In response to growing demand and the need for easier access for appointments, Duke Orthopaedics expanded its clinical footprint, increased provider capacity, and enhanced its scheduling infrastructure.

These changes are designed to reduce wait times, improve continuity of care, and ensure that patients — whether they need urgent attention or subspecialty expertise — can be seen promptly and at a location convenient to them. According to Benjamin A. Alman, MD, chair of the Duke Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the department’s goal is to make orthopaedic care more accessible without compromising quality: “We’re focused on providing access to world-class care to everyone who needs it.”

Duke Orthopaedics focused on operational changes that are designed to support referring providers by improving continuity of care and reducing delays in diagnosis and treatment. Whether patients require general orthopaedic evaluation or subspecialty expertise in areas such as pediatric orthopaedics, spine, sports medicine, or joint reconstruction, Duke’s integrated system ensures timely access to high-quality care.

Key enhancements that support both referring providers and patients include:

• Expanded clinical footprint: Duke Orthopaedics now operates across 18 locations in the Triangle, including new sites in Wake County offering evening and weekend appointments.
• Increased provider capacity: The department has added orthopaedic surgeons, nonoperative musculoskeletal physicians, and advanced practice providers to accommodate more referrals and reduce wait times. “We’re always growing the department,” says Alman. “We have experts who are at the top of their game in all aspects of orthopaedics.”
• Streamlined scheduling: A centralized call center and enhanced online self-scheduling system allows patients to be efficiently matched with the appropriate provider based on clinical need and location. “We want to offer the earliest options to see those specialists from across all locations where they see patients within the system,” says Alman.
• Urgent care access: Patients who are initially evaluated at Duke Orthopaedics urgent cares in Morrisville and Apex benefit from an accelerated pathway to subspecialty care, with more locations coming soon. “Our dedicated orthopaedic urgent care sites are staffed by specialty-trained providers who can initiate diagnostic workup, provide immediate management including casting, and, if additional sub-specilaty care is needed, triage patients appropriately to providers in our team,” Alman adds.

This work represents a commitment to partnering with providers in the community to deliver coordinated, patient-centered care. These operational enhancements reflect a broader effort to ensure that patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right setting. “We aim to provide care that’s as good as or better than you can get anywhere in the world for orthopaedic problems,” Alman says. “This is not only about seeing a provider but getting that care when patients want it. By increasing our access in this way, we’ll be able to improve the quality of care we can provide and help an increased number of people in the Triangle and beyond.”