Safer Surgery at Washington Orthopaedic Center

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Members of Washington Orthopaedic Center took a mission trip to Nicaragua to perform joint replacement surgeries.

In September 2013, Consumer Reports published a guide titled “Your safer-surgery survival guide.” The article included ratings of surgery centers in Washington State. Providence Centralia Hospital received the third highest rating, with a “best” score, right behind Overlake Hospital in Bellevue.

“Our staff at the Washington Orthopaedic Center is proud to be part of the highly recognized care provided at Providence Centralia,” said Maretta Boes, patient services representative at Washington Orthopaedic Center.

You’ll find the center a short 20-minute drive south on I-5 in Centralia, right off the highway. The group of four orthopedic surgeons and four physician assistants serve a large region, covering Thurston, Grays Harbor and Lewis counties.

When you step into the lobby of Washington Orthopaedic Center you know you’re in a special place. One of the first things you see is a large, living tree, bent and twisted and beautiful, but braced to a straight stick. “The traditional symbol of orthopaedics is the bent tree that has been braced to make it grow straight. We use this symbol throughout our building,” said Boes. Not only is there a living tree in the lobby, but the tree is painted on walls and is on their letterhead.

“The Greek roots of the word ‘orthopaedics’ are ortho (straight) and pais (child). Early orthopaedists often used braces or other forms of treatment to make the child ‘straight’’, Boes explained.

Washington Orthopaedic Center's Dr. Slattery (in red jacket) attends a US Ski Team medical emergency training.
Washington Orthopaedic Center’s Dr. Slattery (in red jacket) attends a US Ski Team medical emergency training.

The waiting room features art by local artists, rotating every sixty days, creating a welcoming environment.  The receptionists are warm, as well. Continue walking through the state of the art facility and you’ll pass numerous plaques and awards from local sports teams that have been sponsored by Washington Orthopaedics.  Along with supporting local teams, Washington Orthopaedics is also the official medical provider for the US Ski & Snowboarding teams.

The practice started in 1973, founded by Dr. Larry Hull, and has been at their present location on Cooks Hill Road for 25 years this July. Due to growth in the practice, the building has seen a number of renovations. Currently they are installing new digital imaging equipment. They also have open extremity Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which is helpful for patients that experience claustrophobia in traditional MRIs. MRIs provide detailed information about tendons, ligaments, muscle, and bone marrow that standard x-rays cannot. It is particularly useful for looking at knees, shoulders, wrists, ankles, and other small joints.

Washington Orthopaedic Center patients also benefit from the latest technology in tele-radiology. This is where the image is sent electronically to specialists that read results with expert accuracy. Today’s imaging technology has virtually eliminated the need for invasive exploratory surgeries.

Other services provided at the center include sports medicine, total joint replacement, hand surgery, minimally invasive procedures, fracture and trauma surgery and ImPACT testing for concussion.

In July, Dr. Michael Dujela will join the team. He is a nationally recognized expert in foot and ankle surgery who has trained with some of the world’s leading orthopaedic surgeons. There are less than five surgeons, in the nation, who have completed training similar to Dujela.

Many people would think that appointments with highly-trained providers like Dujela would take months to get, but that is not the case at Washington Orthopaedic Center. “We’ve made it a huge priority over the last few years to improve our scheduling times,” said Boes referencing the quick scheduling.  “We want patients who are in pain or are waiting to return to work to get the care they need and get on with their lives.”

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Quick scheduling is a hallmark of service at Washington Orthopaedic Center.

Boes notes that many first time visitors are surprised by the size of the facility, the number of doctors, the proximity to Providence right next door, as well as the lower cost of many of their services. Washington Orthopaedics accepts nearly all insurance plans, including Group Health.

Scheduling appointments is a breeze.  A quick phone call (360.736.2889) to Washington Orthopaedics and you will likely be seen within 24 hours.  A commitment to easy, rapid scheduling is a hallmark of the practice.

Washington Orthopaedic Center is located at 1900 Cooks Hill Road and can be reached at 360.736.2889 or appointments can be made at www.waortho.com.

Services include:

  • Sports Medicine
  • Total Joint Replacement
  • Hand Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Procedures
  • Fracture and Trauma Surgery
  • Open Extremity MRI
  • Out-Patient Surgery Center
  • Digital X-Ray
  • ImPACT Testing for Concussion

 

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