Sanford Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is giving the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, community an opportunity for faster care with its five walk-in clinics.
Verle Valentine, M.D. is a Sanford Health expert in athletic and activity injuries, specializing in both family medicine and sports medicine.
“The orthopedic walk-in clinic is designed to see patients with bone and joint aches or pains and get them on the fast track to great care,” Dr. Valentine told Sanford Health News. “From there, if they need to see a specialist, for example, foot and ankle or hand and wrist, we can set that up as well.”
Walk-in care: Find a Sanford Health walk-in clinic near you
Patients will likely be seen by an advanced practice provider — a nurse practitioner or physician assistant who can get you started.
Dr. Valentine said summertime is prime for injuries while people of all ages are outside and keeping active.
“These days, we’re getting ankle sprains and things like that,” he said. “Most people are outside being active, especially this year when there are less organized sports.”
But providers see a wide range of injuries all year including bone fractures, muscle or tendon strains, separated shoulders, broken collarbones, hamstring injuries or injuries impeding your ability to walk or hurt when moved or touched.
“If it’s a simple, treatable injury, certainly that may be the end of the road for your care,” he said.
Keep in mind, the walk-in clinic is available for all injuries and all ages.
“The majority of the patients that come and see us are not athletes and they’re not just the kids or the adults out playing sports. The majority are anywhere from little kids to 95-year-old patients who have aches and pains from whatever it may be,” Dr. Valentine said. “We certainly would we see any patient, of any type, with aches and pains, sprains or strains.”
Care that hit home
Cody Breen can’t say enough good things about his experience at the east Sioux Falls walk-in clinic after a recent hand injury.
“I was sitting around a fire with my wife and one of my good buddies at the time,” Breen said. “I went to leave the deck real quick and I kinda stumbled off my feet and tried to try to catch myself in my garage and I injured my hand.”
He was certain he broke it near the pinky finger with the onset of pain that followed.
“I thought to myself, ‘It’s really starting to hurt, so I should probably go in to be seen.’”
He walked into the clinic at 26th and Sycamore, explained what happened and was seen by an APP within 10 minutes, got X-rays and the results fairly quickly.
“They said, ‘Yup, you broke your hand.’”
Breen was diagnosed with a fifth metacarpal fracture, otherwise known as the pinky “boxer’s” fracture. He was set up with a temporary cast and a follow-up appointment with a specialist who gave him a full cast within a few days.
He was pleased with the opportunity to visit a clinic close to home and be seen quickly instead of resorting to the emergency department.
“When things like that happen to you over the weekends and stuff, you don’t have to sit there and wait forever,” he said. “You don’t have to take time off of work. You can just go in there and just get seen right away and get taken care of. You know, even if they had to have a follow-up appointment for you, at least you can get a majority of your needs taken care of right away and then see a specialty provider later.”
After six weeks in a splint and some recommendations by his doctor, Breen made a full recovery and credits the walk-in clinic for the ability to be seen right away.
“Overall, the care was fantastic.”
Find a Sanford Orthopedic walk-in clinic near you:
- Sanford 26th & Sycamore Acute Care and Orthopedic Fast Track Clinic
- Sanford 32nd & Ellis Clinic and Acute Care
- Sanford 69th & Minnesota Acute Care and Orthopedic Fast Track Clinic
- Sanford Orthopedic Fast Track Clinic
- Sanford Sports Complex Clinic
Learn more
- Emergency vs urgent care: The ER isn’t for everything
- Sports physical can help parents spot health issues
- New orthopedic hospital to grow care for Sanford patients
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Posted In Family Medicine, Orthopedics, Sioux Falls, Specialty Care, Sports Medicine
