Fellowship trained and board certified, Dr. Scott Mollison, an orthopedic surgeon, knows sports medicine.

Just recently, he was chosen to head up Samaritan Medical Center's new orthopedic practice at the hospital's Washington Summit Complex.

What You Need To Know

  • Samaritan Medical Center is one of a number of rural hospitals that have seen patients, for a variety of reasons, travel to hospitals in bigger cities

  • In hopes of giving people a more convenient, yet same quality option, Samaritan has opened a new orthopedic practice in Watertown

  • The practice is led by Scott Mollison, M.D., who is fellowship trained and board certified

"It sounds silly, but I'm excited. I've been a part of this community for two years now. I started with Samaritan in 2018," Mollison said.

The new practice was created, because there is a need for it. It's not only for those injured playing organized sports or suffering an everyday type of injury, but also because, care around smaller communities can at times be limited.

For a number of reasons, hospitals in rural areas, like Samaritan, have long seen potential patients with these specialized muscle and bone injuries, travel to larger cities for care. By opening this practice, Samaritan is hoping to give people a new, perhaps more convenient option with virus safety in mind.

"I think it is really important that the community has a local option here with myself. At Samaritan Orthopedics we are definitely following all of the COVID protocols with temperature checks, proper PPE, spacing out patients at least 15 minutes apart," Mollison added.

Another benefit of localized care, Mollison believes in knowing your patient, not only their medical history but as people making up the community you truly care for.

"Often times in Watertown you are treating friends, neighbors, colleagues and co-workers so it’s really important for me personally to provide the best care that I can for those people," Mollison said.

Mollison is hoping to eventually have seven or eight different surgeons serve the practice. He's says that's the number where Samaritan can provide both the quantity and quality of care that he believes is needed to do the job the very best.

In addition to seeking new patients, Samaritan is also working to add orthopedic surgeons to the team. It also plans to continue collaborating with the North Country Orthopedic Group.