Orthopedic Services Return to Houlton

HOULTON, Maine (WAGM) - For years, residents in Houlton have had to drive an hour to Presque Isle just to see an orthopedic doctor. Now, that care is coming to them. NewsSource8’s Karri Triplett shows us how one hospital is expanding orthopedic services in southern Aroostook.

For patients in Houlton and southern Aroostook, an orthopedic appointment no longer has to mean an hour-long drive to Presque Isle. Since July 10th, Northern Light AR Gould’s orthopedic team has been seeing patients at the Katahdin Valley Health Center here in Houlton. Bringing care closer to home.

Dr. Patrick Fallon, an Orthopedic Surgeon at AR Gould Hospital said: “We’re excited to be in Houlton. There’s been a void there in orthopedic coverage and access. Certainly, we’d like to help out and get our name in the community and help the community with orthopedic coverage and care. We think it’s a good thing for the community and we’re happy to do it. As you know Aroostook County’s a big county. One of the biggest east of the Mississippi. Houlton’s a gateway to the county. It’s a long way away. We think it’s convenient for patients and we think it’s a good thing for patients for us to be on site for their convenience to lessen their travel.”

The new clinic offers a range of services, from new patient appointments and follow-ups to injections and cast applications. Dr. Fallon says in just three weeks, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. “People would rather go a couple miles than drive up the highway, right? So, it’s a good thing, convenient. We’ve got a few glitches to figure out as far as technical aspects, but we’ll get there. Summertime is always short with staff. People are taking vacations. So, we’re kind of juggling it a little bit here now but I think in the fall we’ll be in a better situation.”

Appointments for Houlton’s orthopedic services are managed through AR Gould Hospital in Presque Isle. For patients in southern Aroostook, relief is closer than it used to be.