TL;DR: Seeing an orthopedist, a physical therapist, a pain doctor, and a PCP in separate offices can be hard to coordinate. Integrated care puts more of your team in one clinic with a shared plan. At Innovare Tx in Addison, we offer diagnosis, orthobiologic medicine, physical therapy, and medical management in one office.
If you’ve ever spent months bouncing between doctors — one for the diagnosis, another for imaging, a third for physical therapy, a fourth for injections — you already know the frustration. Each office has its own intake forms. Its own wait times. Its own plan that doesn’t quite match what the last doctor said.
It can feel like fragments of a plan rather than one plan.
As a provider with 27 years of medical experience, I’ve seen how tiring this can be for patients. At Innovare Tx, your treatment team works side by side.
Let me explain why that matters and how it works.
The Problem: What Specialist-Hopping Actually Costs You
The traditional healthcare model assumes you’ll see a different provider for every problem. Knee pain? Start with your PCP for a referral. Wait two weeks. See the orthopedist. Get imaging. Wait for results. Get referred to physical therapy — at a completely different office. If PT doesn’t work, you’re sent elsewhere. More intake forms. More copays. More waiting.
Here’s what that can cost you:
- Time: Referrals between offices can take weeks.
- Money: Each office visit means a new copay or deductible. Repeated imaging because the new office “needs their own.” Out-of-network surprises.
- Conflicting advice: Your orthopedist says rest. Your PT says move. Nobody is coordinating.
- Lost information: Medical records don’t transfer seamlessly. Critical notes get buried. You end up being your own care coordinator — and that’s not your job.
- Delays: Gaps between appointments can slow a plan down.
This is a common experience for patients.
What Integrated Care Actually Means
Integrated care means providers work from one plan.
In an integrated model, your providers share a treatment plan, communicate in real time, and adjust your care together — not in isolation. It aims to reduce miscommunication between offices.
The Three Pillars of True Integrated Care
- One team. Your providers know each other, work together daily, and share clinical decision-making.
- One plan. Your treatment protocol is designed holistically — not pieced together from disconnected appointments.
- One location. Much of your care happens in one clinic, which can mean fewer drives.
How Innovare Tx Does It: Our Integrated Care Model
At Innovare Tx, we offer several disciplines in one clinic.
Meet the Team
Charles Ortega, PA-C, MPAS — With 27 years of medical experience, Charles handles your initial evaluation, diagnosis, and medical management. He focuses on orthobiologic medicine (PRP, BMAC, A2M), neuropathy treatment, weight management, and federal workers’ compensation (OWCP) cases. He’s also your primary care provider if you need one.
Rowena Calleja, PT — Our physical therapist has experience in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, post-surgical rehabilitation, sports injuries, chronic pain, and OWCP physical therapy. She works alongside Charles.
What This Looks Like in Practice
When you come to Innovare Tx, here’s what happens:
- Single evaluation. Charles sees you, reviews your history, performs your exam, and orders any necessary imaging — all in one visit.
- Coordinated treatment plan. If physical therapy is appropriate for you, Charles and Rowena plan it together. Physical therapy is not typically needed after an autologous orthobiologic procedure.
- Real-time adjustments. If Rowena notices something during your PT session — she can talk to Charles directly.
- Ongoing medical management. Weight management, chronic disease management, and medication adjustments can happen here.
Illustrative Scenarios
These are made-up examples to show how the process works, not real patients. Your care and results may differ.
Scenario 1: The Knee Pain Patient
The old way: Maria, 55, has chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis. Her PCP refers her to an orthopedist (3-week wait). The orthopedist orders an MRI (1-week wait for the appointment, another week for results). He recommends cortisone injections and physical therapy. Maria schedules PT at a separate clinic, and she repeats her history at each office.
The Innovare Tx way: Maria sees Charles. He evaluates her knee, reviews imaging, and goes over options including physical therapy. If she asks about an autologous orthobiologic procedure (PRP), he explains that it is investigational, is not FDA-approved for any orthopedic condition, and that the 2026 ACR guideline strongly recommends against PRP for knee and hip osteoarthritis. If PT fits, Rowena works with her in the same clinic.
Scenario 2: The Weight Management Patient
The old way: James, 42, wants to lose weight and manage his pre-diabetes. His PCP prescribes metformin and says “eat less, move more.” He has back pain too, and no one coordinates his metabolic care with his musculoskeletal issues.
The Innovare Tx way: James is evaluated for our medically supervised weight management program, which can include compounded tirzepatide at $160/month for the medication (consult and follow-ups are separate; compounded tirzepatide is NOT FDA approved). Charles reviews his labs, and if PT fits, Rowena works with him on his back pain in the same clinic.
Scenario 3: The Federal Workers’ Comp Patient
The old way: David, a USPS mail carrier, injures his shoulder on the job. He files a CA-1 and sees a doctor unfamiliar with OWCP paperwork, and his PT is at a separate office.
The Innovare Tx way: David uses his initial choice of physician to come to Innovare Tx. Dr. Nathan Nguyen, MD serves as treating physician, working with Charles Ortega, PA-C, on the evaluation and CA-1 documentation. If OWCP authorizes physical therapy, Rowena provides it in the same clinic. OWCP decides the claim.
What Coordination Can Change
Being in one clinic can make it easier to get started, share information, and avoid repeating your history. It does not guarantee a faster recovery or lower costs, and your costs depend on your plan.
When You DO Need a Specialist: Our Honest Take
We believe in integrated care — but we also believe in transparency. There are times when a specialist referral is the right call.
If you need surgery, we’ll refer you to an orthopedic surgeon we trust. If you need advanced cardiac workup, we’ll connect you with a cardiologist. If your condition requires subspecialty care that’s outside our scope, we’ll tell you — clearly and promptly.
When we refer out, we can stay in touch with your specialist.
We don’t do everything.
The Future of Healthcare Is Integrated
Team-based care and patient-centered medical homes are part of how many clinics now organize care. If you would like more of your care in one place, call us to talk through your options.
Questions About Integrated Care?
Call us at (214) 233-3094, email contact@innovaretx.com, or visit us at 16901 Dallas Parkway, Suite 210, Addison, TX 75001. We accept BCBS, Medicare, UHC, and Cigna, plus Cherry, Affirm, and CareCredit financing. Military and law enforcement discounts apply to eligible self-pay services only, not physical therapy. Schedule your appointment today.
What is integrated care, and how is it different from seeing specialists?
Integrated care means your providers work as a single coordinated team — sharing one treatment plan, communicating in real time, and treating you under one roof. This can make it easier to share information. It does not guarantee a particular outcome or lower cost.
Can one clinic really handle everything I need?
At Innovare Tx, we cover the services most patients need: primary care, autologous orthobiologic procedures (PRP, BMAC), physical therapy, weight management, neuropathy care, and federal OWCP care. If you need surgery or subspecialty care outside our scope, we refer you to a specialist.
How does Innovare Tx coordinate care between providers?
Charles Ortega, PA-C, and Rowena Calleja, PT, work side by side in the same clinic. They can plan care together and talk directly when something changes.
Is integrated care more expensive than seeing individual specialists?
It depends on your plan and care. Having care in one clinic may reduce some repeat visits, but we cannot promise lower costs. Compounded tirzepatide for weight management is $160/month for the medication. We accept major insurance plans including BCBS, Medicare, UHC, and Cigna, and financing through Cherry, Affirm, and CareCredit may be available; eligibility is not guaranteed.
Do you accept insurance and workers’ compensation cases?
Innovare Tx accepts BCBS, Medicare, UHC, and Cigna. We also see federal employees with OWCP claims, including USPS, TSA, DHS, CBP, DOD, and VA workers; we do not accept Texas state workers’ compensation. Under FECA you have an initial choice of physician.
How do I get started with integrated care at Innovare Tx?
Getting started is simple. Call us at (214) 233-3094, email contact@innovaretx.com, or book online through our Tebra scheduling portal. Your first visit includes an evaluation with Charles Ortega, PA-C, who will go over a plan with you. Ask us whether your plan requires a referral.
PRP, PPP, BMAC, and A2M are autologous procedures prepared from your own blood or bone marrow. They are considered investigational and are not FDA-approved for the treatment of any specific orthopedic condition, including osteoarthritis. Individual results are not guaranteed. Any decision to pursue an orthobiologic procedure should be made with your provider after a clinical evaluation.
