Shoulder Service

COVID-19 and SAFE CARE COMMITMENT

Mass General Orthopaedics is committed to serving our current and new patients throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have largely resumed routine operations, and are available to answer and address any concerns you may have. Please read more about Mass General’s Safe Care Commitment and the steps being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of all patients, clinicians and staff.

In-Person Clinical Care

The Shoulder Service has resumed all in-person appointments. You can reach out to your surgeon’s office directly with questions about missed appointments or scheduling a new appointment.

Virtual Care Visit

All patients (NEW or ESTABLISHED) can make a virtual visit appointment or phone call with our providers. Call 617-724-7300 or call one of our surgeons’ offices directly. The virtual visit is a good way to evaluate new injuries or recurrent pain, and check-in with your provider about your current condition. Discussions about surgical options also can begin in this environment. New patients must register (1-866-211-6588) before an any appointment can be made. You must enroll in Patient Gateway in order to have a virtual visit.

Surgery

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has resumed all surgeries. If you have questions about a surgery that was postponed, speak to your surgeon’s office.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we all proceed together through this COVID-19 situation. Please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have.

Treating the Whole Person, Not Just the Shoulder

Our focus is on helping each person overcome a condition that has altered his or her quality of life. Our approach to managing patient care includes:

• Thoroughly evaluating each patient and his or her symptoms
• Determining the patient's normal shoulder function
• Diagnosing the patient's condition
• Discussing the expected outcome
• Developing a comprehensive care plan tailored to the patient's needs
• Carefully considering the impact of the shoulder problem and its treatment on the patient’s overall health and expectations for recovery

Making an appointment is easy. Patients seeking initial consultations usually see one of our specialists within two weeks. If your condition is acute, you may be admitted to the hospital and scheduled to begin therapy or have surgery the following day.

Follow-up visits are scheduled to manage the patient's recovery. We also enter treatment information into our patient database, which allows us to analyze outcomes and gives patients and referring physicians complete and up-to-date information about their care. Our goal is to help all of our patients resume healthy and productive lives.

A Recognized Leader in Research & Academic Medicine

Our world-class shoulder specialists also are leaders in clinical and basic science research. By relentlessly pursuing innovation, we can offer novel techniques and advanced therapies that improve patient care.

Our surgeons have developed three-dimensional imaging that compares the anatomy and function of repaired shoulders with normally functioning shoulders. This advancement has led to new treatments that more closely replicate normally functioning shoulders, often providing patients with better long-term results.

The Shoulder Service's research focuses on improving conventional techniques for shoulder replacements, rotator cuff repairs, shoulder dislocations and other disorders. One of the most promising breakthroughs our research team has helped to develop is a reverse prosthesis. This novel device is used to treat patients lacking intact rotator cuffs or with bones and tendons damaged during previous surgeries, conditions that once were considered difficult to treat.

Our international reputation as a leading academic medical center also benefits our patients. Working closely with our physicians, our talented postgraduate fellows are highly qualified, board-certified surgeons who evaluate and diagnose patients and assist our shoulder specialists during surgery.