Sometimes you want the whole enchilada. Variety, choices, slices from every pie. But other times it’s a quest for exactly what you’re craving, that one unique, specific flavor. Either way, it’s nice to have options for your varied, various needs. The same is true when shopping for health care. There are full-service, full coverage, employer-hosted plans or catastrophic, minimalist, self-pay opportunities. Whatever you need medically, there’s a plan for you. And at Longview’s outpatient Pacific Surgical Center, they’ll work to get you back on your feet however you’re covered. If, like most of us, you’re a sucker for a buffet, direct primary care (DPC) may be the option for you. The American Academy of Family Physicians explains that DPC charges “patients a monthly, […]

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Americans love to shop. We search for the right service or provider with all the glee of a treasure-hunting pirate. And it pays off. Shopping around means finding just the right fit, getting exactly what you need or want, and saving hard-earned money. All of which is true when looking at health care as well. You can shop within a variety of insurers, but also for specific health care providers themselves. Thanks to a new trend in price transparency, clinics like Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center are a great option for all your outpatient surgery needs, coverage, and cost. The Wall Street Journal explains that “It’s impossible to say exactly what kind of health insurance to get. There are many variables that make a […]

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Folk tales talk about carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. And rightfully so. Our shoulders support grocery bags, briefcases, and backpacks as well as carry children, support those in need, and keep us upright and strong. But when something goes wrong, our whole body feels the pain. If you’ve sustained rotator cuff damage through age, accident, or injury, let Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center (PSC) help. The Mayo Clinic explains that “The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder…Rotator cuff injuries occur most often in people who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their jobs or […]

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There’s something delightfully alluring about rare things. We value jewelry made from gems and metals hidden deep inside the earth. Watching our favorite musicians perform live is truly unforgettable. Traveling to the far corners of the earth can change your life forever. But in medical care, scarcity often means increased cost, extensive wait times, and limited services offered. It’s also an unfortunate—but sadly necessary—the trade-off for living in one of America’s most beautiful states: Alaska. The Inside Passage may be a Northwest tourism destination but it’s facing a tremendous shortage of doctors and nurses. With this in mind, many Alaskans come to the mainland for surgery. At Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center (PSC), they’re welcomed with open arms, talented surgeons, financial advisors, and […]

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Price transparency seems like a no-brainer. Items and services show a clearly posted cost and we choose whether or not to purchase them. But there can be hidden fees, taxes, or add-on’s to just about anything. Thanks to dedicated providers like Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center (PSC), there won’t be any sticker shock when your final bill arrives. Sometimes extra charges are statewide, like the 20.5% tax on Washington hard liquor sales. Other times they’re a blur like the speed-talking ‘document fees, tax, tag, and title’ they add at the end of every TV or radio commercial for new cars. But for medical procedures, variations are harder for the layperson to predict and calculate. Beginning January 1, 2019, “hospitals will be required to […]

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Thanks to advances in medicine, surgery isn’t such a scary process anymore. Gone are the days of Wild West barber-surgeons and grotesque equipment like the trepanning saw. Today, we have clinics like Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center (PSC) which provide skilled treatment on an efficient, outpatient basis. Pre- and post-operative care is done on-site and you’ll be home to sleep in your own bed that night. But that doesn’t mean you can rush recovery. All procedures come with strict instructions on how to best speed successful healing. Following a few simple steps means you’ll be back to 100% in no time. Recent statistics show that of 17.2 million surgeries, “Over half of these visits (57.8 percent) occurred in a hospital-owned ambulatory […]

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There are lots of ways to cover medical expenses. Traditional employer-funded insurance is a partnership between the company and its employees who both pay into coverage. You can also simply pay out of pocket or start an untaxed health savings account to save for rainy days. But these aren’t the only options anymore. For some families, healthcare sharing programs minimize red tape and paperwork. They pool resources and disburse them as needed amongst their like-minded members. Christian Healthcare Ministries is one such plan. In a nutshell, healthcare sharing programs “are faith-based programs (of varying degrees with options for different religious denominations) which facilitate voluntary sharing among members for eligible medical expenses. Specifically, members send in monthly ‘shares’ (i.e., premiums) which are distributed to or […]

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As weather warms and days lengthen, winter’s lethargy starts to fade. And it’s about time too! But new activity can mean injuries as we dive wholeheartedly into recreation, yard work, and sports. When your injury requires surgery, don’t be sidelined all summer long. Consider a trip to Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center (PSC) for outpatient surgery that’ll have you batting 1000 again soon. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) documents yearly injuries from an array of sources. In 2017 alone, their hospital surveys estimated 89,608 lawnmower accidents, 13,073 firework accidents, and 24,082 from BBQ grills and equipment. But perhaps the highest percentage of warm-weather mishaps occurred playing sports. NEISS cited more than 340,000 from football, 218,000 from soccer, 35,000 […]

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Ahh, Las Vegas. The land of bright lights, fine dining, and 24/7 fun. But did you know that Sin City also hosts some of the nation’s biggest conventions, trade shows, and corporate meetings? This April 24-26, staff from Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center (PSC) will attend the annual LBG Advisors Benefits Symposium to present a lecture on medical tourism. The LBG Advisors Benefits Symposium addresses healthcare costs, employee benefits, membership retention and expansion, and insurance issues. Hosted by the Lynnwood-based LBG Advisors, they’ll have speakers from across the industry spectrum. PSC’s long-time commitment to upfront, clearly posted, transparency pricing makes them a leader in the outpatient surgical community. Procedures are handled quickly, professionally, and paying cash often costs less than the copay/coinsurance portion of traditional insurance. With this […]

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The New Year is an exciting time of resolutions, goals, and—perhaps the most fun—trendspotting. Industry experts do their best to anticipate, guess-timate, and predict what will be hot during the coming seasons and months. These estimations help us plan for the future and know a little more about what to expect down the road. This year there are fresh—and returning—trends galore. Food and Wine magazine encourages readers to be on the lookout because “Kelp, French classics, and phone-free dining are on the menu for 2019.” They also expect a rise in plant-based meals, locally sourced ingredients, and fast-casual dining. In fashion, Elle expects more feathers, hippy modernism (it’s a real thing, I promise), and square-toed shoes. But for medicine and […]

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