Skip the ER and schedule an urgent appointment with a Board Certified, Fellowship-Trained Orthopedic Surgeon near you!
Save time, money, and additional recovery time by scheduling an appointment with Ronak Mukesh Patel, MD
Urgent Appointments Available for Acute Orthopedic Injuries
Dr. Ronak Mukesh Patel is the best choice for any emergency requiring immediate orthopedic care by ensuring you see a board certified, fellowship-trained Orthopedic Surgeon. It will save you time, money, and additional recovery time. When you go to an Emergency Room or Urgent Care Clinic, you are typically seen by a General Doctor, PA (Physician Assistant) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) who will ultimately refer you to an Orthopedic Specialist. Save time, money, and additional recovery time by visiting Dr. Patel first!
Click on the links below to call our office or use or scheduling form for an urgent-need appointment. If you have an acute injury, we will do our best to provide a same-day or next business day appointment.
What types of injuries can Dr. Patel see immediately?
When an acute orthopedic injury occurs, it is important to see a specialist as soon as possible. These include injuries as a result of sudden trauma, feeling of a pop, fall, fracture, ligament or tendon injuries. Below are some examples of injuries that can be scheduled for urgent appointments with Dr. Patel:
Knee Injuries
- Pop in the knee
- Knee sports injury
- ACL tear/injury
- Meniscus tear
- Knee dislocation
- Patellar dislocation
- Knee ligament tear/injury
- Quadriceps tendon tear/injury
- Patellar tendon tear/injury
- Knee fracture
Shoulder Injuries
- Pop in the shoulder
- Shoulder sports injury
- Rotator cuff tear/injury
- Shoulder dislocation/instability
- Pectoralis tendon tear/injury
- AC joint separation/injury
- Shoulder labral tear/injury
- Shoulder (proximal humerus) fracture
- Clavicle fracture
Elbow Injuries
- Pop in the elbow
- Elbow sports injury
- Distal biceps tendon injury/tear
- Triceps tendon injury/tear
Hip Injuries
- Pop in the hip
- Hip sports injury
- Hamstring tear/injury
- Hip labral tear/injury
What are the benefits of seeing an Orthopedic Specialist for acute orthopedic injury versus going to an Emergency Room or Urgent Care Clinic?
The answer is simple; an Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialist like Dr. Patel has extensive training and experience treating acute orthopedic injuries. He has completed specialized training and is fellowship-trained and board certified; he can successfully treat sports and orthopedic injuries.
At Emergency Rooms and Urgent Care Clinics, you are most often evaluated by a General Doctor or PA (Physician Assistant) or Nurse Practitioner (NP). Since these providers are unable to provide surgery and/or long-term treatment for your injury, they will need to refer you to an orthopedic specialist. Additionally, rapid care clinics often do not have the technology or the knowledge to obtain the proper diagnostic imaging, films, or MRIs, so they are not sufficient for further treatment. When the patient is then referred to a specialist for treatment, the orthopedic surgeon often must redo the films, costing the patient more time and money. It is not uncommon for visits to Emergency Room or Urgent Care providers to add a layer of misdiagnosis and extra tests when the patient could have seen a highly qualified board certified orthopedic specialist like Dr. Patel up front.
Seeing an orthopedic specialist from the onset of injury has these additional benefits:
- On-site xray imaging with specialized views according to the injury
- Specialized braces/slings for the knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow
- Splinting and casting by an orthopedic surgeon
- Continuity of care if further follow-up or surgery is needed
- Verification of insurance coverage and in-network status
- Shorter wait times than an ER
- More cleanly environment compared to an ER/Urgent Care
Will I have to wait for an appointment?
Dr. Patel has the flexibility built into his schedule to see urgent-need injuries. He can save you time, pain, and money by diagnosing and treating your injury right the first time. Our office will do our best to provide a same-day or next business day appointment.
Will it cost me more than an Urgent Care Clinic?
While it depends on your insurance, emergency rooms and urgent care clinics generally have higher costs. Your visit with Dr. Patel will be equivalent to a doctor’s or specialist’s visit. We DO NOT charge more for an urgent visit. You may contact our office to verify your insurance or contact your insurance about your benefits.
What other treatment can you provide?
Dr. Patel will first ask you a thorough history, perform a physical exam, perform and review x-rays, and review other imaging you may have. Treatment is tailored to each patient’s injury and needs but may include:
- Pain management strategies such as prescription medications
- Administer injections (with ultrasound-guidance if necessary)
- Provide and fit a variety of braces
- Place a cast or splint
- Recommend further imaging such as MRI or CT
- Recommend & schedule surgery