Evan Fleming, PA, Orthopaedics

Evan Fleming loves helping people limited by pain—typically those who’ve experienced an injury or degenerative illness such as arthritis—return to what they enjoy doing.

As one of six orthopaedic physician assistants who care for Craig patients at Steamboat Orthopaedic and Spine Institute and Memorial Regional Health, Fleming assesses new patients, follows up with existing patients and supports patients after orthopaedic surgery. On any given day, he might place a cast on a 6-year-old’s broken wrist, give a cortisone knee injection to a 90-year-old with osteoarthritis, order an MRI for a patient with a torn rotator cuff in their shoulder, examine a variety of joint and bone injuries, and assist any of the practice’s orthopaedic physicians in surgery.

Regardless of the type of orthopaedic problem, the goal is always the same: to help people do both the activities they need to do and those they love to do with as little pain and as much stability, strength and range of motion as possible.

The role of the Orthopaedic PA

Orthopaedic physician assistants see patients both independently and in collaboration with the orthopaedic surgeons. They are often the first to assess a patient’s problem and help them determine the best path for care. If the problem is not appropriate for surgery, the PA may remain the patient’s primary orthopaedic provider.

“Ortho PAs broaden the reach and communication of the surgeons they work with,” Fleming said. “We provide increased access to care, and we often have a little more time to spend with each patient, helping answer their questions and making them feel at ease.”

In addition to seeing patients in the clinic, Fleming and his PA team also care for orthopaedic injuries in the emergency room, assist the surgeons during surgical procedures and follow up with patients in the hospital post-surgery. “Surgeons are busy, and as PAs we increase the number of patients that can be helped,” he added.

“A good PA-doctor relationship should allow the patient the same quality care regardless of whether they are seeing the surgeon or a PA,” Fleming said. “We recognize when the patient needs a surgeon and get them to the right surgeon for their condition. We work as extensions of the surgeons, and we have very open communication with them.”

The rewards of the job

Fleming said he likes helping patients live their lives to the fullest.

“I love seeing someone return to what they enjoy doing,” he said. “That can be the kids who get back to the playground after a broken bone, the athlete who returns to competition after an ACL surgery or the patient who can play with their grandkids again after a knee or hip replacement.”

After college, Fleming was an athletic trainer for an orthopaedic clinic in Illinois for a few years. He went on to become a PA because he knew he wanted to continue to help orthopaedic patients but at a higher level. “I just love this so much,” he said.

Evan Fleming pictured with his family. 

About Evan

Fleming grew up in central Illinois, and he and his wife, Rachel, and their three children moved to the Yampa Valley in 2017. “It’s an amazing place we didn’t know existed before a few years ago. It’s now home and a community we love and have become a part of.”

Fleming is a sports fan and aspiring hunter. He and his family enjoy being outdoors, hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing. They attend Venue church.