from colds to chest pain. But when you’ve got a sprain  or a fracture, it’s better to see someone who specializes in that area. Exactly. When it comes to hands, feet, hips, and  knees, you really need an orthopaedic surgeon. At OrthoNow, that’s who you’ll see from the start. I’ve got two teenage sons who’ve had sports  injuries, and we didn’t always know where to go. This is perfect—especially since you’re  not just open during office hours. That’s the thing. Life doesn’t  stop when you’re injured. You still have to work, take care of your family. And kids’ games often happen in the evenings. Instead of waiting all night or sitting in the ER  for hours, you can come see us from 4 to 8 p.m. And you’ve got Saturday hours too? We do! Every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. So if you’re hurt under the Friday night  lights, we’re here for you the next morning. Sometimes you think an injury’s no big deal, but by morning, it’s swollen, bruised, and painful. You really need to be seen. Absolutely. A lot of what we see at OrthoNow is foot and ankle related. I’d say about 50% of visits are for things like stubbed toes, sprains, or fractures. Feet are how we move through the world—even just at home—so injuries are common. Let’s talk again about the  hours, just to be specific. We’re open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to  8 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. We have full-time staff,  X-ray, and even access to CT

and MRI right here in the same building. In most cases, we can schedule those the next day. That’s amazing. And the first  doctor you see is the right one. Exactly. One of the biggest  issues in healthcare is trying to navigate between providers. Here, everything is in-house.

If I’m not the one treating you, I know  who is—and I can get you to them quickly. You know a guy? I know a lot of them! We’re so glad you’re here. Thank you, Dr. Sean Parham. If you need orthopaedic care on your schedule, OrthoNow at The Orthopaedic and Spine  Hospital at UAMS Health is the place to go.