Upstate Orthopedics is affiliated with Upstate Medical University and University Hospital and is located at the Bone and Joint Center, a 100,000 square foot center at 6620 Fly Road in East Syracuse.

With a lineup of 19 physicians on staff, each with expertise in one or more of the major sub-specialties of orthopedic surgery, patients treated at Upstate Orthopedics “can be confident that we have the right surgeon with the highest level of knowledge and surgical skills to successfully treat their problem,” said Lisa DaRin, Upstate Orthopedics administrative director. “We offer consultations, evaluations, and treatment for the full spectrum of orthopedic conditions, including: sports medicine, pediatric orthopedics, hand and upper extremity, orthopedic oncology, adult and pediatric spine reconstruction, foot and ankle, joint replacement/reconstruction and orthopedic trauma.”

According to DaRin, there are no downsides to having a larger practice, as opposed to the traditional, one-doctor practice of the past.

“In fact, our expertise in orthopedics is strengthened by the large number of surgeons we have within our practice,” DaRin said. “When patients come to our practice, our goal is to better understand their clinical complaint and then align them with the surgeon best suited to treat the patient based on the surgeon’s expertise. We even have the flexibility to combine surgeon expertise when patients present with multiple orthopedic conditions crossing into several orthopedic sub-specialties to make sure that they receive the best care available for all of their conditions.”

DaRin said the center has “enriched the partnership of our clinical practice with SUNY Upstate Medical University (UMU) and University Hospital, and has contributed significantly to the educational experience of the medical students, allied health professionals and residents from UMU.”

She said this partnership has benefits for patients as well.

“Since our physicians are also professors of medicine at Upstate Medical University and University Hospital, this affiliation results in not only more focused time spent with each patient, but a consistent, proven, hands-on experience to allow us to produce the next generation of orthopedic surgeons from the Syracuse area,” DaRin said. ­ She added that many of the surgeons “also maintain privileges at Crouse Hospital and Community General Hospital in order to provide orthopedic care at multiple convenient sites around Syracuse.”

Upstate Orthopedics also offers a walk-in, early morning sports clinic for patients with acute sports injuries from 7:30 to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday with no appointment needed and after hours appointments through OrthoNOW!, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. OrthoNOW! has an in-house digital x-ray and access to CT and MRI services and can provide immediate care for sprains, breaks, dislocations and sports injuries with no appointment necessary.

Dr. Brian Harley, an orthopedic hand surgeon at Upstate Orthopedics, said his experience there has been great. He formerly was located at the practice at Harrison Center, by Upstate University Hospital, for 20 years.

“Although our practice was near the hospital, patients couldn’t walk there anyway – they’d have to drive to another parking lot anyway,” Dr. Harley said. “This location [at Upstate Bone and Joint Center] is much more convenient for the patient.”

Dr. Harley said the more specialized and focused treatment is a benefit for patients as well.

“[At Harrison Center] there was an outpatient surgery center there but it wasn’t strictly orthopedic and there was no physical therapy. The radiology there was general we weren’t able to be in control of it. They weren’t as sensitive to the specific needs of the patients – they had to get undressed and go to another office. Here it’s right there. The care we are providing is all in one spot – including prosthetic and orthodontic care. All around, it’s better – more streamlined, patient-friendly and convenient.”

Another benefit, Dr. Harley said, “is that parking is free, which it isn’t downtown. Also, anything inpatient can be done here – a lot of patients want to avoid a hospital stay – and in the last 10 years what can be done as an outpatient has been expanded and pain management has developed where we can give them pain relief for home.”

He said the center is of benefit to Upstate University Hospital as well.

“From the hospital point of view, University was focused on the center of Syracuse – with not much exposure outside of the city – but now it is out into the community, reminding people that there is a great hospital downtown.”

Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists

According to its website, Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists, PC (SOS) “is a group of specialty trained and focused orthopedic surgeons and mid-level providers [of] customized care to patients at our seven conveniently located offices in and around the Syracuse area.”

Those locations include Camillus, Cicero, Liverpool, DeWitt, Baldwinsville and Fayetteville along with a Specialists One-Day Surgery Center.

Begun in 1999 with the merging of three major orthopedic practices, SOS started with 15 doctors on staff and has grown to 28 physicians, who diagnose and treat diseases and injuries of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Its orthopedic surgeons specialize in arthroscopic surgery, spine surgery, sports medicine, hip replacement, knee replacement, hand and upper extremity surgery, fracture care and surgery and foot and ankle surgery, which is provided by the only Fellowship Trained Foot and Ankle surgeon in private practice in Upstate New York.

C. Perry Cooke, M.D., president of S.O.S., was one of those first physicians at SOS. He started orthopedic surgery in 1979 was part of a three-doctor practice at Crouse – with Robert Lockwood and Joseph Smith. The group gradually “got bigger, then merged with others that got bigger,” Cooke said.

He said it made sense to have the orthopedic physicians join together in a larger practice.

“In the old days, one doctor would take care of orthopedics for all ages – from club feet to sports injuries to hip fractures – one guy did it all,” Cooke said. “Nowadays a generalist really can’t keep up with it all. [At SOS] each one of us has areas of expertise – when it comes to the spine – there’s one doctor who is a expert – for joint replacements – there is another.”

SOS’s diagnostic tools, include open and closed MRI scanners, digital X-ray, nuclear medicine, nerve conduction studies and electromyography.

SOS also offers SOS plus, an after-hours walk-in orthopedic medical service that allows patients of all ages with acute orthopedic conditions needing immediate attention to be diagnosed and treated right away avoiding costly and unnecessary visits to the emergency room. Hours are 5 to 8:30 p.m. every night of the week and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday.

Devoted exclusively for the treatment of orthopedic, non-emergency injuries such as closed fractures, sprains, strains, dislocations, recently painful, swollen, injured joints, work related or athletic injuries, SOS Plus is equipped with x-ray and MRI technology and staffed by certified physician assistants and nurse practitioners who specialize in orthopedic injuries and will work with a SOS Board Certified Physician available for any needed consultations. SOS Plus’s entrance is located at the back of SOS’s main office at 5719 Widwaters Parkway.

SOS surgeons have serviced three private hospitals in Syracuse: St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, Crouse Hospital and Community General Hospital, but that will be changed starting this month, with physicians no longer operating at Community General Hospital. Instead, they will begin scheduling cases at St. Joseph’s Hospital. SOS physicians will continue to have a prescence in Community General’s emergency room, however, and some of its physicians will also continue to operate at Crouse Hospital.

“The reason why it makes sense to be partnered with a hospital is that it has been shown that hospitals can produce increased volume of service and get better at it,” Cooke said. “There is a resultant better quality and efficiency. Now St. Joe’s will be able to offer first quality care, higher efficiency, higher patient satisfaction and a shorter patient stay.”

He said the partnership benefits the physicians as well. “Doctors can communicate,” Cooke said. “There is always the opportunity to show one of the partners an X-ray to get a second, third, fourth opinion. The quality of care would only improve.”

“This new relationship allows both the hospital and doctors to coordinate the services before a proceedure, the hospital stay and the post-op services, such as if there is physical therapy needed, or a visiting nurse is required or if there is a special diet or antibiotics needed,” Cooke added. “We are hoping that the large group of doctors and hospital will develop an improved quality of care, economic responsibility and high patient, doctor and hospital staff satisfaction.”

In addition, SOS has opened its Specialists One Day Surgery Center to serve orthopedic patients that do not require an overnight stay in the hospital.