Common Questions – Orthopedic Urgent Care

Orthopedic Urgent Care is open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For assistance, please call the Orthopedic Urgent Care clinic (651) 968-5806.

How is Orthopedic Urgent Care different from an urgent care clinic?

Orthopedic urgent care is an extension of our regular orthopedic clinic. Most insurance companies will charge a larger copay for urgent care and emergency room visits. Since orthopedic urgent care is an extension of our regular clinic, patients typically pay a regular office visit copay.

Do I need to see my primary care physician or go urgent care first?

The vast majority of insurance companies do not require a referral for orthopedic urgent Ccare, which means you can come directly to the specialist with your orthopedic concern. You get a diagnosis and treatment plan right away rather than having to pay for extra appointments. We have great relationships with local urgent care and primary care offices who often send their patients to orthopedic urgent care, but in most cases patients aren’t required to go there first.

Can I get an MRI at Orthopedic Urgent Care?

We have four MRI locations and some evening hours available. An MRI does require a separate appointment, which can be ordered and scheduled at your orthopedic urgent care visit if the provider thinks this study is necessary. Sometimes the MRI can be done the same day, but it depends upon availability and your insurance.

Do I need to make an appointment to be seen at Orthopedic Urgent Care?

No appointments necessary – just walk in during orthopedic urgent care hours.

Who will see me at Orthopedic Urgent Care?

Orthopedic urgent care is staffed by experts who are highly-trained in orthopedics, they include: sub-specialty surgeons, non-surgical physicians, and PA-Cs (certified physician assistants). Additionally, there is always an orthopedic surgeon on call for more serious injuries.

Are there benefits of going to Orthopedic Urgent Care versus an urgent care or emergency room?

Providers at Orthopedic urgent care have special training in orthopedics and a better understanding of orthopedic injuries. If you are treated at an emergency room or urgent care for an orthopedic injury, they will typically have you follow up with an orthopedic office visit as your next step. You can save time and money by going directly to orthopedic urgent care. Wait times are typically much shorter at orthopedic urgent care than they would be at an urgent care or emergency room.

Will my insurance company cover my visit at Orthopedic Urgent Care?

Summit Orthopedics works with many insurance plans. Whether or how your claim will be reimbursed is dependent on the details of your particular plan. For details about your specific benefits, refer to your plan’s benefit manual or your insurer’s website, or call the number on the back of your insurance card for details about your specific benefits.

What are a PA-C’s qualifications?

PA-Cs (certified physician assistants) are specially trained health care providers that are able to function with physician oversight but not direct supervision. The PAs at Summit working in orthopedic urgent care have an extensive background in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. All of the PAs spend significant time with the various surgeons gaining valuable experience in care of all types of musculoskeletal injuries.

Most acute (sudden-onset) injuries are evaluated and treated in a similar way. PAs can immediately determine what injuries require further diagnostic care and treatment, such as an MRI, CT, splinting, crutches, ice, compression, and pain medications. These are all easily directed by the PA. With this treatment and direction, orthopedic urgent care provides excellent care and further diagnosis, enables the patient to follow up with the right provider in the right time, and facilitates patients returning to activities of daily living just as quickly as if seeing a physician during that visit.