The department has created a UAB Emergency Department (ED)/Orthopaedic Urgent Care access clinic that means shorter wait times for patients seen in the UAB Hospital-Highlands emergency room with non-threatening orthopaedic injuries.

As it stands, the ED has a significant volume of patients who may twist a knee or ankle. In many cases, the ED will take an X-ray and splint the joint, and then the patient must make an appointment with an orthopedist as soon as possible, which may be days or even weeks later.

Patients typically make an appointment with whichever orthopaedist can see them first, and that is not always a UAB physician.

To mitigate the amount of time it takes to connect with a UAB orthopaedist after an ED visit, the department will rely on this new ED/Orthopaedic Urgent Care access clinic. Once a patient is seen in the emergency room, ED physicians and staff can use direct access to the Ortho Clinic to get the patients in immediately from the ED.

Section Chief of Trauma Jonathan Quade, M.D., is grateful to those who have helped build the clinic from idea to implantation.

“We are thankful that to all of the faculty, staff, and trainees who will support and develop this new clinic,” said Quade. “It really is a team effort to be able to offer our patients faster, more direct access to our incredible team of orthopaedic surgery physicians.”

The department looks forward to expanding the urgent care access clinic to UAB Hospital main as well as to the UAB Medicine Freestanding Emergency Department in Gardendale.

Additionally, the department will expand its UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine facilities into Ascension St. Vincent's One Nineteen on Cahaba Valley Road in Meadowbrook, AL in February 2022.

UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine, a partnership between the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Family and Community Medicine, is the proud official provider of medical care for UAB Blazer Athletics and multiple local schools and organizations, including Legion FC, Birmingham's professional soccer team as well as the Birmingham Bulls Hockey team.

UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine is comprised of orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons and primary care sports medicine physicians, providing a broad range of care, from non-surgical evaluation of athletes, to surgical management of complex injuries.

Section Chief of Sports Medicine Amit Momaya, M.D., is pleased that UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine is growing rapidly.

“We’re proud to offer excellent care for our patients as well as our community partners,” said Momaya. “This new expansion will support our efforts and allow us to treat even more patients as we continue to welcome talented faculty to our Sports and Exercise Medicine group.”