The staff members at the Lovelace Rapid Access Orthopedic Clinic are, from left, clinic manager Stephanie Vega, orthopedic technician Paul Romero, nurse practitioner Jayce Powell and customer service coordinator Wendy Gaynor. (Argen Marie Duncan photo)

A specialized clinic is bringing care faster for patients suffering from broken bones and other orthopedic injuries.

Located on Albuquerque’s West Side, the Lovelace Medical Group Orthopedic Rapid Access Clinic offers same-day or next-day appointments for people ages 6 and older. Clinic provider and nurse practitioner Jayce Powell said he primarily treats broken bones but also sees other traumatic injuries such as cut tendons.

X-rays are available there.

Lovelace Health System Communications Manager Whitney Marquez said the West Side clinic is the only one offering the rapid orthopedic care.

Powell said Lovelace had been having trouble scheduling appointments for patients with orthopedic injuries soon enough to prevent improper healing. So, the Rapid Access Clinic was created.

“It just provides immediate access for severe trauma,” he said.

Powell is the only provider there and works with surgeons at all Lovelace locations. A sports medicine physician is scheduled to join the team in March.

The clinic could house up to four providers.

Powell can see 20 patients a day at the clinic. Injured patients may be referred from an emergency room or urgent care clinic, or they can call without a referral.

Marquez said if people aren’t sure when their injury needs to be seen, they can call the clinic and staff will determine the appropriate time frame for an appointment and schedule it. Typically, she said, fractures need to be seen within five days and other acute injuries within two weeks.

The clinic is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the medical building at 10511 Golf Course Road, Ste. 204, in Albuquerque, behind Lovelace Westside Hospital. It’s been operating since January, but many people didn’t know about it, Powell said.

Lovelace accepts most major health insurance. Its acceptance of Presbyterian Healthcare insurance is limited, and it won’t be in network for United Healthcare starting in January, according to its website.

For more information on insurance, visit lovelace.com/insurance.