As an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Birchard prides himself in his hands. For a guy who uses numerous tools most of us have never heard of or could even imagine, his hands are surely his most important tool. And what better way to use his hands than fix others’ hands? Whether Dr. Birchard is in the clinic, the operating room, or out in the local community, Dr. Birchard is always willing to lend a helping hand. Dr. Birchard grew up in Chehalis as his dad, also an orthopedic surgeon, helped get Washington Orthopaedic Center off the ground. His family was very involved in local community service events and international missions, and these are two aspects of service he still continues today. Simply look for Dr. Birchard’s United Way campaign poster on your right between exits 81 and 79 as you head south on I-5 to see the impact he has on our local community. His medical mission trips in countries like Papua New Guinea, the Dominican Republic, and India have had similar positive effects. Dr. Birchard also continues his participation in Boy Scouts of America by volunteering with his son’s Cub Scout Pack 301 in Chehalis. Dr. Birchard has a special interest in [...]

In a 2013 Consumer Reports article titled Your Safer-Surgery Survival Guide, Centralia’s Providence Hospital was listed as one of Washington’s top rated hospitals for surgery. Other hospitals rated as highly as Providence Centralia hospital were Seattle’s Swedish Medical Center – First Hill and Renton’s UW Medicine/Valley Medical Center. The ratings were produced with the help of MPA, a health care consulting firm, and were categorized by analyzing the percentage of a hospital’s Medicare surgery patients who either died while in the hospital or spent a greater length of time in the hospital than was expected. 27 separate surgeries were examined, although five procedures were main points of emphasis: back surgery, hip and knee replacements, angioplasties, and carotid artery surgery. You can find more information on the safety ratings of Providence Centralia Hospital and other hospitals at Consumer Reports Hospital Ratings. Providence Hospital - Centralia, Washington In addition to the article by Consumer Reports, Centralia Providence Hospital had zero reports of infection for patients having undergone a total joint replacement in 2016. While we in the US like to think our infection safety guidelines rule out the possibility of infection, this is not always true. In fact, in a 2016 report [...]

Dr. Dujela Awesome! Fast efficient and makes you feel like you issues are top priority! Have already recommended him to others! He's my top pick I feel he is the best at what he does, he is always kind and professional! I highly would recommend him to others and concerns that I may have... Excellence and caring. He listened to me about continuing with PT and waiting a bit longer before proceeding with surgery. I don't want surgery unless absolutely necessary and he understood that and went along with me. He told me I would know when the pain was more than I could handle and I could come back and see him then and we would talk about the next step. Dr. Dujela, As well as his entire staff are kind, professional and informative. It's obvious that they are treated well by Dr. Dujela. The entire environment of the office is friendly and at ease, yet attentive. Very positive interaction with Dr. Dujela. I would highly recommend him to others. Dr Dujela was so kind even though he saw us for a condition he doesn't usually deal with. We thought he was fantastic! I loved that he was direct and didn't [...]

Staff and Facility Comments The receptionist to schedule my MRI was awesome. She went the extra mile to get my appointment scheduled at good time for me as I travel a ways to get there. She was a 10. [visit for Keith V Anderson, M.D.] I've been visiting WOC for about four years and have always had excellent care from all staff. I drive from Olympia to this clinic because of the quality of care I receive. [visit for Scott S Slattery, M.D.]  Facility was clean, large waiting room, [visit for Scott S Slattery, M.D.]  THE BEST CARE FROM PEOPLE THAT CARE----THANKS--- [visit for Scott S Slattery, M.D.]  mostly excellent. dr n did a great job on my leg years back. [visit for Scott S Slattery, M.D.]  This organization is Top Drawer. Everyone I associated with has been GREAT. [visit for Scott S Slattery, M.D.]  Excellent. [visit for Michael D Dujela, D.P.M.]  Every one is great [visit for Michael D Dujela, D.P.M.]  Would recommend this provider to anyone who would need their service [visit for Keith R Birchard, M.D.]  Courteous like no other ortho in WA.State. [visit for Michael D Dujela, D.P.M.]  The whole staff we dealt with were amazing, patient, compassionate and [...]

Q1.) You're originally from North Carolina. What, besides a job, made you want to move to the Pacific Northwest? Everyone has always raved about the beauty of the pacific northwest and how there are endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. Being from the mountains of western North Carolina, outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, skiing and boating have always been a part of my life so I wanted to move to an area where I could continue those activities. Q2.) What are you most excited to see and/or do in Washington? I am very excited about seeing Olympic National Park/Forest. I am also looking forward to experiencing these "summers" that all the Washington natives say make the rainy months bearable. Q3.) Becoming a Physician Assistant (PA) isn't the easiest thing to do. What was the hardest part of becoming a PA for you, and what do you recommend to others who want to become a PA? The hardest part of becoming a PA was learning that you are not always going to have or know the answer to everything and that it is okay to say "I don't know but I will find out for you." I recommend to others wanting to become a [...]

Total joint hip replacement is now easier than ever By choosing Dr. Slattery to perform the direct anterior approach to total hip surgery, patients are more frequently finding themselves walking the same day as surgery. What makes the direct anterior approach to total hip surgery special? Unlike the traditional "posterior" method, which requires a surgeon to navigate through several large muscles at the back of the hip, approaching from the front (anterior) part of the hip spares muscles and can greatly decrease recovery time. In addition, the improved positioning of patients during the operation allows Dr. Slattery to x-ray hips during the surgery to ensure proper positioning and length of the artificial hip, something that can't be done with the traditional method. Gary Hockett, a recent patient of Dr. Slattery's, elected to undergo the anterior approach total hip procedure, and is a perfect example of how this surgery can change the course of lives. Mr. Hockett explained that he was walking the first day after surgery and stated "I feel great," as he was striding down the clinic hallways. He went on to mention that "I haven't taken a pain pill since the ninth day after surgery." At two weeks after his operation [...]