MDNews - Central New York

COVER FEATURE More Than Medicine F IN ANOTHER AGE OF MEDICINE, A PHYSICIAN'S ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY EXTENDED BEYOND THE DOORS OF THE PRACTICE INTO THE LIVES OF PATIENTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. WITH THREE RECENTLY LAUNCHED INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS, SYRACUSE ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALISTS (SOS) IS RETURNING TO THE PHYSICIAN TRADITION OF NOT ONLY PROVIDING EXPERT CARE, BUT ALSO SERVING AS AN ESSENTIAL CORNERSTONE OF THE SYRACUSE COMMUNITY. OUNDED IN 2001, SOS is the result of a merger of the three largest private orthopedic groups in the area. Today, the practice has grown to comprise 28 orthopedic surgeons offering care in all major fields of orthopedics, including fracture care, general orthopedics, hand surgery, joint replacement, spine surgery and sports medicine. SOS is equipped with bone scan, digital X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology and operates its own surgery center for outpatient procedures. While the practice strives to Michael Humphrey, CEO of Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists provide expert orthopedic care, SOS is also investing in Syracuse with the opening of SOS PLUS — an after- hours clinic — and partnerships with Syracuse University (SU) and St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center. Leading by Example The field of orthopedics encom- Todd Battaglia, M.D., specializing in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at SOS passes sports medicine, as well as the injuries incurred in the workplace. SOS couples a strong commitment to the former — many of the physicians are fellowship- trained specialists who provide team coverage for several local athletic programs — with an under- standing for the similarities of work-related injuries. In partnering with SU, SOS plans to provide both kinds of care to Syracuse's largest employee population. "Of course, when you talk about 8 | Central New York MD NEWS ■ MDNEWS.COM sports injuries, you are really talking about work-related injuries, also. They are many times discussed separately, but in reality with everyday people doing repetitive motions, we want to get them back to work much like we want to get an athlete back on the field," says Michael Humphrey, CEO of SOS. "Our broad-ranging sports medi- cine program covers work-related injuries and the casual athlete right up to the more serious team athlete. We see SU as a major employer and a large presence in the community." During the past year, SOS has been actively developing a relation- ship with SU involving sponsorship of sporting events. Humphrey explains the partnership is expected to evolve into shared wellness initia- tives and orthopedic support for SU employees. More importantly, the affiliation allows SOS to follow in the footsteps of the premier leader in community development. SOS has already joined SU in assist- ing charities such as On Point for College and the Centers at St. Camillus by sponsoring fund- raisers and events. Through the SU partnership, the continually growing practice plans to contrib- ute to the vibrancy of Syracuse and local causes at a high level. An After-Hours Solution According to a Press Ganey report, the average emergency department wait time amounts PHOTOS © COURTESY OF SYRACUSE ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALISTS

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