University Hospitals Department of Orthopaedics Update | Fall 2020
October 25, 2020
Resiliency marks department’s growth and development of “return to play” plans for pro and amateur athletes alike
Innovations in Orthopaedics | Fall 2020
James Voos, MDGreat athletes have an exceptional ability to focus, persevere and give their all, no matter how many obstacles get thrown their way. The physicians, clinicians and staff that comprise the University Hospitals Department of Orthopedics displayed that athlete mindset as they worked together to overcome numerous challenges. As a result, the Department is stronger, more resilient and busier than ever.
Orthopedic volume in July 2020 exceeded that of July 2019. Ohio’s stay-at-home orders may have contributed to the surge.
“With fewer people traveling, and more working from home, those who needed joint replacement or another elective procedure decided to make the appointment,” says James E. Voos, MD, Chair of the UH Department of Orthopedics. “This year is a good time for maintenance for those patients, and we’re thrilled they chose us. It’s our duty to continue to provide excellent service, and by modifying our environment we’ve been successful.”
NEW PHYSICIANS BRING EXPERTISE TO NEW AREAS
That success extends to UH Department of Orthopedics services to new regions. To meet the needs of communities, the department welcomes three new hires: Michael Fisher, DO, at University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center in Ashland, Ohio; Jacob Calcei, MD, who joins University Hospitals Portage Medical Center; and Rikesh Patel, MD, also at UH Portage Medical Center.
“With the addition of Dr. Patel, UH Portage Medical Center now has a full complement of orthopedic surgeons,” Dr. Voos says. “Dr. Calcei brings fellowship-trained orthopedic sports medicine expertise to patients in that area.”
A native of Northeast Ohio, Dr. Calcei specializes in the treatment of acute injuries and chronic conditions of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle. Dr. Fisher, also from the area, fills notable orthopedic needs in Ashland, Ohio. He is fellowship-trained in pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine and treats the full spectrum of adult and pediatric orthopedic conditions, including sports injuries and specialty care.
GO CLEVELAND BROWNS!
This marks year seven for University Hospitals as the Official Healthcare Partner of the Cleveland Browns. Year seven is certainly one for the history books; for starters, it’s the first year the team has played through a pandemic.
To ensure the highest level of safety for players, coaches, staff and family, UH Sports Medicine collaborated with UH infectious disease, primary care and emergency medicine physicians to create a “return to play” protocol. “We came together as a team to create a healthy environment and to make sure we had the right testing protocols in place,” Dr. Voos says. “We’re thrilled with the outcomes so far.”
The experience the sports medicine team gained in keeping the Browns safe, combined with its collective experience treating teams at more than 50 regional schools, helped to create a similar “return to play” protocol for school-age athletes. “We’ve had safe results so far,” Dr. Voos says. “The schools have done a great job of executing these programs, and the athletes are doing a great job at taking all precautions.”
Life is a sport, and we all play on multiple teams: with our families, our communities, our peers and the care teams that keep patients healthy. When we take care of one another and work together, we all win.
To learn more about UH Department of Orthopedics or to refer a patient for musculoskeletal care, call 216-553-1783.