We want you to know that Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle is here as we navigate these unprecedented times together. We have modified our clinic structure and workflow to ensure that we can increase care in a manner that promotes optimal public health practices for everyone’s safety.
To Learn more about these current changes, please read the following:
Is the OSS Clinic Open?
Yes, we are open and ready to care & serve our community – we are just operating in a slightly different
capacity.
What are your Clinic Hours?
We are open Monday – Friday 8:30am-5:00pm in both clinics & Saturdays from 10:00am-5:00pm in our
Wallingford location.
What Services do you Offer at this Time?
We are offering Telemedicine, Regular In-Person Appointments* and Urgent Care services
*Each regular In-Person Appointment will be determined on an individual basis.
For your protection, as well as our staff members, we are actively reducing in-person office visits to decrease the number of people in our clinic at any given time.
How do I Make an Appointment?
Call the office just like you always have 206-633-8100. We will schedule you with the appropriate
provider and the type of visit for your appointment – In-Person or Telemedicine.
In addition, you can choose to go online and make an appointment submittal request. One of our representatives will call to make & confirm the appointment.
Can we come to an In-Person Appointment with the ‘Stay at Home’ order placed by the Governor?
Yes. Provider visits are considered essential by Washington State. We will still need to take care of you and cannot neglect your injury that could possibly lead to a disability, if untreated. We will provide the best possible care and work within our current environment to do so.
Can I be seen by a Provider for an In-person Visit?
That depends. Our providers will make that determination after reviewing the reason for your visit. If the initial review suggests that you do not need to be seen in person, we will contact you to arrange a telemedicine video visit.
Do You Need to Wear a Mask for an In-Person Appointment?
Yes. All patients that come to the office need to bring and wear a mask. This can be a homemade mask, scarf, handkerchief or basically anything coving your mouth and nose. *We are not able to supply masks at this time
What is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine is a technology-enabled face to face encounter with your provider. With Telemedicine, we can do almost everything that we can during an in-person visit, such as prescribe therapy, order advanced imaging, arrange for consultations and prescribe medications.
We use an application called IMyourdoc that enables HIPAA secure communication via an app or website platform. Upon scheduling, you will receive either an email or text link directing you to log-in to the site. From there, our staff will guide you through the process of the visit.
With Telemedicine, we can do almost everything that we can during an in-person visit, except for three things:
1.We cannot take x-rays
2.We cannot physically examine you
3.We cannot perform any procedures like injections, reductions or other minor procedures
Will a Telemedicine Appointment be Appropriate for Everyone?
No. If you have a new injury, we will need to see you in person to safely evaluate your condition. If you just had surgery, we need to see you to check your wound and remove your sutures. We may need to have an x-ray to monitor proper healing of your injury. Your provider will work with you to determine if you need an in-person appointment.
During your telemedicine appointment, your provider will carefully evaluate whether or not you need an in-person visit. If, after your telemedicine appointment, your provider feels you need to be seen in the clinic, we will get you scheduled as soon as possible.
If you need to come to the clinic the day after your telemedicine visit, you will NOT be charged for two office visits. We are here to take care of you and want to do it in the safest & most socially responsible manner – we believe that this pathway is the best solution.
What do I do if I have a New Injury or Problem?
Please call our office 206-633-8100. We have modified our workflow to help keep as many patients out of the Emergency Room. This not only protects you from exposure to COVID-19, but more importantly, eases the burden on our hospital systems that desperately need to focus their resources on COVID-19 related care.
We are able to offer same-day appointments for urgent orthopedic care, including Saturday hours at our
Wallingford clinic.
If I have an Emergency, can I Come to your Clinic?
Of course, if you believe that you have a medical emergency, you should call 911 or proceed
immediately to the nearest Emergency Room. Fortunately, most orthopedic-related conditions can be dealt with in an in-person office visit. We have a provider on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so please call us. We will make sure you get the help you need.
What if I Need Emergency Surgery – Is this an Option?
Yes, surgery is an option, if it is determined that you are in need of urgent or emergent surgery. Our ambulatory surgery center stands ready to provide any surgery that is needed. Your surgeon will help you understand the nature of your condition and any consequences of delaying a surgery. Our #1 priority is protecting your health and safety.
What about my Postponed Surgery – when will it be Rescheduled?
Our surgery scheduling department will contact you if your surgery has been postponed. If postponed, it was considered an elective surgery by the CDC. Once we receive approval to resume performing elective surgery, our surgery scheduling department will contact you to schedule surgery.
What are some of the Reasons I should Not be Seen in Clinic?
In our limited time dealing with COVID19, we have learned there are certain patient populations who have increased risk factors. For your safety, we are currently advising patients with the following risk factors to avoid in person clinic visits:
>Uncontrolled or severe high blood pressure >heart or lung disease
>Morbid obesity (BMI greater than 34) >Diabetes
>Immunosuppression
>Advanced age (80% of COVID deaths have been among people older than 65)
If you have COVID19 or have any COVID 19 symptoms, you cannot come into the clinic. If this is the case, you should self-quarantine and talk to your PCP about when it is safe to go to public places. If you have a more urgent injury or orthopedic injury while sick you should talk to your PCP about whether or not you should seek medical attention. You can call our clinic to determine the best course of action given your personal situation.
We request patients do their part. For the health of all those involved, please stay home unless you have a worsening or emergent condition. We request patients with chronic, but stable orthopedic condition, to please refrain from trying to make an appointment at this time.
What is your Clinic Doing to Help Stay Safe for COVID-19
We are following the CDC recommendations for social distancing, as well as the latest environmental cleaning and disinfecting standards. Hand washing is a top priority for all employees and each staff member is required to wear a mask. All of our staff, including the providers, have temperature and symptom checks before starting the day according to the last CDC guidelines and recommendations. We take your safety seriously and want to protect you and our staff.
For your protection, as well as our staff members, we are actively reducing in-person office visits to decrease the number of people in our clinic at any given time. At this time, all patients must come to the practice alone, unless you need physical assistance or you are a minor.
You can find more information on the Proliance Surgeons COVID-19 What You Need to Know Webpage.
