OrthoExpress opens 1st location in Chelsea

A new location for orthopedic care is open in Chelsea.

OrthoExpress, a freestanding orthopedic urgent care clinic, opened its first location at 104 Chelsea Pointe on March 1.

The facility offers “expedited specialty care and orthopedics in an urgent care setting,” said Bryan Wimbish, the clinic’s care provider. The Chelsea location is the first clinic of its kind in the state, said physician's assistant Suzanne Haddock, and aims to provide a cheaper, after-hours alternative to the emergency room.

“It’s too difficult for patients to get afternoon and evening appointments for their orthopedic injuries, and too expensive to seek treatment in the emergency room,” Wimbish said. “We will be here to provide convenient access to our patients, and help expedite their care to another specialist or service when additional treatment is required.”

Rather than replace a regular doctor, Wimbish said the clinic will act as a “gateway to care,” meaning patients can get a diagnosis for their injury as a way to determine if they need immediate attention or complex treatment. This can be beneficial to “orthopedic newbies,” Haddock added. 

If someone does not know how to navigate orthopedic care or is not sure how to handle an injury, she said, they could benefit from coming to OrthoExpress. The clinic can treat sprains, fractures and dislocations, and physicians can call into nearby hospitals if a patient needs an MRI.

Their location on U.S. 280, Haddock said, provides easy access to care for Shelby County and Birmingham. They hope to work with local athletic organizations, including high school and youth sports, Wimbish said.

The Chelsea location is the first OrthoExpress in the area, but the clinic plans to expand into five more locations in Central Alabama.

OrthoExpress will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 1-6 p.m.

For more information, go to facebook.com/orthoexpressurgentcare.