MUSC expands offerings: new orthopedics urgent care clinic opens

MUSC Health Orthopedics-Orangeburg will provide expanded urgent care treatment and standard orthopedic services.

Hospital officials say the clinic is needed because there are currently no similar walk-in clinics in the area, requiring individuals to travel to Charleston or Columbia for care.

“The urgent care component is another win for our area,” MUSC Health-Orangeburg Marketing and Communications Manager Rachel Berry said.

“We now have a full team who can take walk-in patients ages 4 and older for a variety of orthopedics conditions and injuries. Patients can skip the ED and come straight to the clinic where on-site X-ray, casting/splinting and access to durable medical equipment are available,” she said.

The ortho urgent care clinic will see walk-in patients ages 4 and older from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The clinic will serve patients with orthopedic injuries or conditions that require immediate medical treatment but are not life-threatening, such as a sprained ankle.

For example, the urgent care clinic will treat various orthopedic injuries including sprained ankles, wrists, knees, minor fractures and muscle strains, to name a few of the services.

The urgent care clinic will offer physical exams, X-rays, bracing, splinting and post-operative orthopedic wound checks. The clinic will not serve life-threatening injuries or non-orthopedic injuries and conditions.

Attendees at the grand opening were able to take tours of the clinic, which actually opened to patients in August. The HealthPlex fitness center and outpatient therapy are located on the ground floor.

Ortho practice

The hospital’s existing orthopedic practice is also expanding its services with the addition of two foot and ankle specialists.

The husband and wife team of Dr. Patrick Bik and Dr. Christine Rihn came to Orangeburg from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They have been in the area for about 1-1/2 months. It is the couple’s first official medical position.

“When MUSC had an opening, we couldn’t say no,” Rihn said. “It has such a great reputation and when we came out to Orangeburg, we felt the need for our services and really wanted to help out with the community.”

“There is a real sense of community here in Orangeburg and we are very excited to be a part of it,” Bik said.

Bik said the doctors are reaching out at various community events to inform the public about their services.

The couple will be in Calhoun County on Nov. 11 at the Calhoun County High School from 9 a.m. to noon. Free diabetic foot screenings will be offered at the event.

Bik, a native of New Jersey, completed his undergraduate studies at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, where he graduated with a degree in biology.

He attended the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia.

Bik then completed a four-year residency in podiatric medicine and surgery (reconstructive rear-foot and ankle surgery) at Temple University Hospital in North Philadelphia.

His clinical interests include foot and ankle reconstruction, trauma, sports injuries, wound care, diabetic limb salvage and minimally invasive surgery.

Rihn earned her undergraduate degree from the College of Charleston, majoring in biology with a minor in business. Her family lives in Folly Beach.

She went on to earn her medical degree from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. She completed a four-year residency at the University of Pennsylvania.

She specializes in both non-surgical and surgical treatment of various foot and ankle conditions, with special interests in arthritic conditions, fractures and sports injuries, bunion and hammertoe treatment, and diabetic care/limb salvage.

“As podiatric medicine is a completely new service line for our location, they have been visiting practices in outlying areas in an effort to reach patients outside of Orangeburg as well,” Berry said. “They have also offered foot screenings at several recent community events.”

“Adding foot and ankle specialists who not only provide podiatry services but also specialize in surgical procedures, including diabetic limb salvage, is a health care victory for our area,” Berry continued, noting the prevalence of diabetes.

The clinic has nine total providers, including three orthopedists and four advanced practice providers.

The clinic offers technology such robotic total joint replacement, allowing for quicker recovery time.

The hospital’s orthopedics practice was previously located in the Medical Arts Center on Cook Road before moving to the hospital’s annex building. The practice was formerly named the South Carolina Orthopedics Institute.

The office has a check-in area, 12 exam rooms, a nursing area, and three podiatry treatment rooms.

“We are so happy that our ortho urgent care is now open and offering great services to the community,” MUSC Health-Orangeburg Chief Executive Officer Walter Bennett said, noting the “space is new and improved.”

“It is everything you need to not have to go to the emergency department. I am so glad it is open and it is going to offer a great experience for our ortho community from here on out,” he said.

The annex building formerly housed the hospital’s Express Care center, which closed in August.

MUSC Health announced earlier this year that it was expanding its orthopedic services and its sports medicine contract with the Orangeburg County School District.

The clinic will serve as the headquarters of the hospital’s sports medicine team.

The hospital system hired a board-certified athletic trainer Brittany Miller to coordinate the new partnership.

The program’s goal is to grow its staff to allow daily on-site sports medicine coverage throughout the academic year, as well as provide coverage for all home varsity football games.

The partnership will extend to the summer months for off-season conditioning. The partnership also grants OCSD access to additional services, such as MUSC Health’s Sports Concussion Program, enhanced access to MUSC Health’s referral network and clinical trials if necessary.

The clinic’s non-urgent hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. The clinic is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

The ortho urgent care clinic can be reached at 803-395-3400 and the practice can be reached at 803-395-3837.