Northside brings innovation to musculoskeletal care

The location is bringing together a full range of musculoskeletal services—all under one roof—in Carmel.

By Charlotte Stefanski, cstefanski@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health's Indianapolis Suburban Region

From physical therapy to orthopedic surgeries, IU Health is rethinking the way it provides musculoskeletal services on the northside.

As of this January, the Indianapolis community and beyond will have access to these services and more—all in one location—at Methodist Medical Plaza North, 201 Pennsylvania Pkwy Suite 100 in Carmel.

With many of these services previously provided at IU Health North Hospital, physicians and team members will now provide state-of-the-art care at the new location. It is equipped with all necessary resources, including x-ray, MRI, CT scanner, laboratory and surgery center.

Dr. Dan Wurtz, an orthopedic surgeon who has been with IU Health for 25 years, says the design is novel for Indiana, and possibly surrounding states.

“It's all about access and patient convenience; same day service, instant consults—even if it's walking a patient down the hallway to another provider who might have more expertise in an area,” he said.

A growing need

The new location at Methodist Medical Plaza North will be able to better accommodate the growing practice, but it won’t just be another orthopedic clinic. Instead, it will offer a full range of musculoskeletal services.

Service lines within the suite include sports medicine, orthopedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurosurgery, anesthesia, rheumatology and plastic surgery.

The clinical programs also include sports (surgical and non-operative), hip and knee replacement, upper extremity and hand, spine, orthopedic oncology, pain, osteoporosis, soft tissue reconstruction and limb salvage, and podiatry.

“That's going to be what really differentiates us from the competitors in the north region,” said Eric Hall, vice chair for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at IU Health Physicians. “We can really offer any sort of musculoskeletal care that’s in one place, one location.”

Comprehensive care is key

Creating a space for comprehensive care in musculoskeletal services will greatly impact patients, especially when it comes to convenience.

Wurtz hears it all the time. Someone might have an appointment for a problem, only to be told their problem cannot be solved by the physician they’re seeing. Instead, they have to reschedule their appointment, often at a different location.

With so many musculoskeletal specialties now in one space, it’s likely someone there will have the needed expertise.

In this multidisciplinary location, providers will also have access to different kinds of care for their patients that they may not have had before, like physical therapy.

“That person may not be available that day, but at least you have the exposure to the place that’s going to take care of you,” Wurtz said. “Identifying with that place, I think could be helpful.”

What should the community know?

As physicians and team members transition into the new space, the community should know that this location is already growing, with six additional non-operative providers being added to the team.

Both the walk-in clinic and same-day appointments will be available at the new location. The walk-in clinic’s hours are 9 am – 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

This new location is primarily for adult services. Riley Children’s Health orthopedic services will remain at IU Health North Hospital.

Wurtz noted that if anything more complicated arises in patient care—whether it be non-surgical, further work-ups or involving other specialties—North Hospital is in close proximity.

“I want the community to know that even though we're calling this suite a multidisciplinary clinic across the spectrum of musculoskeletal services, it will still be connected with other services that are needed for the whole patient at IU Health North.”

Endless opportunities

As the space opens this month, both Hall and Wurtz are excited to see reactions from both patients and physicians working there.

And as the program continues to grow, they’re also looking forward to the location’s educational component for residents and fellows at the Indiana University School of Medicine. There will also be more research opportunities as well.

“What I'm looking forward to is seeing the reaction of both the patients and the providers occupying this space at the same time,” Wurtz said. “Because it is I think it's a cut above what most have experienced. That will be highly gratifying.”

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