Life as we know it has changed drastically in the last two months with the arrival of COVID-19 in the United States. Our homes have become offices, classrooms, and gyms. Your home can also be the place where you access medical care through telemedicine, a care platform where you consult with your doctor via telephone or video conferencing app.
Dr. Apurva Dalal and the entire team at Tri-State Orthopaedics remain eager to provide you with diagnostic services, treatment, and advice. Both our Germantown and Memphis offices are open, but we’re doing things differently, and want to bring you up to speed.
The new normal for how we provide care during COVID-19 is ever-evolving, because COVID-19 is itself dynamic. No matter what changes we incorporate into our lives temporarily or for the long term, Dr. Dalal and the team are here for you to do all they can to help you maintain your orthopaedic health.
We’ve adapted to new ways of providing care
Our care is focused on freeing you from pain and giving you greater freedom of movement. We do this by providing in-office diagnoses and treatments, offering physical therapy, and performing surgical procedures.
Dr. Dalal’s top concern is keeping you safe while providing treatment throughout this period, as we navigate this uncharted territory. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons provides important guidance on how orthopaedic specialists can continue to provide care safely.
Their updates have counseled orthopaedic care providers on everything from helping patients deal with postponed elective surgery to new in-office visit protocols.
Like many physicians’ offices, both of our locations are open, and we’re offering telemedicine appointments to patients who need consultations that focus on:
- Diagnoses
- Post-surgical care
- Physical therapy
- The best ways to address pain if you’re struggling with conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and shoulder, back, or knee pain
If COVID-19 hit as you were recovering from a sports injury, fracture, or surgery, we’re available to prescribe medications, advise you about cold and heat therapy, and discuss exercises that will be helpful if you’re experiencing orthopedic discomfort.
How to stay active when you’re confined
We know the power of movement to heal and to keep your joints healthy, but even getting exercise isn’t as simple as it used to be. You might be wondering what you can do at home to stay active but also avoid risking injury.
Dr. Dalal can talk to you about outdoor activities options that are low impact, like walking and cycling, as well as many virtual exercise options, from yoga to virtual fitness classes for every level of student.
Don’t deny yourself orthopaedic care or needed surgery, even during isolation
Fortunately, elective orthopaedic surgeries resumed as of May 1, since Governor Lee pronounced it safe, providing that hospitals can still be ready for any COVID-19-related patient surge that may occur. Stil, orthopaedic surgery and routine care will likely look different forever.
Fewer surgeries are scheduled per day, new and more scrupulous sterilization processes are in effect, and all hospital staff are tested for COVID-19 regularly. Patients are also getting screened as necessary when they visit us or the hospital.
Dr. Dalal’s biggest concern is keeping the quality of your care identical to what it was before COVID-19, while incorporating necessary safety precautions during in-person office visits.
Despite what’s happening with COVID-19, we at Tri-State Orthopaedics remain focused on you. Call our office to schedule a telehealth or in-person appointment at either of our offices, or use our convenient online booking tool.