OMAHA, NE – April, 2024 – From insurance to scheduling and everything in between, today’s healthcare landscape can be complex and difficult to navigate alone. Especially when a sudden orthopedic injury has you questioning: “Do I need immediate care?”
OrthoNebraska recently launched a free online chat service called askOrtho. Free to use, askOrtho puts people in touch with trusted, local orthopedic experts seven days a week. Anyone in Nebraska or Iowa who has been hurt – or who is the guardian of an injured child – recently can ask questions and get quick, expert advice to help them determine their next steps.
Unlike traditional telehealth services, askOrtho is provided at no cost and does not require insurance to speak to a medical specialist. The service was created to help people avoid unnecessary or costly visits.
Besides being free, askOrtho is quick too. Individuals can get expert advice in as little as five minutes.
“We understand how stressful it can be when you, or someone you know, has recently experienced an injury and is unsure of what to do next,” Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Ryan Arnold said. “Our goal is to ease these concerns by connecting individuals with our expert team members to provide peace of mind.”
Since its launch, parents like Christina Kollasch have been able to use askOrtho for medical advice at a moment’s notice.
This winter, Kollasch’s daughter was out sledding with friends, when she suddenly collided with one of them at the bottom of the hill, hitting a rock hidden beneath the snow. Kollasch wasn’t sure if her daughter needed immediate medical attention or not.
“My past experiences with OrthoNebraska have been nothing less than exceptional,” Kollasch recalled. “There was no doubt in my mind that OrthoNebraska was where I would take her with her injury.”
Using askOrtho, Kollasch was able to chat with an orthopedic specialist about her daughter’s injury. After just a few minutes, they were able to determine the best next step was to visit the Orthopedic Urgent Care, which is open in multiple locations seven days a week.
“I was grateful to have my questions answered before coming into the clinic and without having to make a phone call,” Kollasch said. “Everyone at OrthoNebraska has been extremely quick, professional and friendly.”
As a trusted provider in high-quality orthopedic care, OrthoNebraska receives a large number of questions from people in the community. Dr. Arnold says that this chat program supports their mission to reach more individuals in need of care by centralizing resources.
“This service was built to be like texting a friend who is an orthopedic expert,” Dr. Arnold said. “Truly, it is a free orthopedic consultation in your pocket.”
askOrtho is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Messages sent to askOrtho outside of these times are responded to the following day. For serious or life-threatening injuries, please seek immediate medical assistance. To learn more about askOrtho, please visit orthonebraska.com/ask-ortho/.
