OIP Named Best in Cumberland County
The Sentinel readers recently named us the Best Orthopedic Specialist of Cumberland County! Of 62,000 votes from over 4,000 readers, Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania earned the top spot. Thank you Cumberland County for your trust in us. Congratulations to all of the ‘Best Of’ Winners – check them all out here.
New OIP Carlisle office opens
Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania Opens New Facility in Carlisle
New 30,000 square-foot facility increases orthopedic access to Carlisle and surrounding communities
CARLISLE, PA (June 9, 2021) – The Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania (OIP) is pleased to announce the opening of its new Carlisle facility, offering neighbors in and around the area with increased access to orthopedic specialists and services, including general orthopedic care, pain management, podiatry, rheumatology, MRI and physical therapy.
This newly constructed, 30,000 square-foot facility is located at 250 Alexander Spring Road – directly across the street from the practice’s previous Carlisle office. Currently, 11 OIP physicians are available for appointments in Carlisle.
Patients from the Carlisle area, and surrounding communities of Newville, Shippensburg, Mechanicsburg, Boiling Springs, Mount Holly Springs, Chambersburg, Gardners, Shermans Dale, Dillsburg and more, can find expert orthopedic care minutes from home.
“We broke ground on the new Carlisle facility roughly two years ago, and we are thrilled to begin seeing patients there this month,” says Will Thompson, OIP’s CEO. “This modern, expansive office offers patients in and around the growing Carlisle region a convenient orthopedic solution, close to home – and access to a broader range of specialists and services.”
The following physicians are available for appointments in Carlisle:
The practice also has plans to open another Orthopedic Injury Clinic at this site, offering extended walk-in hours seven days per week. OIP Ortho Injury Clinics provide access to specialized care during times which can be especially helpful to those with busy weekday schedules or to treat injuries sustained during a weekend that used to require a trip to the emergency room. Patients can get treated readily by an orthopedic provider in an OIP facility instead of waiting for hours in an emergency room.
OIP has seven locations throughout the central Pennsylvania area, including Camp Hill, Carlisle, Harrisburg, Hershey, Newport and Millersburg. To schedule an appointment at any OIP office, please call (717) 761-5530 or visit www.OIP.com. For 24/7 urgent orthopedic advice and care, call (855) OUCH-OIP.
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The Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania (OIP) is a physician-owned practice, which means decisions about care are always made in the exam room between patient and provider – not influenced by decisions in a boardroom. In OIP’s 50 years of service to the central Pennsylvania community, the group’s primary business objective has been and continues to be exceptional patient care. To learn more, visit www.OIP.com.
Our NEW Millersburg office is OPEN
Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania Expands Millersburg Presence
MILLERSBURG, PA (June 1, 2021) – The Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania (OIP) is pleased to announce the opening of its new Millersburg facility, offering neighbors in and around the area with increased access to orthopedic specialists and services, including general orthopedic care, podiatry, and physical therapy.
This newly renovated, 7,500 square-foot facility is located at 75 N. Evelyn Drive – only a short drive from the practice’s previous Millersburg office. Patients from the Millersburg area, and surrounding communities of Halifax, Lykens, Elizabethville, Williamstown, Tower City, Dalmatia, Wiconsico, Gratz, Herndon and more, can find expert orthopedic care minutes from home.
The Millersburg office will also soon be home to OIP’s third Orthopedic Injury Clinic, offering extended walk-in hours seven days per week. OIP Ortho Injury Clinics provide access to specialized care during times which can be especially helpful to those with busy weekday schedules or to treat injuries sustained during a weekend that used to require a trip to the emergency room. Patients can get treated readily by an orthopedic provider in an OIP facility instead of waiting for hours in an emergency room.
“We are pleased to open our new Millersburg office and expand our services to this region,” says Will Thompson, OIP’s CEO. “This new facility offers patients a convenient orthopedic solution, close to home – and access to a broader range of specialists and services.”
The following physicians are available for appointments in Millersburg:
Raymond Dahl, D.O. – Dr. Dahl has been serving the Millersburg community for many years and provides care for all general orthopedic problems. He has a special interest in joint replacement and spine surgery. He received his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, where he graduated with honors in the top 10 percent of his class. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Pinnacle Health System before joining OIP in 2003.
Christopher Schank, D.P.M. – Dr. Schank is a board-qualified podiatric surgeon with special interest in limb deformity, Charcot reconstruction, advanced ankle instability, arthritic conditions of the foot and ankle, sports related injuries, foot reconstructions and ankle replacement. He graduated from Lebanon Valley College with the highest honors, and athletically earned membership into the MACC All-Century Baseball team, receiving academic All-American status. Dr. Schank completed his graduate education at Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, then went on to receive a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine. He later completed his Podiatric Surgical and Reconstruction residency at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township, Michigan.
OIP has seven locations throughout the central Pennsylvania area, including Camp Hill, Carlisle, Harrisburg, Hershey, Newport and Millersburg. To schedule an appointment at any OIP office, please call (717) 761-5530 or visit www.OIP.com. For 24/7 urgent orthopedic advice and care, call (855) OUCH-OIP.
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The Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania (OIP) is a physician-owned practice, which means decisions about care are always made in the exam room between patient and provider – not influenced by decisions in a boardroom. In OIP’s 50 years of service to the central Pennsylvania community, the group’s primary business objective has been and continues to be exceptional patient care. To learn more, visit www.OIP.com.
OIP 50th Message featured in The Sentinel
Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania was recently featured in The Sentinel, including quotes from the group’s CEO Will Thompson on the group’s 50 year history and its commitment to remaining independent and accessible to patients. Find it online here, or read below.
Much has changed in our healthcare community over the past five years – private practices consolidating, selling, and becoming part of larger hospital groups, and insurers determining where patients can go for treatment. Despite these changes, Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania (OIP), now celebrating its 50th year of service to the Greater Harrisburg area and surrounding communities, has remained independent and accessible to patients.
When OIP was established in 1971, not many could have imagined that it would become the last remaining independent orthopedic group in Harrisburg; moreover, one of the few remaining independent groups throughout the country.
“We have always credited OIP’s success to our emphasis on personalized care. Our staff and providers are very service-oriented, and that has been our philosophy for 50 years,” shared Will Thompson, CEO. “When we decide to add a physician to the group, we make sure that he or she is not only a good doctor, but a good person. Yes, they are experts in the field, but our physicians are also personable and truly care about the patients they treat – that is evident.”
One of the ways in which the practice remains accessible to patients is by accepting all major insurances, including Highmark and UPMC Health Plan. OIP is not constrained by some of the parameters that affect other practices because it works with both Penn State Health System and UPMC. OIP physicians have operating privileges at hospitals that are affiliated with both networks, including its own outpatient surgery center.
OIP’s practitioners include experts in hand, wrist and upper extremity surgery; foot and ankle surgery; arthroscopic shoulder, elbow and knee surgery; hip and knee joint replacement and revision surgery, spine surgery, pain management, rheumatology and podiatry.
The practice was the first in the area to open an orthopedic urgent care offering extended walk-in hours seven days per week to ensure the most convenient care possible. Currently located in the Camp Hill and Harrisburg offices, and coming soon to our new Millersburg office, the OIP Ortho Injury Clinics provide access to specialized care during times which can be especially helpful to those with busy weekday schedules or to treat injuries sustained during a weekend that used to require a trip to the emergency room. Now patients can get treated readily by an orthopedic provider in an OIP facility instead of waiting for hours in an emergency room. Additionally, Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania offers many on-site services, including Physical Therapy, MRI, DME, Pain Management, Rheumatology, and Podiatry.
Over the past 50 years, OIP physicians have cared for generations of patients – trust in the group has passed from parent to child to grandchild. “We feel that these generations of satisfied patients are the best and strongest sources of referral to our practice,” shared Thompson. “Our physicians never take for granted the trust and confidence of our patients.”
As a physician-owned practice, decisions about care are always made in the exam room between patient and provider – not influenced by decisions in a boardroom. OIP’s primary business objective has always been and continues to be exceptional patient care. The group believes this philosophy will see them to another 50 years of service to the community.
To learn more or find a physician near you, visit www.OIP.com or call us at (717) 775-7710.
Simply The Best 2021 Voting Now Open
Harrisburg Magazine’s ‘Simply the Best 2021’ voting is now open, and we’re asking for your help! We are honored to have been voted Simply The Best in the Harrisburg area for 10 consecutive years – Please help us make it 11!
If our team at OIP has helped you overcome injury or pain and get back to the things you enjoy most, please take a moment to vote for us in each of the four categories below.
Simply follow each link below and place your vote for OIP:
- Medical – Orthopedics (Click Here to Vote)
- Medical – Pain Specialist Clinic (Click Here to Vote)
- Health Services – Physical Therapist (Click Here to Vote)
- Local Favorites – Place to Work (101+ Employees) (Click Here to Vote)
We know that trust is earned, and respect your choice to choose your orthopedic provider – and when and where you have surgery. Thank you for choosing us!
OIP unveils new logo in its 50th year
Same Mission. Same Values. Same Physicians. A Brand New Look!
This year, we will celebrate our 50th year of service to Central Pennsylvania patients. Throughout the year we will be reflecting on our past, and more importantly, looking to the future of OIP as one of the region’s few remaining physician-owned and independent orthopedic groups. This year will bring several exciting announcements as we expand our presence and services to meet the needs of our community.
We are excited to share with you the first of these announcements…
Our NEW LOGO that represents both the history and future direction of the practice.
It reflects our mission to keep YOU, our patients, at the center of all we do. We strive to provide a complete circle of care to address all your orthopedic needs. From preventative services to immediate care. From conservative approaches to surgical interventions.
OIP Doctors Receive Education Awards
We congratulate Dr. DeLuca, Dr. Dahl, & Dr. Himmelwright for being recognized by UPMC Pinnacle for their ongoing contributions to teaching and education in the field of orthopedics. These doctors go the extra mile by offering their expertise to the next generation of doctors. Way to go!
Important OIP Family of Care Provider Update
To Our Family of Care Patients:
On May 23, 2020, the seven physicians in the OIP Arlington Division, (Timothy Ackerman, William Beutler, Matthew Espenshade, John Grandrimo, Scott King, Robert Maurer and Walter Peppelman) will no longer be a part of our OIP group practice. They will become employees of a hospital-owned group at UPMC Pinnacle.
If you wish to continue care with our OIP physicians, you do not need to do anything other than continue to make your appointments with us by calling 717-761-5530.
If you are planning to follow an Arlington Division physician to UPMC, please check your insurance plan as your co-pays and coverage could be affected.
You have the right of patient freedom of choice to select the physician as you wish, and OIP is prepared to serve you and meet your medical needs.
OIP gives $12,000 to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
CAMP HILL, Pa. (PA), April 28, 2020- Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania’s charitable foundation donated $12,000 to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in support of the food bank’s effort to distribute healthy, nutritious food to some of the most vulnerable in Central Pa. The donation will supply approximately 70,000 meals to thousands of households and individuals in Dauphin, Cumberland, York and Perry counties.
“What makes this special to OIP, is that we’re able to give back to the local communities that are at the heart of what we do,” said Will Thompson, CEO of Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania. “Through the Orthopedic Institute of PA Foundation Fund, of the Foundation for Enhancing Communities, we are able to reach outside our walls and tangibly help those in need.”
Thompson says “As we are here to serve our patients through this pandemic, we also understand the needs of our local community. Part of the mission of our foundation is to support those within our own backyard who may be facing difficulties.”
“We are so thankful to OIP for providing much-needed support to our Crisis Response,” said Joe Arthur, Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and its partner network have provided over 50% more food in the last month than in previous months and we believe demand will grow further as the economic crisis continues. Support like this also helps us provide the healthiest foods available.”
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank welcomes this donation, and invites others to help bring food to needy families by making financial donations to the food bank. To make donations to help with the increased need in Central Pennsylvania communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic, visit www.centralpafoodbank.org. People in need of food assistance can call the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s helpline at 1-877-999-5964.
For orthopedic needs, OIP’s walk in clinic is open 7 days a week. Call 1-888-OUCH-OIP or click here for more information. OIP would like to encourage all those who are able to give to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to do so at this time.
Chronic Knee Pain: Causes and Treatments
Joint pain is bothersome in any form, but when it becomes chronic, it can be debilitating. Chronic knee pain can make the simplest tasks seem almost impossible. Everything from walking to sitting down can be painful, and coping with chronic knee pain without seeking treatment can make the situation even worse.
The knee joints are two of the strongest and most vulnerable joints in the body. Knowing what could injure them and how to properly treat any knee injury can be the difference between living an active life and living in discomfort.
What Causes Chronic Knee Pain?
The causes of chronic knee pain can vary, but they’re usually the result of two reasons:
- Trauma: Traumatic injuries are usually ones that happen suddenly, like falling. However, they can also be the result of repetitive motions or receiving a blow to the knee.
- Medical conditions: As we age, our bodies become more vulnerable to degenerative disorders, such as arthritis. Some of these conditions negatively affect the joints, leading to chronic pain.
Chronic knee pain causes ongoing discomfort in the knee — this can be in the form of swelling or sensitivity, and it can affect one or both knees. Traumatic injuries can lead to dislocation of the kneecap, a fracture or tears in ligaments or in the meniscus — which is a piece of cartilage that provides cushioning.
Traumatic injuries are often preventable with simple activities, like ensuring you warm up properly before exercising and using proper protective equipment when playing sports. Medical conditions aren’t always preventable, though.
Degenerative issues, like osteoarthritis or gout, or more serious concerns, like tumors, can result in chronic knee pain, and there’s little a person can do to prevent them. Other medical conditions that may lead to chronic knee pain include:
- Tendonitis: Typically a pain in the front part of the knee, tendonitis will only get worse with continued movement.
- Baker’s cyst: There is fluid in the knee that helps lubricate it, so it can bend easily and without pain. When this fluid builds up, it can form a baker’s cyst, which can cause ongoing knee pain.
- Bursitis: When the knee is overused, especially without proper rest, it can become inflamed, resulting in bursitis.
- Chondromalacia patella: Chondromalacia patella occurs when the cartilage below the kneecap has been damaged.
- Osteosarcoma: A type of bone cancer that most often happens in the knee, osteosarcoma is also the second most common type of bone cancer.
- Cellulitis: The good bacteria that live on our skin are meant to live on it, not in it. Cellulitis occurs when that bacteria ends up under the skin’s protective surface, causing a bacterial infection.
Chronic Versus Acute Pain
Pain is the body’s way of warning you, which is why it usually comes on quickly and eventually fades away. Pain from stubbing your toe or healing from surgery are both examples of acute pain, because they don’t last longer than a few months. In many cases, the pain will lessen and disappear as the cause disappears.
Alternatively, chronic pain doesn’t go away without medical intervention. However, chronic pain can also occur, even if the initial cause of pain heals or disappears because the pain signals remain active for a long time.
Usually, acute pain is fleeting and often goes away with time. Chronic pain, on the other hand, is the result of a singular significant incident and rarely goes away on its own — it requires diagnosing and treatment.
How to Diagnose Chronic Knee Pain
There are two steps to getting a chronic knee pain diagnosis: a consultation with a doctor, and any potential imaging or lab tests.
The doctor will determine which diagnostic lab tests are needed after they have performed a physical examination of your knee. They will ask you to bend the knee and may feel around to see if certain areas hurt more. Their conclusions will dictate which lab tests will be needed.
Lab or imaging tests for chronic knee pain diagnoses can include X-rays, blood work, MRIs or CT scans. You may need to go in for multiple imaging or lab tests, so the doctor can diagnose what type of chronic knee pain you have, so you can begin the appropriate treatment.
How to Treat Chronic Knee Pain
While chronic knee pain doesn’t fade away on its own, it is treatable. The type of chronic knee pain you’re experiencing will dictate which course of treatment is best for your situation.
There are several types of treatments that are options, including:
1. Therapy
Physical therapy helps strengthen the muscles around the painful area of the knee, which helps make it stable. Depending on the cause of your chronic knee pain, you may be prescribed physical therapy or just physical exercise to perform on your own at home.
If you’re active, the doctor may prescribe specific exercises that will help retrain how you use your knees to take some pressure off the injured one. Similarly, you may be required to wear a leg brace or invest in tools to improve your foot’s arch to redistribute your weight.
2. Injections
Your doctor may prescribe injections for chronic knee pain, which will help alleviate the pain for several months. Some substances that can potentially help include:
- Corticosteroids: This drug helps reduce the inflammation and symptoms of arthritis, leaving you pain-free for months. However, corticosteroids don’t work for everyone.
- Hyaluronic acid: This acid mimics the natural fluid used for lubrication in the knees. It increases mobility and reduces joint pain and can last for several months. However, the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid is contested.
- Platelet-rich plasma: Ideal for those whose chronic knee pain is due to ligament tears or sprains, platelet-rich plasma is a concoction of platelets from your own body to help heal injuries.
3. Medication
Pain-relief medication can sometimes be a simple answer to chronic knee pain. Your doctor may prescribe painkillers that are stronger than over-the-counter ones to help you manage any discomfort.
4. Surgery
Often used as a last resort, surgery is sometimes the most effective treatment for chronic pain. Surgery will likely only be an option after other treatments fail. When surgery does become an option, the type will be dependent on the specifics of your chronic knee pain.
One option is to try to fix whatever is injured, such as mending a torn ligament or damaged cartilage. Another option is to partially or completely replace the knee. Partial knee surgery replaces only the extremely damaged parts of the knee with artificial parts made of metal and plastic. A full knee replacement, as its name suggests, replaces the entire knee with an artificial joint.
Find Chronic Knee Pain Treatment Near You
There’s no need to suffer through chronic knee pain, especially when the Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania’s physicians are here to help. While surgery may end up being the best option, it is never the first one we suggest. We opt instead to work with each patient to find non-invasive ways to treat chronic pain.
With numerous locations across Pennsylvania, we’re dedicated to helping you live a pain-free life. To request an appointment at one of our locations, simply fill out the form online or call 717-761-5530.