Like most medical practices, Shelbourne Knee Center is helping to stop the spread of coronavirus by reducing the number of contacts between providers/staff and patients. In-person office visits are available only for essential needs:
- Post-op follow-up
- Fractures
- Infections
- Injuries that threaten limb function (i.e., quadriceps/patellar tendon ruptures).
Surgeries are restricted to fractures, infections and injuries that threaten limb function.
Safe, High-Quality Care
Despite these restrictions, Shelbourne Knee Center is still providing high-quality care to current patients.
In-person office visits have been moved to the first floor of Community Hospital East, with an entrance further from the main hospital and a shorter distance to treatment. “Our patients are exposed to fewer people when they come to see us,” says K. Donald Shelbourne, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Shelbourne Knee Center.
As always, the post-op protocol includes daily phone calls during the first week from the patient’s personal physical therapist to monitor recovery, answer questions and discuss any problems.
Dr. Shelbourne, orthopedic surgeon Rodney Benner, MD, Sarah Hopkins, NP, and the nine physical therapists on staff at Shelbourne Knee Center are caring for other patients via virtual and telephone visits. They’re using video conferences and videos sent in by patients to monitor rehab progress for both surgical and non-surgical patients and to assess stability, range of motion, and strength for surgical patients. Patients and their families know that they can call, text or email their physical therapist at any time.
“Our patients are thrilled that we’re able to do this,” says Dr. Shelbourne.
At-Home Physical Therapy
Shelbourne Knee Center is the only orthopedic practice in Indiana that has on-site physical therapists and athletic trainers, each of whom specializes in knee problems. Along with providing each patient with a personal physical therapist who serves as a teacher and coach, home-based physical therapy has always been the mainstay of the rehab protocol for both surgical and non-surgical patients. The physical therapist provides guidance and usually sees patients in the office periodically.
This unique rehab protocol enables Shelbourne Knee Center patients to continue their recovery while other patients who are dependent on going to a physical therapy center have had to stop their rehab. “Our goal is to teach patients to handle their own rehab with our guidance,” says Dr. Shelbourne.
The Current Situation
Shelbourne Knee Center is unable to see new patients for non-emergency knee problems until the restrictions are lifted. Fortunately, most knee problems, including ACL tears, don’t require immediate surgery, says Dr. Shelbourne.
All surgeries that were scheduled through April 30th have been canceled. Surgeries and regular office visits will be rescheduled when it is safe to do so. Community Hospital East leaders are evaluating the situation daily.
For more information, call 888-FIX-KNEE.