Clinic opening marks expansion of state-of-the-art health care

When the Physical Medicine Clinic at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center celebrates its grand opening 3 p.m. on March 11, it marks the expansion of state-of-the-art health care.

A two-year, $800,000 project in the making, the clinic — located on the third floor of Bldg. 3703 — will be able to provide the highest level of comprehensive, musculoskeletal care for DOD beneficiaries throughout Europe and Africa, and for Wounded Warriors supporting ongoing military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In addition, the Physical Medicine Clinic is also taking this opportunity to welcome Dr. Danny Walker, the first chiropractor for the KMC. Dr. Walker is working in the Physical Medicine Clinic treating active-duty service members only.

The key stimulus for the new clinic has been the steady increase in the number of patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders — everything from overuse injuries such as knee arthritis and back pain, to tendon injuries such as tennis elbow, to repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, said Maj. (Dr.) George Smolinski, project supervisor.

“We are physiatrists — physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating these and many other muscle, joint and nerve disorders and focus on not only reducing pain but improving function and quality of life. As such, the demand for our services has grown exponentially,” Major Smolinski said. “In addition, the technology to both diagnose and treat many of these conditions has improved remarkably in the past five to 10 years.”

Examples of these technologies include refinements in electromyogram nerve testing, portable musculoskeletal ultrasound, and platelet-rich-plasma injections. Having procured the equipment used in these diagnostic and treatment methods, Major Smolinski said LRMC is now able to perform procedures conducted at few places in the military health care system.

“When I arrived at LRMC two and a half years ago, we saw a definite need to apply our knowledge base as physiatrists to as many patients as possible, and embrace the new and emerging technologies,”

Major  Smolinski said. “It has been extremely rewarding to have initiated this process and then to have had the support of the many departments at LRMC as well as our NCOIC/clinic managers in this mission. The most rewarding aspect of this entire project, however, is the success stories we hear from our patients as we continue to work to reduce their pain and improve their function and quality of life.”

The Physical Medicine Clinic is a medical clinic staffed by physiatrists, who are medical doctors that are trained specialists in pain management, sports medicine, neurology, orthopedics, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Additionally, the clinic is staffed with Jesse Sorrells, an orthopedic physician’s assistant, and Dr. Walker. The clinic provides minimally invasive non-surgical procedures using a patient-centered philosophy and a team approach working closely with other specialists and subspecialists.

See your primary care provider for a referral the Physical Medicine Clinic.

(Courtesy of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Public Affairs)