Orthopaedic office adds later hours

Downtown walk-in clinic accepts patients from 5-8 p.m.

The whole notion of closing time has changed at one specialty medical office.

New Mexico Orthopaedics Associates has joined the movement of providers keeping later hours to help folks whose strains, sprains and fractures don’t respect normal business hours. The business, located at 201 Cedar SE, Suite 600, recently opened an after-hours, walk-in clinic at its office, where medical staff will see patients Monday through Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

It’s supposed to give customers with minor injuries an alternative to hospital emergency room visits, which can be more expensive, said the owner of the practice. Patients with major orthopedic trauma still are urged to call 911 or go to an emergency room.

The clinic will allow adults and children with unexpected orthopedic injuries to be seen by a trained team of specialists, according to Dr. Jeffrey Racca, practice president. “It will be a great resource for the community, he said, adding, “We’re going beyond services provided at a traditional urgent care center by offering care from an orthopedic surgeon who is on site while the clinic is open.”

The Ortho Injury Care Team treats patients with unexpected injuries such as strains, sprains, minor dislocations, fractures and sports injuries. The team includes a certified physician’s assistant, casting and X-ray professionals and an orthopedic surgeon.

The surgeon on duty during the after-hours clinic will also be seeing patients for regular clinic appointments.

“The extended clinic hours will create moreconvenient times for new and established patients to be seen for consultations, evaluations and follow-up appointments outside of the traditional 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. clinic schedule,” Racca said.

Now that the business has added evening hours, could a clinic for weekend warriors with orthopedic mishaps be far behind? The plan is to expand to Saturdays in the future, Racca said.