Naturalist John Muir said that “To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world.” An avid explorer, his passion for our 49th state is boundless. “In these coast landscapes, there is such indefinite, on-leading expansiveness…Tracing shining ways through fiord and sound, past forests and waterfalls, islands and mountains and far azure headlands, it seems as if surely we must at length reach the very paradise of the poets, the abode of the blessed.”
But this beautiful, often-harsh environment can make finding a doctor difficult. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Alaska’s population per square mile is 1.2 (yes, you’re reading that correctly!). This means residents needing medical care find themselves repeatedly traveling long distances, often at high cost, for treatment.
At Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center (PSC), patients from across the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Alaska are warmly welcomed and treated to expert outpatient surgical care with straightforward transparency pricing.
A recent article on American health care explains that Alaska is “the fourth most expensive state in the U.S., where a standard knee replacement might cost five times what it does in Seattle and pricey air ambulance rides are common in emergencies.” PSC is “committed to providing the highest-quality outpatient procedures and surgical treatments using the most advanced methods, technology, and expertise. Our state-of-the-art surgical care delivers excellent outcomes at a fraction of the cost, and in a fraction of the time, compared to surgeries and procedures performed in a hospital.”
PSC focuses on orthopedics, sports injury treatment, urology, gastroenterology, podiatry, and general surgery. They accept insurance plans from across the region and much of the pre-surgical lab work can be completed on site.
In Alaska, popular winter sports activities—or even just getting around—can result in injuries successfully treated at Pacific Surgical Center. These commonly include damage to knees, ankles, thumbs, and wrists from ice-related falls, skiing, hockey, or other snow-based sports.
Alaskans know that preparation is key. At PSC, all the information needed for your visit is readily available from any device. Insurance matters are handled by highly-trained staff and posted transparency pricing includes all of “the facility fee, the surgeon’s fee, and the anesthesiologist’s fee. The initial consultation with the surgeon is also included, as is uncomplicated follow-up care.”
For out-of-state patients, PSC provides information about their skilled physicians’ online and even lets you personally request a specialist to meet your needs. By doing so in advance, staff can reach out regarding your specific requirements, worries, and treatment. As an outpatient clinic, overnight stays are seldom necessary but can be arranged if required. PSC also works with a nearby hotel to offer discounts for patients and families.
Frequently asked questions are addressed and downloadable forms, HIPAA information, and insurance information are all clearly delineated patient resources. When you’re ready to ask questions, schedule a visit, or pay your bill, it can all be done via their website or by calling 360-442-7900.
But the best medical care isn’t cold or impersonal. At Pacific Surgical Center, “We carefully choose our doctors with a variety of traits above and beyond superb medical and surgical knowledge. Compassion, personality, gentleness, and medical philosophy are all key factors in our decision. We don’t hire doctors who are simply in it for the money. We hire doctors who perform their service because they genuinely love helping people and understand that the psychological treatment of the patient is as important as the physical.”
PSC takes pride in offering “the highest level of personalized attention and we’re totally focused on your individual needs. We customize our surgical care to be the most effective and appropriate for you, and then deliver it with compassion and dedication to help ensure you get the very best surgical outcomes.”
Despite its great size, Alaska has fewer than two dozen hospitals in the state. If you suffer from the pain of an accident, injury, or just plain old aging, why travel back and forth for testing, lab work, surgery, follow-up, and more? Consider a trip to Pacific Surgical Center where you’ll find it all under one roof.
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul,” said Muir. Add a little R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) and many of life’s sprains and strains will take care of themselves. But if they don’t, be efficient in your care and gentle on your wallet by calling Pacific Surgical Center.
