Jonathan Fallon, DO, MS, is chief of orthopedic surgery at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He specializes in sports medicine, shoulder surgery, arthroscopic joint preservation surgery, trauma surgery, and injury prevention. Dr. Fallon has cared for patients at Cooley Dickinson since 2009 and performs about 400 surgeries a year.
“Every day, I meet people who are in distress and pain, and they can no longer do the things they love to do, whether that’s taking care of their kids or mountain climbing,” he said. “I really enjoy helping them return to their normal function and movement, pain free and living the lives they want to live.”
Cooley Dickinson’s Orthopedic Injury Clinic offers immediate, comprehensive care for patients with new orthopedic injuries. The clinic provides expert diagnosis and treatment, connecting patients to the right specialists for personalized care. From sprains and fractures to advanced sports injuries and workplace injuries, our team ensures seamless, coordinated care to help patients quickly return to their active lives.
The clinic takes walk-in patients on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 4 West St. in West Hatfield. No appointment is necessary. You can reach the clinic at 413-586-8200.
Dr. Fallon answers questions about the Orthopedic Injury Clinic, including the types of treatments provided and its team-based approach to patient care.
What types of patients are seen at the Orthopedic Injury Clinic?
We see patients of all ages with sprains, strains, fractures, and other injuries to their bones, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. One minute, we’re treating a little kid who fell off their trampoline and broke their arm. The next, we’re seeing an elderly person with a sprained ankle from tripping off a curb or someone with a broken toe from stubbing it on their coffee table. Or we might see a factory worker with a workplace injury resulting from a fall or being crushed by equipment.
We treat many athletes too, from kids and teens who tear their ACL or dislocate their shoulder playing football to adult “weekend warriors” who pull a muscle or tendon while playing the sports they love.
In addition to clinic work, many of us, including myself, help care for college athletes at UMass Amherst. Cooley Dickinson’s Orthopedics & Sports Medicine practice has been doing this for over 40 years. We take what we learn from working with these elite athletes and bring that technology and experience to recreational athletes, active people, and the general public, helping everyone move, perform, and live to the best of their abilities.
As an example, think of someone who has ruptured their Achilles tendon, a common injury among weekend athletes and active people. Our work with UMass athletes gives us unique insights into how to accelerate their rehabilitation safely yet aggressively to get them back to work or the sports and activities they love.
What treatments do you offer?
It’s important to know that if your injury is severe and traumatic enough to consider calling an ambulance, you should do so and be taken to the emergency department. This is especially important if there are signs of infection or major deformities or if bones need to be reset.
For injuries that are less traumatic, our physician assistants and medical assistants provide immediate, on-site treatments in the clinic, including splints and casts to stabilize fractures and injuries or cortisone injections to reduce inflammation and pain in joints, tendons, and muscles.
We quickly arrange for the necessary X-rays, MRIs, and other imaging needed to diagnose your injury. If your injury requires urgent surgery, our on-site surgeons are ready to get you to the operating room. If your injury doesn’t require immediate surgery, we connect you with exactly the right doctor for treatment. These may include surgeons who specialize in minimally invasive techniques and other advanced surgical procedures, physical therapists who design personalized rehabilitation programs to help you recover and regain your function, or other Mass General Brigham specialists.
Our end goal is to help you navigate the Mass General Brigham network efficiently. The specialist we refer you to will determine the final treatment plan.
By offering both immediate care and easy referrals to specialized services, we help you receive the most appropriate and effective treatment quickly.
Why do patients trust their care to the Orthopedic Injury Clinic?
Our clinic is the first of its kind in the area. We provide instant access to care for people with new injuries and guide them to the right specialist for follow-up care. We take the worry and frustration out of finding and getting an appointment with the right physician, surgeon, physical therapist, or other provider.
Unlike walk-in clinics that are freestanding and not part of a hospital or health network, we’re part of the Mass General Brigham network. We work closely with other Mass General Brigham providers, including emergency medicine specialists, orthopedic and sports medicine specialists, neurologists, rheumatologists, physiatrists [physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors], and other advanced care specialists. These close relationships let us provide seamless, coordinated care from the moment you enter our clinic until you’re finished with your treatments and back to playing your sport or living your active life.
Our ability to manage your total care is especially helpful if you’re visiting from other parts of the region, as you can stay within the Mass General Brigham network and have all your care coordinated seamlessly.