Business Beat: The Doctors of Advanced Orthopedics

As part of our series focused on meeting business owners in the local community, we recently sent the doctors of Advanced Orthopedics of East Patchogue a host of questions. The doctors work both at a 285 Sills Road location in East Patchogue and 64 Commerce Drive, Riverhead location.

Patch: Describe what your business is?

Doctors: Advanced Orthopedics offers complete care of all orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions. Our board certified and fellowship trained physicians have the experience and expertise necessary to handle the complete spectrum of bone and joint issues, resulting in leading edge evaluation and treatment for our patients. The physicians of Advanced Orthopedics proudly maintain a tradition of excellence that dates back from the first orthopedic treatment provided locally by our founder, Dr. Abe Cohen, in 1961.

Patch: Where are you all from and what is your personal/professional background?

Doctors: Barry C. Kleeman, MD, FAAOS

Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

• Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy
• ACL and Meniscus Surgery
• Joint Replacement Surgery
• Rotator Cuff Repair
• Pediatric and Adult Fracture Care
• General Orthopedics

Richard A. Ritter, MD, FAAOS

Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

• Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy
• ACL and Meniscus Surgery
• Rotator Cuff Repair
• Joint Replacement Surgery
• Pediatric and Adult Fracture Care
• General Orthopedics

Alexander S. Finger, MD, FAAOS

Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

• Joint Replacement Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Arthroscopy/Meniscus Surgery
• Pediatric and Adult Fracture Care
• Ligament and Tendon Repair
• General Orthopedics

Itchak Schwarzbard, MD, MS, FAAOS

Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with
Subspecialty Certification in Surgery of the Hand

• Hand, Wrist and Upper Extremity Surgery
• Small Joint Arthroscopy and Joint Replacement
• Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel and Cubital Tunnel Surgery
• Ligament, Tendon and Nerve Repair/Microsurgery
• Pediatric and Adult Fracture Care
• General Orthopedics

Eric M. Manoff, MD, FAAOS

Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with
Subspecialty Certification in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

• Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy
• ACL and Meniscus Surgery
• Rotator Cuff Repair
• Pediatric and Adult Fracture Care
• Operative and Nonoperative Arthritis Treatment
• General Orthopedics

Patch: Why did you decide to open your business in East Patchogue?

Doctors: In the past, people had to travel to Manhattan to get high quality orthopedic surgical care. As Long Islanders, the physicians at Advanced Orthopedics wanted to be able to provide that same high level of care to our local community. We trained in the city and came to Patchogue because it was an underserved area in orthopedics. People were going west to get their orthopedic care so we brought the city to them. We have been providing exceptional and personalized care for multiple generations of local families.

Patch: What do you hope to accomplish with your business?

Doctors: Helping people with orthopedic issues to live normal, happy lives...doing the things that they used to do and love, such as sports, work or just feeling good.

Patch: What area of your industry do you specialize in?

Doctors: We treat the majority of general orthopedic conditions. Our physicians have trained at highly respected institutions and are well suited to diagnosing and treating even the most complex orthopedic conditions. Three of our physicians have advanced fellowship training and subspecialty certification in sports medicine and arthroscopy as well as advanced training in the treatment of complex knee and shoulder injuries. These physicians were among the first to perform arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Another one of our physicians is a board-certified hand surgeon, specializing in the treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries. Advanced Orthopedics is also a regional leader in fracture care and joint replacement surgery. We pride ourselves in exhausting conservative, non-surgical treatments before recommending surgical options. The majority of our patients never require surgery.

Patch: Who is your typical customer/client?

Doctors: We serve a very diverse patient population, providing care from infancy through retirement. On any given day it is typical to see toddlers along with patients in their 80's and 90's. We treat athletic injuries at all levels, including highly competitive high school and collegiate athletes as well as recreational sports enthusiasts. We treat professional musicians, construction workers, people with chronic conditions, work related injuries and those resulting from motor vehicle accidents or home improvement projects.

Patch: Describe some of the history of your business, such as when it opened, where it operates, etc.?

Doctors: Advanced Orthopedics has been caring for generations of Long Islanders for over 50 years. When Dr. Abe Cohen first founded the practice in Patchogue in 1961, he was the first formally trained orthopedic surgeon in the area. The practice has grown steadily ever since, expanding with the needs of the growing community. Our physicians have devoted their careers attending to the musculoskeletal conditions of multiple generations of local families. Currently, we have offices in Patchogue and our newest office in Riverhead.

Patch: What is your favorite and least favorite aspect of running your business?

Doctors: Our favorite part is being able to establish long-term relationships with our patients and the satisfaction that comes with restoring patients to their pre-injury state. We enjoy caring for the parents and children of our grateful patients.

The least enjoyable aspect is struggling with the bureaucracy of the insurance companies and constant battles to provide affordable care to our patients in a timely manner.

Patch: What specific challenges do you face with running your business and making it work in today's economy?

Doctors: We all agree that the health care system is broken, however our concern is that the remedy may be worse. Federal healthcare plans and private health insurance companies have been steadily increasing the administrative burden on physicians while passing on more costs to our patients. Many of our patients struggle with ever increasing co-pays and high deductibles and often decline braces, physical therapy and other services vital to their recovery because of an inability to pay. At the same time, the cost to run a medical practice is becoming cost-prohibitive. With soaring overhead and diminishing reimbursement, the small group physician practice business model is threatening to become extinct. Having well-trained experienced orthopedic surgeons with impeccable reputations is vital to continuing to run a practice.

Patch: How can people reach you?

Doctors: We can be reached by phone at 631-475-1224. Our website is www.AdvancedOrthoPC.com Our offices are located at:

Patchogue Office

285 Sills Road, Building 18
Patchogue, NY 11772
Phone (631) 475-1224
Fax (631) 475-1588

Riverhead Office

The Krauss Center for Joint Replacement Surgery at Peconic Bay Medical Center

64 Commerce Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone (631) 475-1224
Fax (631) 475-1588

Physical Therapy
285 Sills Road, Building 5-6, Suite B
Patchogue, NY 11772
Phone (631) 475-2858
Fax (631) 475-2886

In Business Beat, Patch will talk to local businesses in the Patchogue and Medford area of new and established places in the area. Want to be featured? Email michael@patch.com.

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