Pacific Surgical Institute marks 5th Anniversary

When Pacific Surgical Institute (PSI) opened in summer 2006, the goals were simple – create an environment that was comfortable, convenient, and cost-effective for patients.
During the past five years, the unique medical facility at 625 9th Avenue in Longview has made huge strides toward achieving those goals.
“We wanted to provide alternatives, so that area patients would have the opportunity to make choices about their medical care,” said William Turner, M.D., one of PSI’s managing partners. “We feel very good about what we’ve accomplished.”
PSI houses an outpatient surgery center (Pacific Surgical Center), as well as six other health care providers – Longview Urology, Pacific Imaging Center, Longview Orthopedic Associates, Longview Physical & Sports Therapy Services, Northwest Medical Analytic Laboratory, and Flourish Skin & Laser.
PSI tenants have recorded more than 200,000 patient visits during the past five years.
Turner said that Longview Orthopedic Associates’ expansion to nine providers – seven surgeons, a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant – is due in part to having a surgery center and MRI and physical therapy services on-site. In many cases, patients are able to receive related services without leaving the building.
“It’s allowed us to provide better access and coordination of services to our patients,” he said.
Turner had rave reviews for Pacific Surgical Center (PSC), and patients seem to agree. Michele Peterson, nurse manager at PSC, reports that in 2010 and 2011, nearly 98 percent of patients rated their experience at the surgery center as “excellent.”
Turner also noted that with a struggling economy and rising insurance co-payments, patients benefit from the fact that PSC charges much less than hospitals.
PSC is the only ambulatory surgery center in the area that handles orthopedic, urological, gastro-intestinal, ENT, gynecologic, pediatric, and general surgery procedures.
Additional information is available at www.longviewpsi.com.
Above Photo: The grand and beautiful entrance to PSI. Photo by Jim LeMonds

Lower Columbia Pathologists Christens New Facility

Lower Columbia Pathologists (LCP) formally celebrated the completion of its new building at 14th and Tennant Way with a grand opening on September 21st.

LCP, which was founded in 1955, is owned by six local physicians and provides clinical laboratory, nuclear medicine, and pathology services to clients throughout the Northwest.
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Rider increases strength in anticipation of 60 @ 60 benefit ride

Shown above riding at the 4,000’ level on the southeast side of Mount St. Helens with the Smith Creek drainage in the background, Castle Rock’s Jim LeMonds has agreed to provide readers with regular updates about preparations for his 60 @ Sixty ride in July. LeMonds will attempt to ride sixty miles of trail in the Cascades on a mountain bike in a single day to celebrate his sixtieth birthday. He is using the event to raise money for Friends of the Castle Rock Library, Girls on the Run of Southwest Washington, and CurePC (pancreatic cancer).org.

By Jim Lemonds
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Local Doc worked with pro athletes

When Dr. Peter Kung arrived at the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles in 2008 to begin a sports medicine fellowship, it took some getting used to.

Kung – who now works at Longview Orthopedic Associates – found himself treating athletes who are regularly featured on ESPNS’s Sports Center.
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A Medical Mission to the heart of Haiti

Dana Pierson, an RN at Pacific Surgical Center, traveled to Haiti in December as part of a medical mission sponsored by Christian Science International. She made many friends and came away with a special place in her heart for Haiti’s poverty-stricken people.
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Longview Orthopedic Celebrates 25th Anniversary!

Clinical Excellence, Community Service Remain Top Priorities.

When Longview Orthopedic Associates (LOA) opened in 1983, the world was a much different place. Ronald Reagan was President. The space shuttle embarked on its first voyage. Poland’s Lech Walesa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But while 25 years have come and gone, one thing has remained the same – Longview Orthopedic Associates continues to be the area’s foremost orthopedic team. Read more

Longview Urology Offers New Treatment Option for Kidney Cancer

Longview Urology recently became the first area practice to offer cryotherapy for treating kidney tumors. This minimally invasive technology – known as cryoablation – destroys small kidney tumors by freezing them. The same technique can be used to treat prostate cancer.
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Local Physician Receives new Sports Medicine Certification

Dr. Bruce Blackstone (pictured above) of Longview Orthopedic Associates (LOA) is among the first 540 physicians nationwide to receive subspecialty certification in sports medicine from the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons (ABOS).
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