As Heraclitus said more than 2,000 years ago, there is nothing permanent except change. If you’ve been injured, it can change your life. Sometimes the twisting road to recovery includes implanted surgical hardware. Whether screws, plates, or pins, these strengthen the impacted area so your body can heal and mobility is restored. How long they stay is up to the surgeon and your healthcare team but when it’s time to say goodbye, removal is as easy as an outpatient trip to Pacific Surgical Center (PSC). Researchers explain that “Orthopedic implants are categorized into two groups including permanent joint replacements and temporary fracture fixation devices. Permanent orthopedic implants include the hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and finger joints, which are expected to serve in […]

True friends look beneath our outward persona to know—and love—who we really are. What we present to the world is one part but it’s our thoughts, feelings, and emotions that link us to others. In medicine, too, there are many layers. And sometimes getting to the root of an issue means delving below the surface. At Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center (PSC), this can be done via outpatient arthroscopy of the affected areas. Arthroscopy uses a small camera to look inside your joints. At PSC they provide arthroscopic services on knees, shoulders, wrists, and ankles. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) explains that “Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that orthopedic surgeons use to visualize, diagnose, and treat problems inside a […]

Times change, trends come and go. For some—especially in fashion—we wave goodbye with a shudder, but other changes benefit daily life. Scientific and technological advancements mean many things are better, faster, cheaper…and that’s definitely win/win. This even applies to health care. Outpatient surgery centers like Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center are minimally invasive and require significantly less recovery downtime. This means you’re on your feet and back to normal activities again quickly. But if your feet are what’s causing you pain, let PSC surgeons help. They offer an array of foot and ankle procedures to address bunions, hammertoe, and other problematic issues. Bunions are defined as “A painful enlargement of the joint situated at the base of the big toe. A bunion actually refers to […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]