Frequently Asked Questions
Who is or What makes an Orthopaedic Surgeon?
An Orthopaedic Surgeon is a medical doctor who completed 4 years of medical school, 5 years of orthopaedic residency, and 1-2 years of subspecialty training during a fellowship. Orthopaedic surgeons operate on the musculoskeletal system (bones, cartilage, muscles, and tendons) to restore function and activity after traumatic injury or other pathological processes (osteoarthritis).
What are the Orthopaedic Subspecialties?
There are eight orthopaedic subspecialties - hand, foot and ankle, joint replacement, sports medicine, trauma, spine, pediatrics, and oncology. Nearly all of the physicians at OSI are subspeciality trained. This means they have spent at least one year and up to two years of extra training in their field of choice.
What does a Sports Specialist do?
Sports specialists perform arthroscopic surgery on the Shoulder, Elbow, Hip, and Knee. Not all of their patients are athletes, but most of the surgeries involve returning patients to their prior level of function. The sports specialists at OSI provide treatment to the athletes at the USA Volleyball Treatment Center, UCI, CSUF, Chapman University, Santa Ana College, and numerous local high schools (Mater Dei, Servite, Crean Lutheran, Villa Park, El Modena).
What difference does it make seeing a specialist?
At OSI, we feel that patients receive the best care when treated by someone who is an expert in the field. We feel the best results are obtained when patients are cared for someone who regularly sees, examines, and operates on patients with similar problems. It doesn't make sense to have a hand surgeon do your knee replacement or to have a joint surgeon do your hand surgery. The Orthopedic Specialty Institute is a facility founded and organized by a group of dedicated, specialized Orthopaedic Surgeons to provide the highest quality of care in a professional, comfortable, congenial, and caring atmosphere.
What Should I bring to my visit?
On your visit to OSI, you should bring your ID, insurance card(s), any xrays you may have, and any MRI or CT scans you may have, old operative reports, and other consultations / notes. If you have specific questions you can call the office staff for your particular physician's preferences. You should also consider bringing comfortable clothing to allow access to the body part to be examined or a disposable gown / shorts can provided at the office.
Does OSI take my insurance?
OSI accepts most types of insurance - PPO, POS, EPO, HMO, Medicare, and Worker's Compensation. However, we may or may not be in network for a particular provider at a particular time. Insurance plans are constantly changing and at OSI we are always working to adapt to these changes. If you have a specific question about your plan - please call our main number 714-634-4567 and ask for the billing office to assist you. You will need to have your insurance ID card ready to provide information regarding your plan.
Do I need a referral?
At OSI, we are happy to see you with or without a referral.
Does OSI take Medicare?
At OSI, we do accept medicare at all of our facilities - the office, the surgery center, physical therapy, pool therapy, hand therapy, and MRI.