Springfield, Pa. – Residents of Delaware County and beyond now have access to a very valuable resource — a toll-free phone number for prompt appointments with a Crozer-Keystone Human Motion Institute physician. Whatever the emergent concern — a hand injury, sports medicine injury or severe back pain, for example, one call to 1-877-CK-MOTION (1-877-256-6846) will get you an appointment with the right specialist right away.
“Anyone needing a prompt appointment can call the toll-free number,” says Kristen Creighton, Crozer-Keystone Business Development director for Orthopedics, and assistant vice president of Operations for Taylor Hospital. “It is primarily intended for new patients, but anyone can use it. Having this line benefits our physician specialists because they will be able to see patients who most closely fit their specialty areas. We work closely with the physicians to make sure we have prompt appointments for the patients.” Anyone with a neurosurgery (spine) or musculoskeletal issue (including hand, joint, or sports medicine) can call the line for an appointment with the appropriate specialist.
What to Expect When You Call
A live person answers the toll-free line within 30 seconds — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The phone operator will ask if the caller has a physician preference, a site preference (e.g., Do they want a physician close to their home?) and what kind of injury they have. The operator will then give an appointment to the caller with the physician who specializes in treating that injury or body part.
On evenings and weekends, the line is picked up by a live person from an answering service. The service takes a message and the call is returned the next business morning.
How to Prepare for Your Appointment
Jeffrey Malumed, M.D., president of Premier Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, and co-chief of the Section of Orthopedics at Taylor Hospital, explains that after patients get their appointment using the toll-free line, they will need to gather a few things to bring with them. “The patient should bring all testing they have had done, including any X-rays, MRI or EMG results,” he says. “They should bring the original films as well as the reports. If they have not had any testing, an orthopedic surgeon will prescribe X-rays.”
“Crozer-Keystone Health System is grateful to the Human Motion Institute physicians for recognizing the need for prompt appointments and working quickly to help get this toll-free line launched,” says Stephen DiMambro, CKHS vice president. “The physicians of Premier Orthopedics and Sports Medicine were part of the development process from the beginning — from the implementation of the line to identifying the slots for quick appointments. They, along with the administrative team that put it all together, are to be commended.”
What Creighton hopes to accomplish is “to separate ourselves from the competition, provide a good patient experience, and facilitate prompt appointments to see our CKHS Human Motion Institute specialists.”
Malumed echoes those sentiments. “This line will provide a service to residents of Delaware County to be seen in a timely fashion which covers treatment for all musculoskeletal body parts by doctors who are specially trained in those areas. We have a specialist for just about every need.”
The Human Motion Institute is a comprehensive program of musculoskeletal services provided across the health care system including orthopedic/joint care, sports medicine, hand care, outpatient rehabilitation, foot/ankle care, and spine care. Services include surgery, therapy, education, medical management and more.
For more information about the Human Motion Institute, or for referral to a joint, hand, sports medicine, spine or rehabilitation specialist, call 1-877-CK-MOTION (1-877-256-6846).
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