By LISA HERMAN
[email protected]
NORTON — Through its partnering relationship with Rooks County Health Center (RCH), the Norton County Hospital proudly announces the launch of orthopedic services in Norton with the addition of Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Gregory Sarin, who has expanded his specialty orthopedic care to the Norton community.
Dr. Sarin completed his undergraduate study at Regis University in Denver, Colo., and then received his medical training at the University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, Mo. His internship was carried out at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., and his Residency was completed at the Memorial Hospital in York, Pa. He completed his Sports Medicine Fellowship at Kentucky Sports Medicine in Lexington, Ky., and also served as a team physician for Division I NCAA football and basketball teams.
In August of 2003, Dr. Sarin moved to Steamboat Springs, Colo., and began offering general orthopedic services to patients in the community. In 2012, his vision of opening his own practice became a reality when he founded Storm Mountain Orthopaedics. Board Certified with the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Sarin is dedicated to providing exceptional care for a broad range of sports-related injuries and other orthopedic conditions. In practice for over 20 years, he specializes in all aspects of knee injuries, as well as trauma, sports medicine, and total joint replacement.
Dr. Sarin is a physician for the United States Ski Team, and also serves as a member of the Routt County Search and Rescue. His memberships and associations include: the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Arthroscopy Association of North America, the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine, the American Osteopathic Association, the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, and the Wilderness Medicine Society. Additionally, he is a Credentialing Committee member at Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Dr. Sarin is an avid runner, rock climber, and skier. He is also quite passionate about dogs, and fosters dogs through the Mountain Pet Rescue. His current foster dog is very much a part of the Storm Mountain office, and greets patients as they arrive.
In August of 2015, Rooks County Health Center launched its orthopedic clinic services with weekly consultations and procedures performed by Dr. Sarin, as well as Joel McReynolds, PA-C, of New West Sports Medicine in Kearney, Neb. Dr. Sarin’s surgical services allowed those in Rooks County, and the surrounding areas, to have procedures completed close to home, and the addition of his specialty clinic offerings came just as Rooks County Health Center awaited the installation of a permanent in-house MRI.
According to Rooks County Health Center Chief Executive Officer, Mike Sinclair, the focus was to bring in specialists and state-of-the-art technology in order to give patients quality, personalized care in a progressive, nurturing, and innovative environment.
Rooks County Health Center is now collaborating with Norton County Hospital to assist in the launch of Dr. Sarin’s specialty orthopedic services to the Norton community. Dr. Sarin will be available twice monthly to see patients for consultations. Major surgeries, such as total joint replacements, will be performed at Rooks County Health Center, and patients will then return to Norton to have follow-up care with their local primary care physician. For less complex procedures, such as scopes, carpal tunnel procedures, and trigger finger procedures, Norton County Hospital purchased new equipment so these surgeries can be performed at Norton, as well as Rooks County Health Center.
According to Norton County Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Stover, the Hospital is presently working on architectural documents for the addition of a state-of-the-art surgical suites. Once construction is ready to begin, Stover projects that the surgical suites will take about 18 months to complete. Following the completion of the surgical suites, all of Dr. Sarin’s surgical procedures may be performed in Norton, as well as continuing at Rooks County Health Center. “We appreciate that Rooks County Health Center is coordinating with us on major surgeries such as joint replacements until our renovations and new construction is complete so we can offer all these orthopedic surgeries in-house,” said Gina Frack, Chief Operations Officer at Norton County Hospital.
Prior to its launch of orthopedic services, Stover says that Norton County Hospital started to see a change in services. “We found that our orthopedic patients were traveling to other facilities for care, and we realized that we needed to do something to change the process,” he said. At the suggestion of Kellen Jacobs, Director of Rehabilitation at Norton County Hospital, Stover says that the Hospital began inquiring with patients regarding their follow-up care, and learned that many patients were coming straight home from out-of-town facilities and feeling that they weren’t receiving sufficient follow-up care. With the launch of services to be provided by Dr. Sarin, Stover says, “we think we can do a much better job with transitioning patients back into their homes while they receive care from a fantastic surgeon.”
Dr. Sarin’s first clinic was held at the Norton County Hospital on July 19. He is now accepting appointments for Thursday, August 18. To inquire about scheduling an appointment, please contact the Norton County Hospital at 785-877-3351, and ask for Kayla in the Health Information Management Department. Starting in September, Dr. Sarin plans to come to Norton on the first and third Tuesday of every month.
Republished with permission