Did you know social distancing for running is greater than standing still? When standing it is recommended to stay 6 feet apart from people, while running can be 10 times that number (60ft.) without a mask.
Why? The physics of small particles in moving air is different. Running toward the person in front of you increases the contact with the particles at longer distances pending your speed. That faster you run the more space you need. Just like cars, stopping distances go up the faster you go.
THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED REGULARLY AS NEW INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
UPDATED AS OF: 7/6/2020 8:00 am
At Connecticut Orthopaedics, there is nothing more important than the health and well-being of our patients, employees and community. During this time of uneasiness, as Coronavirus impacts our daily lives, we want to assure you that we remain committed to providing the high quality and compassionate care you have come to expect from your caregivers at Connecticut Orthopaedics. We are here for you.
In accordance with the latest CDC guidelines, we ask that all patients please wear protective cloth face coverings to all appointments. Click here for updated guidelines.
We know you have questions and we hope the following will answer your questions as well as provide peace of mind. These Q&As will be updated regularly as the situation changes and new questions surface.
If you have a question that is not answered below, please do not hesitate to call us.
Q: WHAT IS CONNECTICUT ORTHOPAEDICS DOING TO KEEP PATIENTS AND STAFF SAFE?
A: Our primary focus at Connecticut Orthopaedics continues to be our commitment to the well-being of our patients, staff and the community we serve. For your safety, we have customized protocols based on the latest CDC guidelines and reworked the patient experience to limit exposure. The following office procedures have been put in place to protect our patients and staff members:
Q: I’M NOT FEELING WELL. SHOULD I STILL COME FOR MY APPOINTMENT?
A: If you’re not feeling well, we strongly encourage you to reschedule your appointment. However, if your orthopaedic situation is urgent, please call us in advance so we may be prepared. For non-urgent appointments, rescheduling plays a significant role in helping to slow the spread of any virus whether it is Coronavirus or the flu. Most importantly, if you reschedule, you WILL NOT be charged a missed visit fee.
Q: IS IT OKAY TO BRING SOMEONE WITH ME TO MY APPOINTMENT?
A: To keep everyone safe and protected, we are working to minimize the number of people coming into our clinics and operatories. We are asking that only the person being seen for the appointment be present in the building and that family members/friends/drivers wait outside or in a vehicle. There will be an exception made if the patient is a minor or requires a translator. For any other circumstance, please call the office prior to your appointment.
Q: MY PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR CONSIDERS ME TO BE A HIGH-RISK PATIENT, BUT I DON’T FEEL SICK. SHOULD I RESCHEDULE?
A: First and most importantly, if your orthopaedic situation is urgent, please call us in advance so we may prepare and provide the appropriate guidance. Your well-being is our priority. However, the CDC recommends rescheduling your appointment if you meet one of the following criteria:
Please reschedule your appointment and remember, you WILL NOT be charged a missed visit fee.
Q: HOW WILL I KNOW IF THERE IS A CHANGE TO MY CARE SCHEDULE – CONSULTATION APPOINTMENT, SURGERY, FOLLOW-UP OR PHYSICAL THERAPY?
A: First, you are always welcome to call us with any questions about your care or care schedule. But, rest assured we will be proactive in all communications related to your care.
Q: WHERE CAN I GET UPDATED INFORMATION FROM CONNECTICUT ORTHOPAEDICS?
A: We are offering several sources for updated information.
Q: ARE THERE THINGS I SHOULD BE DOING THAT COULD BE HELPFUL DURING THIS TIME?
A: If you have health concerns beyond orthopaedic care, we strongly suggest you talk with your primary care provider. We continue to encourage our patients, employees, friends and family to practice safe and simple behaviors being recommended by the CDC (www.cdc.gov/COVID19) and WHO (https://www.who.int/).
A Manchester, CT native, Dr. Eric M. Padegimas joins Connecticut Orthopaedics as a Shoulder and Elbow doctor. He has a specific focus and interests in shoulder & elbow replacement, rotator cuff repair, management of shoulder instability and arthroscopy of the shoulder & elbow.
Dr. Padegimas completed his undergraduate education at Dartmouth College, followed by completing medical school at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Padegimas’ residency training took place at The Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, a top five nationally ranked orthopaedic department that provides care for the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, and 76ers.
Following completion of his residency, Dr. Padegimas was chosen to stay on at the Rothman Institute pursuing an additional year of advanced fellowship training in shoulder and elbow reconstructive surgery. The renowned Rothman Institute in Philadelphia is the highest volume shoulder replacement center in the United States. There he learned a number of advanced techniques in shoulder and elbow reconstruction and arthroscopic/sports applications to the shoulder and elbow.
Dr. Padegimas is seeing patients in the following offices:
In addition to seeing patients at those four locations, Dr. Padegimas will also be utilizing the Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute at MidState Medical Center as well as our surgical center in Branford, CT.
Dr. Stephen Nelson is a Connecticut native who joins Connecticut Orthopaedics as a Joint Replacement & Reconstruction doctor. Dr. Nelson recently completed an additional year of advanced training as an Adult Total Joint Reconstruction Fellow at the University of Virginia.
Dr. Nelson attended Wheaton College (IL) where he graduated cum laude. He earned his medical degree from the University of Connecticut where he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He went on to complete his surgical internship and orthopaedic residency at the Yale University School of Medicine. As chief resident, he served as a clinical instructor of orthopaedics for the Yale School of Medicine.
Dr. Nelson believes in a patient-centered care model. He specializes in using the direct anterior approach for hip replacement surgery, which is a minimally invasive technique that is proven to substantially increase speed of the healing process. He also has clinical interests in complex revision hip and knee arthroplasty as well as orthopaedic trauma and fracture care.
He will be seeing patients in four different offices:
In addition to seeing patients at those four locations, Dr. Nelson will also be utilizing the Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute at MidState Medical Center as well as our surgical center in Branford, CT.
Dr. Jeeten Singha is more than a Foot & Ankle Surgeon. He’s a compassionate, intelligent medical professional who not only takes great pride in his work but, cares about each and every one of his patients on a personal level. One patient stated, “It was like talking to a friend who knew everything about my ankle.” Another added, “He was really funny and actually made me feel really comfortable.” Communication and comfort are two areas where Dr. Singha sets the bar very high.
Fun Fact: Dr. Singha was a former nationally ranked tennis player, attending college on a tennis scholarship where he was a 4 time NCAA All-American!
Who better to treat an athlete than a former athlete himself? The fact that Dr. Singha was an athlete gives him an advantage. He knows first-hand just how devastating a sports injury can be.
His primary goal is getting patients on their feet quickly, so they can get back to their active lifestyles. From pediatric patients to professional athletes and even weekend warriors – Dr. Jeeten Singha is your go-to provider for foot and ankle care.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeeten Singha in one of his office locations:
Did you spot your favorite Connecticut Orthopaedics (CO) employee out walking on June 1st?
At CO we care about the wellbeing of our patients, our community and ourselves. CO offers employees the opportunity to participate in the CO Wellness Program. The wellness committee’s focus is to provide a multiple prong approach towards wellness and engage employees in programs that affect all areas of their wellbeing, including but not limited to: physical activity, financial, social, community, nutrition, health and stress.
On June 1st, 2019 the CO Wellness Program hosted their 1st annual Family & Friends Walk-A-Thon. Over 200 participants attended. The goal of this event was to raise funds and awareness for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) while promoting wellness.
As a team, CO employees raised over $5000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. That’s over 65 hours of Breast Cancer research!
This fun-filled day consisted of music, prizes, giveaways, smiles and of course a lot of walking! Congratulations to some of our prize winners:
A special thank you to all of our generous sponsors and donors that made this event possible:
FastSigns, The Andriole Group, PROforma, Mosaic, Vera Bradley, Trimino Protein Infused Water, All Custom Wear, WB Mason, ACBI Insurance, Sun Life Financial, Anthem BCBS, BCRF and Stony Creek.
For more information about BCRF visit: bcrf.org
It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend and partner – John M. Aversa, MD
It’s been said that Dr. John Aversa embodied all the best qualities of a Doctor. He was empathetic, inquisitive and had tireless dedication to his patients and the welfare of his colleagues. He was a magnet of warmth and a first-class physician.
As one of the original partners and a long-time president of our board, his vision and leadership helped shape our company in every conceivable way. It’s not a stretch to say that without his leadership, there wouldn’t be a COS today. Along the way, John won many hearts and minds – amongst his partners, co-workers and the community. He also helped to significantly grow our group by recruiting the best Orthopaedic physicians and facilitating several mergers and partnerships. He truly was a visionary.
The Heart and Soul of Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists – he will be deeply missed.
“A lot of us within COS have a lot of local ties to the community – whether we grew up in the area or went to school here, or have a lot of family. I came back and joined the group here and in a way it’s kind of like coming home.”
Dr. Curtis Campbell is our newest orthopaedic surgeon. While he specializes in knee and hip replacements, he’s also trained in general orthopaedics, arthroscopy and all types of trauma and fractures. As a Fairfield University graduate, Dr. Campbell is thrilled to be back in the area and looks forward to serving the families and communities of Fairfield County.
During a recent interview he shared his thoughts about his new patient-centered practice and how modern methods and techniques can allow surgery patients to be up and walking rapidly. He’s very focused on getting people back to the quality of life they expect and doing it in a way that’s personalized, compassionate and understanding of their goals.
Two SCC Student-Athletes are Recognized with Scholarship Awards
Two student athletes – Erin Keary (Shelton HS) and Thomas LaTorre (Daniel Hand HS) – are the recipients of the 2019 SCC “Comeback Player of the Year” awards. Both students suffered severe injuries, yet were able to overcome them to become outstanding role models in their respective schools. Sports Medicine Specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Klauser (Erin’s orthopaedic doctor) was on hand to present the awards.
A corporate sponsor of the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC), Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists P.C. (COS) has offered a Comeback Player of the Year Scholarship for student-athletes who participated in an interscholastic sport during the 2018-2019 academic year and showed great leadership both on and off the field after their severe injury.
Coaches and school’s athletic directors nominated these student-athletes after they each suffered an unfortunate injury that prohibited them from playing for their high school teams. Both will receive a financial scholarship to be used for their college education.
“This is our ninth year in awarding student-athletes from the SCC with scholarships,” explained Glenn Elia, Chief Executive Officer of COS. “Our goal has been to acknowledge student-athletes who have overcome the challenges of an injury and, through hard work and determination, have become positive role models for their fellow teammates. Because we are sports medicine specialists, we understand intimately what it takes to recover from an injury and return to playing sports at a high level.”
“Many thanks to the doctors and staff at Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists for their support of the SCC and these scholarships,” explained SCC Commissioner Al Carbone. “Our league has many outstanding student-athletes who excel in the classroom and on the playing fields; but it is a tremendous gesture to recognize traits like courage, perseverance and selflessness.”
Thomas LaTorre, Daniel Hand HS (soccer)
Tommy tore his ACL in the spring of his junior year, while playing at a college showcase soccer tournament. He received surgery in April 2018 and undertook extensive rehabilitation – most of the time in the morning before school started – to return to the team, one that was coming off two straight Class L state titles and one he would serve as one of the team’s captains. During his physical therapy, Tommy worked diligently and was cleared to play mid-season (in October) and was a catalyst as the Tigers earned their third straight Class L state title, culminating with a 2-1 victory over Maloney on November 18.
Daniel Hand head soccer coach Greg Cumpstone said, “While injured, Tommy served as a source of support and leadership to his teammates. His return to the field gave the team the fire that was infectious; he was up for any battle, and his actions on the field became crucial to the team’s late-season state championship run.” Tommy will attend Elon University in the fall with plans to major in sports management.
Erin Keary, Shelton HS (soccer)
A four-year starter at defensive center, Erin sustained an ACL injury during the 2017 state girls soccer tournament. Erin showed her dedication through the rehab process, following the regiment set for her with diligence and persistence, starting with spring workouts, into the summer and fall preseason. Her return to the field in 2018 was admirable, but also impressive. She played in all 20 games, leading the team in minutes played and also scored six goals and added four assists from her defensive position. For her efforts, she earned All-SCC and Second Team All-State honors.
Shelton head girls soccer coach Marvin Miller said, “Persistence has always been Erin’s strongest character attributes along with her extremely high personal expectations she puts on herself as a student and as an athlete. With that, she has earned the respect of her opponents and teammates and holds a place of honor with them.” Erin will attend the University of Connecticut in the fall with plans to major in Allied Heath Sciences.
He’s a joint replacement specialist with local ties.
Curtis Campbell, MD, MS attended Fairfield University and was a member of the Varsity football team. He then completed master’s degrees in Evaluative Clinical Sciences from Dartmouth College and Biologic/Medical Sciences from Drexel University. This provided him with an excellent skill set for a career in medicine.
He earned his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. Dr. Campbell pursued advanced training as an Adult Total Joint Reconstruction Fellow at Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas.
Dr. Campbell specializes in minimally invasive hip and knee replacement surgery. He performs direct anterior approach hip replacements. This muscle-sparing approach allows for rapid recovery from hip replacement, early return to activities, and has excellent clinical outcomes. In addition to total joint reconstruction, his interests also include trauma and fracture care, arthroscopy, and general orthopaedics in which he treats all conditions of both the upper and lower extremity. He reserves surgical treatment for patients that have not had acceptable improvement in their condition after a thorough course of appropriate nonsurgical treatment.
Dr. Campbell has completed publications and lectures in his areas of expertise and has also served as faculty at both the Seton Hall-Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and the Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.
As a Fairfield University graduate, Dr. Campbell is thrilled to be back in the area and looks forward to serving the families and communities of Fairfield County.