Orthopedic Walk-in Care Provides Convenient Option for Athletes 

As a first stop, orthopedic urgent care is a fantastic concept. It offers patients and families great care and peace of mind, and it’s not a long, drawn-out process to see an orthopedic specialist anymore.

Dr. Ryan Wagner, ThedaCare Orthopedics sports medicine physician

Picture the Friday night lights of a football game, the thrill of a soccer pitch, and the grit of a cross country race. Student athletes give it their all, and sometimes that can result in injury. When that happens, Orthopedic Walk-in Care through ThedaCare Medical Center-Orthopedic, Spine and Pain can help.  

“Sometimes a care need is urgent because a person just got hurt, and other times it’s urgent because a lingering pain or injury is simply getting intolerable,” says Justin Guzman, a physician assistant with ThedaCare Orthopedic Care.  

The clinic is designed to quickly connect people with specialists in non-operative sports medicine along with physical therapy, pain management and orthopedic surgery without the need for a referral or a more expensive and stressful emergency room visit.  

“As a first stop, orthopedic urgent care is a fantastic concept. It offers patients and families great care and peace of mind, and it’s not a long, drawn-out process to see an orthopedic specialist anymore,” says Dr. Ryan Wagner, a ThedaCare Orthopedic Care sports medicine physician.  

Orthopedic Walk-in Care isn’t just for athletes, though. Anyone with a pain or strain can skip the disheartening wait-and-see approach and instead get examined and treated right away. 

“We don’t only see athletes and weekend warriors,” Dr. Wagner says. “We also help people who simply sneeze wrong and twist their back or trip and roll an ankle — it’s no less of an important issue. If it causes pain or restricts your mobility or positive outlook, we’re here.” 

Streamlined care 

As a ThedaCare licensed athletic trainer at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, Kim Kandler attends to the needs of high school athletes. She says she appreciates the expanded hours of Orthopedic Walk-in Care.  

“Recently one of my students twisted his hip during soccer practice, and he needed to be seen that day,” Kandler says. “In any other situation, he would need to go to the ER because he wasn’t a typical urgent care patient. I alerted the orthopedic walk-in staff of his situation, and he received specific, targeted attention that evening right after practice.”  

ThedaCare providers are all connected via electronic medical records, which eases communication and coordination of care.  

Kandler shares the story of assisting a team doctor at a Friday night football game this fall. When a player was injured, she was able to send an X-ray order to Orthopedic Walk-in Care, and the young man was ushered though his Saturday morning visit based on her directions.  

“He and his parents knew what to expect, and the results were sent to me so I could help them navigate next steps,” Kandler says. 

All in one place 

Orthopedic Walk-in Care is designed for all people with pain. Patients may come in with a simple bone break, muscle injury, work injury, pain, swollen joint, sprain, strain, back pain, fracture or dislocation. At their first visit, they can have X-rays or other imaging taken, meet with a specialist provider, and receive an initial treatment, if recommended.  

Providers also will arrange for follow-up care as needed, which can include pain management, physical therapy, a surgery consultation or other therapies. 

You don’t need to be a ThedaCare patient to receive care. However, Orthopedic Walk-in Care does not see patients with post-surgical concerns, cuts, lacerations or concussions. If you have a life-threatening condition or other serious injury, including a fracture with broken skin or a head injury, they should call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. 

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