Best in Orthopedics Close to Home in Washington County
Aurora Health Center Hartford
By Kathy Teach
Highly-credentialed and well-liked by patients of all ages, the orthopedic
physicians at the Aurora Health Centers in Washington County probably could have
chosen to practice anywhere. Or, they could’ve limited their availability to
office visits and surgeries at their primary location in Milwaukee. Instead,
some of the best of the best in orthopedics have taken the road to Washington
County. And they intend to stay.
“We’ve really expanded our services here over the past couple of years,”
notes Joel Wallskog, MD, a
specialist in general orthopedics and joint reconstruction. “We love this area.
It’s a motivated population of patients, and just a pleasure and privilege to be
involved in their care.”
Patients in turn appreciate not having to drive to their physicians’ offices
in Milwaukee for specialized services. Dr. Wallskog and several of his
colleagues in orthopedics offer regular office hours each week at three Aurora
Health Centers in Washington County including the new clinic on Highway 60 in
Hartford. They also have admitting privileges at Aurora Medical Center in
Hartford, where they perform all the same state-of-the-art surgeries they offer
at
Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center.
“By practicing in Washington County, we are able to offer patients tertiary
referral center care at their local hospital,” says
Thomas Perlewitz, MD, who
joined the orthopedics team in 2004 after completing a fellowship in spinal
surgery at Harvard University. “This is not only convenient to patients but
assures them of being in a comfortable environment that is well known to them.
It also allows optimal continuity of care from the referring primary care
physician to the sub-specialist.”
“I have surgical privileges at six hospitals,” says Dr. Wallskog. “And I
always tell people that I enjoy working at Aurora Medical Center in Hartford
more than any of them. We have everything we need there in terms of equipment.
The skills and expertise of the operating room staff are exceptional. The
quality of nursing care is extremely high and very personalized. We couldn’t ask
for anything more for our patients.”
If you need orthopedic care, it’s important to note that all of the
specialists at Aurora Health Care facilities in Washington County are board
certified and fellowship-trained, says
Steven Trinkl, MD, who has practiced in the area since 1999. This means that
in addition to providing general orthopedic care, they have received extensive
training and possess a high level of expertise in specific specialty areas. Dr.
Trinkl, for example, sub-specializes in hand and wrist surgery. “Between all of
us, virtually every musculoskeletal problem can be diagnosed and treated in
Washington County,” he says.
The scope of their care ranges from strains, sprains and fracture management
to severe conditions that may require intensive therapy or surgery. Some of the
procedures performed by the specialists in Washington County include advanced
cartilage replacement techniques on the knee, minimally invasive joint
replacement, and arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs. They also offer the latest
technology in spinal surgery, total joint replacement, endoscopic and open
carpal tunnel release, foot and ankle reconstruction, hand and wrist surgery and
arthritis treatment, tendon and ligament repair including anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL) reconstruction, non-operative sports medicine, and back pain
management.
While physicians are certainly the major players in orthopedic care, their
work would not be complete in many cases without their ability to refer patients
to appropriate rehabilitation professionals to assist in treatment and recovery.
“Orthopedic care is a whole process,” says Dr. Wallskog. “Continuity of care has
to involve access to high quality physical and occupational therapy services. In
Washington County, we are clearly fortunate. The rehab teams at all of the
Aurora sites are excellent.”
Aurora’s rehabilitation experts in Washington County include physical and
occupational therapists at Aurora Medical Center in Hartford and at the Aurora
Rehabilitation Centers in Slinger and West Bend. At the new Aurora Health Center
in Hartford, outpatient rehabilitation services are purposely located near the
orthopedic department to enable close communication and consultation between all
members of the patient care team. The physicians also work hand in hand with
several certified athletic trainers who provide onsite services at area high
schools.
“We’re very excited about what’s happening in orthopedics in our community,”
says Rose Nelson, supervisor of Aurora’s rehabilitation services in Washington
County. “Our therapists see the results of the physicians’ work and it is
excellent. It’s wonderful for our patients to be able to get specialty care like
this so close to home.”
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DISCLAIMER: This web site contains general medical information and
does not replace the medical advice of your physician. If you have questions
about your medical condition or exercises, ask your doctor or health care
provider.
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