The former Rehabilitations Options of Issaquah has joined the Overlake Medical Center team; Overlake acquired the clinic to create Overlake Medical Clinics Musculoskeletal Medicine.

Rehabilitations Options, established in 2008 by physiatrist Dr. Michael Hatzakis, specializes in neurological and musculoskeletal disorders caused by workplace, vehicular or sports injuries, and the preventment of such injuries.

“We care for the entire gammit,” Hatzakis said. He said that his patients range from dancers with back problems to baseball players with sports injuries to people who get knee pain while doing everyday tasks like gardening.

Hatzakis’ clinic is renowned for its use of teamwork to give patients all of the different types of treatment they need in one location.

“Patients say it’s remarkable how all of our providers talk to each other,” Hatzakis said. “One of the things we coordinate well is working as a team.” His patients have access to physiatrists, surgeons, physical therapists, massage therapists and psychiatrists, who all work together.

“We think their team-based care is something we’d like to replicate,” said Dr. Dennis Rochier, CEO of Overlake Medical Center.

The merger means that the clinic’s team-based approach to medical treatment will be able to expand, drawing from a greater pool of medical specialists and resources.

For instance, in the past, Hatzakis has had trouble attaining psychiatrists, but now he will have access to the team of psychiatrists in the Overlake system.

“The main things we provide for them are operative efficiency,” Rochier explained, noting that things such as purchasing power, medical equipment leases and contracts present more of a challenge for small groups.

“It comes down to what the patient needs … In a more effective system, people can get better care,” Hatzakis said. “As we’re more efficient, we work more as a team. When a patient walks through the door, they will have more options of things to help them get better faster.”

Rochier said that the move will provide the “direct sharing of medical information” for “a more seamless transition of care.”

“One of the biggest challenges in health care is the fraction of information flow,” he said. “Now we have the ability to share information.”

The partnership between Rehabilitation Options and Overlake was “a very mutual process” and “a natural evolution” after working together closely, Hatzakis said.

“I admire that [Overlake] didn’t want to mess with how we care for patients … They were more interested in doing the right thing than making a lot of money,” he said.

According to Rochier, this commitment to patients over profits is what has made Overlake such a success for half a century. In addition to its Bellevue hospital, Overlake operates 25 clinics on the Eastside.

“People recognize the value of an independent hospital that’s locally-owned and operated and a nonprofit,” Rochier said. “We have that personal touch.”

The new Overlake Medical Clinics Musculoskeletal Medicine is located at 1740 NW Maple St. in Issaquah and is accepting new patients now.