HSHS St. Francis Hospital expands local access to orthopedic and general surgery specialties

Litchfield area residents now have expanded access to specialized orthopedic and general surgery care, right in their own community. HSHS St. Francis Hospital is growing its orthopedic and surgical services to deliver high-quality, expert care close to home, so patients can focus on healing rather than the distance it takes to get there.

“Bringing more physicians and advanced practice providers to our community means patients no longer have to travel far for the specialized care they need," said Ian Polus, St. Francis Hospital’s Interim Chief Administrative Officer. "When you are not feeling great, you want to get your care as close to home as possible. That’s why we're proud to expand access to high-quality orthopedic and general surgery services right here in Litchfield.”

Orthopedics
St. Francis’ orthopedic specialists treat musculoskeletal conditions causing pain or discomfort in bones, joints, muscles and ligaments. The team offers a wide range of services, from conservative therapies to surgical options, including joint replacement, sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, fracture care, spine treatment, and rehabilitation for injuries and degenerative conditions.

The growing orthopedic team at the HSHS St. Francis Orthopedic Center includes orthopedic surgeons Dr. Michaela Schneiderbauer, Dr. Austin M. Beason, and Dr. Youssef El Bitar, and physician assistants Robert Whitman, DMSc, PA-C, and Abigayle Ochs, MSM, PA-C.

• Dr. Michaela Schneiderbauer
  • Dr. Schneiderbauer is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with over 15 years of experience as a hip and knee replacement specialist. With fellowship training in both Adult Reconstructive Surgery and Orthopedic Oncology from the University of Miami, Dr. Schneiderbauer has the expertise necessary for the least invasive hip and knee replacements as well as for hip and knee revision surgeries.
• Dr. Austin M. Beason
  • Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Beason brings his specialty to St. Francis Orthopedic Center to help those with conditions of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand including arthritis, rotator cuff injuries, labral tears, frozen shoulder, sports injuries, fractures, tendon injuries, and carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome. He completed an Orthopedic Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery Fellowship at the University of Florida in Gainesville and is now adding his advanced surgical expertise to the local orthopedic team.
• Dr. Youssef El Bitar
  • Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. El Bitar provides a holistic approach in orthopedic patient care. He practices in all aspects of orthopedics, with a special interest in arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, knee and hip. He is fellowship trained in adult reconstruction, hip preservation and arthroscopy, orthopedic surgery, and orthopedic sports medicine. He brings advanced orthopedic surgical care to Litchfield, having completed four orthopedic fellowships including Adult Reconstruction at Southern Illinois University (SIU), Hip Preservation and Arthroscopy at the American Hip Institute in Chicago, Orthopedic Surgery of the Spine at SIU, and Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the University of Iowa.
• Robert Whitman, DMSc, PA-C
  • Whitman brings more than a decade of experience as an orthopedic physician assistant (PA) and earned his Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree from SIU Carbondale. He is involved in all aspects of orthopedic care including acute and chronic condition management, injection therapy, as well as preoperative and postoperative management of orthopedic conditions. He is a Litchfield resident and is passionate about helping patients regain their function, reduce pain and return to the activities they enjoy most.
• Abigayle Ochs, MSM, PA-C
  • Ochs is an orthopedic PA who has returned to her native central Illinois region following several years in Tennessee, where she earned her Master of Science in Medicine from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville. With over six years of clinical expertise, she delivers a full spectrum of musculoskeletal care for both acute conditions like fractures and sports-related injuries and chronic conditions like arthritis and injection therapy. Ochs guides patients through every stage of recovery, including comprehensive preoperative and postoperative evaluations. She is dedicated to reducing pain and optimizing mobility for patients of all ages, helping everyone from pediatric and youth athletes to elderly individuals maintain their independence and continue doing what they love for as long as possible.

To schedule an appointment with the orthopedic team, call 217-324-8798. If a referral is needed, St. Francis’ Orthopedic Center can assist in obtaining a referral.

General Surgery
The surgical specialists at St. Francis Hospital perform a wide range of procedures locally using both minimally invasive and traditional techniques. Surgical services include abdominal surgery, hernia repair, gallbladder surgery, appendectomy, colonoscopy, and various outpatient procedures with focus on faster recovery times so people can return to their active lives.

Joining St. Francis Hospital’s surgery team recently is Dr. Luke Umana, a board-certified general surgeon with fellowship training in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery. He has extensive experience in several key areas, including:

• General surgery – hernia repair, appendectomy, gallbladder surgery, etc.
• Gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy
• Laparoscopic or minimally invasive surgery

Please call 217-324-8220 to make an appointment at the Litchfield clinic. A referral is required.

To learn more about all these doctors and advanced practice providers, please visit providers.hshs.org.