MEDICAL SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Allison Wade Joins the Team at First Choice Medical Group

By  //  February 1, 2019

Practice’s Unique Philosophy Attracts Some of the Nation’s Top Physicians

DR. ALLISON WADE joined the medical team at First Choice Medical Group this past October because of the Melbourne practice’s unique philosophy, which attracts some of the nation’s top physicians. An active member of the American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society, Dr. Wade earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and completed her foot and ankle fellowship training at the nationally recognized program of the Penn State Bone Joint Institute in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and her general orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Missouri.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The myriad disorders that affect feet and ankles keep Dr. Allison Wade on her toes. The newest member of the medical team at First Choice Medical Group, Dr. Wade is currently the only fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon in Brevard.

Her vast experience and clinical training in such a specialized area adds to the already impressive level of care at First Choice Medical Group, the Space Coast’s largest orthopedic center of excellence.

Ankle and foot issues plague most of us.

The ankle is the most frequently injured joint in the body.

More than 20,000 ankle sprains occur in the United States each day, according to research by the Walter Reed Medical Center.

Like the ankles, our feet daily bear incredible pressure to keep us upright and walking.

This complex structure that supports the whole weight of our bodies allows us precious mobility, yet we repay its efforts by wearing shoes that are too tight or too high or by overtaxing it through sports. It is not surprising that issues pop up, particularly as the years go by.

“We all abuse our feet and ankles,” said Wade.

Dr. Allison Wade’s patients are assured of comprehensive, coordinated care, for First Choice’s Center of Excellence model revolves around dovetailed services that encourage multidisciplinary collaboration between specialties, including orthopedics, total joint replacement, sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, ancillary services, such as MRI and X-RAY, and physical and occupational therapy.

Fellowship-Trained Surgeon

The list of problems is long. Ankle sprains, which tear the outer supportive ligaments of the joint, can lead to other ankle issues. Arthritis, if left untreated, can restrict mobility and negatively impact quality of life.

Bunions, those nasty bumps at the base of the big toe, can also hamper walking, as can fractures, tarsal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, hammertoe deformities, neuromas, plantar fasciitis and more.

A physician with more than 20 years of experience in the diagnosis, treatment and after-care of ankle and foot injuries and disorders, Wade has seen it all.

As a fellowship-trained surgeon, Wade has additional years of specialty training that are critically important in optimizing treatment of foot and ankle issues.

While the bad news is that most of us will experience some foot or ankle pain in our lifetime, the good news is that treatment is available, and surgery is often not necessary.

“Most problems can be treated conservatively,” said Wade.

She joined the medical team at First Choice Medical Group this past October because of the Melbourne practice’s unique philosophy, which attracts some of the nation’s top physicians.

The physician-driven, patient-centric healthcare center handles all billing, scheduling, compliance, accounting and other non-medical matters, doctors have the freedom to heal and to concentrate on treating patients in a clinically superior “one-stop” care facility with continuum of care from diagnosis through treatment, recovery and beyond.

“I want to be able to spend more time with my patients and not feel rushed during a consultation,” said Wade.
“I want to have partners with whom I can collaborate with. I found this at First Choice Medical Group.

“I’m a big believer in patient education. In the old days, doctors thought there was no point in explaining the treatment to their patients. That’s wrong. Patients are smart and they want to be active participants in their treatment, so I take the time to discuss the issue with them. I also tell my patients that they should know the training of who is seeing them, so I’m very upfront with them.”

GREAT TEAM: Dr. Allison Wade joins a team of highly respected specialists, such as Dr. Kenneth Sands, above, one of only a handful of doctors in the United States to be certified to perform total knee replacement that utilizes the new Journey II XR knee implant, which preserves the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL.
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Joins Team of Highly Respected Specialist

An active member of the American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society, Dr. Wade earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and completed her foot and ankle fellowship training at the nationally recognized program of the Penn State Bone Joint Institute in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and her general orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Missouri.

Being the only woman in her class throughout her orthopedic training was challenging.

“It was difficult, both mentally and physically, but ultimately rewarding,” she said.

Dr. Wade represents the caliber of excellence found in First Choice Medical Group physicians.

She joins a team of highly respected specialists, such as Dr. Kenneth Sands, one of only a handful of doctors in the United States to be certified to perform total knee replacement that utilizes the new Journey II XR knee implant, which preserves the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL.

Her patients are assured of comprehensive, coordinated care, for First Choice’s Center of Excellence model revolves around dovetailed services that encourage multidisciplinary collaboration between specialties, including orthopedics, total joint replacement, sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, ancillary services, such as MRI and X-RAY, and physical and occupational therapy.

Ultimately, at the heart of First Choice’s success are the physicians who practice there, compassionate and highly trained specialists such as Dr. Allison Wade.

Dedicated to Community

As she settles into her new community, Dr. Wade looks forward to helping both in and out of the office. After work, she wants to give of her time and talent to local nonprofits.

During her stint in Pennsylvania, she helped to treat foot problems among the homeless population, a program she would like to see being replicated here.

“It’s good to be involved in the community,” she said.

First Choice Medical Group is located at 709 S. Harbor City Boulevard, Suite 100, in Melbourne, Florida. For more information, call 321-725-2225 or log on to www.myfcmg.com

FIRST CHOICE HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS is implementing a defined growth strategy aimed at expanding its network of non-physician-owned medical centers of excellence, which concentrate on treating patients in the following specialties: Orthopaedics, Spine Surgery, Interventional Pain Management, Physical Therapy and other ancillary and diagnostic services in key expansion markets throughout the U.S. Serving Florida’s Space Coast, the Company’s flagship integrated platform currently administers over 100,000 patient visits each year and is comprised of First Choice Medical Group, The B.A.C.K. Center and Crane Creek Surgery Center.
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