Clinic Provides Quick Solution for Acute Injuries
You hurt yourself – but you would rather not make a visit to the overcrowded hospital emergency room . Not to worry – NCH has a solution for that !
For those injuries that are too painful to wait for an appointment with your primary care physician , but not so lifethreatening that emergency services need to be summoned , the NCH Sports Medicine Walk-In Clinic offers on-thespot treatment for a wide range of bumps , strains and accidents . At the clinic , you can be seen by physicians and staff who specialize in treating acute injuries , with modern imaging equipment and the entire NCH Healthcare System to back them up .
Did you know that you don ’ t even need to be an athlete to suffer a sports-related injury ? That ’ s the word from Dr . Gregory Rubin , DO , a fellowship-trained physician who is affiliated with the clinic . Often , the conditions he treats result from an errant step , an unlucky accident or just plain “ overdoing it .”
“ The most common injury we see is probably rolled ankles , from stepping off the sidewalk ,” said Dr . Rubin . “ Shoulder pain that arises after lifting a suitcase , and knee pain from sports activities that are too strenuous are also common . Sometimes what seems to be an acute injury – and to the patient , the pain is certainly acute – is actually a flareup of a chronic condition .”
“ We get athletes playing team sports , we get weekend warriors , we get people who just say , ‘ I fell last night and banged my knee ,’” said Rubin . “ I ’ m the first line of defense for anyone with any sort of injury , head to toe . Over 90 percent of those injuries , he added , can be treated non-surgically . If surgery is required , the staff also includes highly trained orthopedic surgeons .”
Of course , the NCH Sports Medicine Clinic staff sees a number of athletes on a regular basis . Dr . Rubin is team physician for men ’ s and women ’ s sports at FGCU – including the championship basketball and soccer teams – and also consults with the Florida Everblades .
“ However , need for the clinic ’ s services more often arises from pickleball , tennis ,
Greg Rubin , DO , Physician at the Sports Medicine Clinic .
and golf – the big three ,” said Rubin “ as well as everyday mishaps . We do knees , shoulders , wrists , along with a host of complaints including tendonitis , concussions , rotator cuff injuries , high ankle sprains , turf toe , strains and sprains , and suspected fractures .”
Treatments include ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal injections , physical therapy , and surgical options . Cortico-steroid injections can often provide quick and
substantial relief from joint pain , and Dr . Rubin , with special training , uses the department ’ s new ultrasound scanner for precise guidance to improve the accuracy of all injections .
Since you can ’ t schedule ahead of time when an accident will happen , NCH makes being seen in the Sports Medicine Walk-In Clinic easy . If you or a family member need their services , the clinic can get you in promptly to see an acute injury specialist , and help you avoid high emergency room bills . The clinic holds walk-in hours every day from 8 a . m . to 10 a . m . Monday to Friday , with no appointment needed . Appointments can be made , however , throughout the day Monday through Friday by calling 239-624-1700 .
“ We review x-rays and refer the patient to the proper provider ,” said Dr . Rubin , “ all to ensure timely , appropriate treatment . All treatments are typically covered by health insurance . The clinic can also fit patients with an array of durable medical equipment , including boots , wrist braces , slings and walking shoes , to make injured joints immobile so patients remain mobile .”
For minor injuries , the NCH Sports Medicine Walk-In Clinic is a major asset .
NCH Sports Medicine Clinic :
• Is for everyone who gets injured , not just athletes
• Offers convenient walk-in hours every morning Monday thru Friday with no appointment
• Features ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal injections
• Provides boots , braces and slings on the spot
• To schedule an appointment , please call ( 239 ) 624-1700 .
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