Same and Next Day Appointments

Isaac Bethea joins Dr. Steven Hardage as a physician assistant at Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center in Claremore.

Isaac Bethea, left, who was born and raised in Claremore, has joined the practice of Dr. Steven Hardage as a physician assistant (PA) at the Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center. Expanding his staff allows Dr. Hardage to now offer same day and next day appointments when needed.

Returning to Claremore and practicing medicine is a dream come true for Isaac Bethea, who is the new physician assistant (PA) at Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center in Claremore.
It wasn’t long ago that Bethea was a patient of Dr. Steven Hardage, a primary care sports medicine doctor. Bethea, who was born and raised in Claremore, graduated from Claremore Christian School in 2008. “I played eight-man football, baseball and basketball,” says Bethea. “Dr. Hardage not only tended to my sports injuries, but he has also taken care of many of my family members.”

One of those family members – his grandfather, Dr. Ralph Bethea – has had the biggest influence on his choice of medicine as a career. “My grandfather, who was an OBGYN, is now 95,” he says. “He keeps his license up-to-date and worked in hospice care until a year ago.”
After receiving his undergraduate degree in biology at Southwest Baptist University, the younger Bethea returned to Oklahoma, where he earned his graduate degree in health sciences at OU-Tulsa. Bethea spent last fall shadowing Dr. Hardage during a two-month rotation to determine if they were a good fit for working together. “I knew I wanted to be in orthopedics and family medicine,” he adds. “After working with Dr. Hardage, we both agreed my coming to work with him was a good fit for both of us. He is an awesome doctor and an amazing role model and supervisor.”

Like Dr. Hardage, Bethea takes time to listen to his patients. “In this office, we don’t treat patients like a number sitting in the waiting room. Our patients are more like friends. The atmosphere in this office reaffirmed that this is where I belong.”

Dr. Hardage adds, “He is a wonderful addition to our staff, and he’s a local who fits right in.”
Although EOOC of Claremore specializes in sports medicine, Dr. Hardage and Bethea, PA-C, address all areas of non-operative orthopedics, essentially covering everything musculoskeletal from head to toe, including the neck, back and spine to shoulders, elbows, hands, wrists, knees, hips, feet and ankles. Patients can receive most screenings and treatments on site without going elsewhere, including X-rays and epidural steroid injections.

“We can help people with the pain associated with broken bones, ankle sprains, arthritis, herniated and degenerative disks, sciatic pain – anything related to the musculoskeletal system,” he ways. “We take care of all joints and injuries.”

Dr. Hardage adds, “Just because you have an ache or pain doesn’t mean you need surgery. We focus on helping patients avoid that, if possible with nonsurgical options.”

With the addition of Bethea to the practice, “Patients can now get same day and next day appointments when needed,” Dr. Hardage adds. “It’s a big plus for our patients who don’t have to wait for weeks for an appointment.”

Bethea joined the practice on January 19. “I love Claremore and love the people here,” he says. “It’s the reason I wanted to come back and work here.”

For more information, contact

Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center

www.eooc.com
 

About Author Carol Beck-Round

After 30 years in public school education, Carol Round retired and moved from Grand Lake to Claremore, Oklahoma in 2005, where she writes a weekly faith-based column which runs in 14 Oklahoma newspapers as well as several national and international publications. Three volumes of her columns have been compiled into collections: A Matter of Faith, Faith Matters and by FAITH alone. She has also written Journaling with Jesus: How to Draw Closer to God and a companion workbook, The 40-Day Challenge. This past year she has written three children’s books, a series called Nana’s 3 Jars, to teach children about the value of giving, saving and spending money. All of Carol’s books are available through Amazon. In addition to writing her weekly column, authoring books and speaking to women’s groups, she writes for Value News. She also blogs regularly at www.carolaround.com. When she is not writing or speaking, she loves spending time with her three grandchildren, working in her flowerbeds, shooting photos, volunteering at her church or going on mission trips overseas, and hiking. She is also an avid reader and loves working crosswords and trying to solve Sudoku puzzles.