Beyond the Foot and Ankle: How Atlantic Health's Wayne Pavilion Is Simplifying Musculoskeletal Care

Foot and ankle problems rarely exist in isolation.

A patient may present with a persistent ankle sprain, chronic heel pain, or an acute fracture, but the underlying story is often more complex. Gait abnormalities can contribute to knee, hip, and back pain. Sports injuries may require advanced imaging, physical therapy, and surgical evaluation. Fractures frequently demand coordinated care across multiple services before treatment can begin.

For referring physicians, navigating those needs can be challenging. For patients, it can mean multiple appointments, multiple locations, and unnecessary delays.

At Atlantic Health's Wayne Pavilion, Kimberly Koury, MD, is helping change that experience. As a fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Koury combines specialized expertise with a multidisciplinary model designed to make musculoskeletal care more coordinated, accessible, and efficient.

Specialized Foot and Ankle Expertise Close to Home

Dr. Koury recently joined Atlantic Health after years in private practice. A New Jersey native, she earned her medical degree from Rutgers, completed orthopedic residency training in Baltimore, and went on to complete a dedicated foot and ankle surgery fellowship in Rochester, New York. 

That advanced training allows her to care for patients across the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions, from common injuries to highly complex reconstruction cases. 

"The patients I typically see are literally from all walks of life," Dr. Koury said. "It can be adolescents coming in with athletic injuries, flat feet, and ankle sprains, all the way up to elderly patients with advanced arthritis and ankle deformity." 

Her practice includes sports injuries, tendon disorders, trauma, arthritis, deformity correction, reconstruction, and revision surgery. 

Just as importantly, she fills a growing need in northern New Jersey. 

"Being a subspecialist in foot and ankle surgery in North Jersey provides a huge service to the area," she said. "We really don't have a lot of foot and ankle providers with my level of training for these complex injuries." 

For primary care physicians, urgent care providers, physical therapists, and orthopedic colleagues, that level of subspecialty expertise provides an important resource for patients whose conditions extend beyond routine foot care. 

A Different Model for Musculoskeletal Care 

The Atlantic Health Wayne Pavilion was built around a simple concept designed to bring the specialists and services musculoskeletal patients need together in one location. 

The facility houses orthopedic surgeons across multiple subspecialties along with advanced imaging, physical therapy, laboratory services, and additional support resources. 

"The thing that's great about it is we also have other services to complement that," Dr. Koury said. "We have X-ray imaging, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, physical therapy, and lab services. It's a great way for patients to come in and get all the services they need regarding their musculoskeletal system." 

That integrated approach creates benefits that extend far beyond convenience. 

When patients present with overlapping orthopedic issues, providers can collaborate in real time to determine the most appropriate next step. 

"If I see a patient for their foot and ankle, but they're also having lower back pain, sometimes with lumbar pathology coming down the leg, I'm able to get them to see the spine doctor, get them into physical therapy, and get the imaging they need," Dr. Koury explained. 

Rather than sending patients through a series of disconnected referrals, specialists can work together to build a more coordinated care plan. 

The collaboration extends beyond physicians. Physical therapists work closely with orthopedic specialists, creating continuity throughout treatment and recovery. 

"When it is time for physical therapy, they're able to go over to a state-of-the-art physical therapy center and make that appointment and have that consistency," she said. 

Improving the Patient Experience 

The Wayne Pavilion model is particularly valuable when patients require urgent intervention. 

Dr. Koury described recent cases involving ankle fractures that required surgery and advanced imaging. Instead of coordinating multiple appointments across separate facilities, patients were able to complete bloodwork, imaging, and surgical planning within the same care environment. 

"We're able to get them ready for surgery, get the CT scan the same day, and then we're all ready for surgery," she said. 

For patients who are in pain and often struggling with mobility, those efficiencies can make a meaningful difference. 

"Overall, it's really good care," Dr. Koury said. "I think that's going to lead to quicker care and better outcomes." 

The result is a more seamless experience for patients and referring providers alike. Diagnostic imaging, specialist consultation, physical therapy, and surgical planning can happen within a coordinated system that minimizes delays and reduces the burden on patients who are already dealing with pain and limited mobility. 

When Should Providers Refer? 

Foot and ankle complaints are among the most common musculoskeletal concerns encountered in primary care, urgent care, sports medicine, and rehabilitation settings. While many conditions improve with conservative treatment, Dr. Koury encourages providers to consider referral when patients are not progressing as expected. 

Key indicators include swelling that appears disproportionate to the injury, inability to bear weight, persistent instability, or symptoms that fail to improve after several weeks of physical therapy, bracing, or other standard interventions. 

Even when the diagnosis is unclear, specialized evaluation can provide valuable insight. 

Weight-bearing imaging, available within the Wayne Pavilion, often helps uncover biomechanical issues that may be contributing to symptoms elsewhere in the musculoskeletal system. 

"Even if you're not sure if there's something going on with the feet, I'm happy to see them and evaluate them," Dr. Koury said. 

Built Around Collaboration 

For referring physicians, access and communication remain critical factors when choosing a specialist partner. 

Dr. Koury has made both priorities in her practice. 

"When doctors want to refer patients, we try to make it as easy and streamlined as possible," she said. 

She routinely communicates directly with referring providers and works to accommodate urgent appointments when necessary. 

The goal is to provide specialized care while keeping referring physicians informed and engaged throughout the patient's treatment journey. 

As Atlantic Health continues to expand services at the Wayne Pavilion, Dr. Koury sees the facility as more than a new location. She sees it as a better way to deliver musculoskeletal care. 

"We really try to make it as easy as possible on patients," she said. 

Learn More and Refer with Confidence 

For physicians caring for patients with complex foot and ankle conditions, that combination of subspecialty expertise, coordinated care, and streamlined access may be exactly what their patients need. 

Whether a patient is experiencing persistent pain, recurrent ankle instability, arthritis, deformity, a sports injury, or a condition that has not responded to conservative treatment, Dr. Kimberly Koury and the multidisciplinary team at Atlantic Health's Wayne Pavilion are available to help. 

To refer a patient to Dr. Koury or her team, please call 973-317-0155.