Design our 2020 Christmas Cards for your chance to WIN fun prizes! Each participant will receive a coupon to Dairy Queen ? Drop off or mail your artwork to our Centralia or Olympia location. We look forward to seeing all of your creative designs!
When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time? With five children, much of my time is spent in following and attending their groups and activities, from sporting events to theater productions. As they are getting older and more independent, I am finding time to keep myself fit and healthy along with my wife and our two dogs. We enjoy hiking, open water swimming, and other outdoor pursuits. What are you currently (or most recently) reading? Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and the latest issue of Outdoor Magazine What’s the first concert you attended? This information can definitely can be used to date me, but my first 2 concerts were U2 in Washington DC for their Joshua Tree tour and the Grateful Dead at the old RFK (Redskins) stadium. What’s your favorite book? I became a huge fan of Stephen King when I was younger, so I have read most of his books. They are all different, but The Shining remains a classic. What’s the best Halloween costume you’ve ever had? I'm not sure if it was the best, but as a college sophomore at Georgetown University I dressed up as a girl's prep school field hockey player, [...]
DIY Easy 5 Minute Face Mask If you're looking to quickly make a face mask from the comfort of your home, you've come to the right spot. The material used in this project is Kimberly-Clark Wypall X80 Disposable Shop Towel material. This is a "hydroknit" material that is a fairly dense non-woven product that is used in commercial cleaning and shops. It is tough enough that it can be used several times and it does not fall apart when it is wet (which is why it makes for a good shop towel or cleaning wipe material). The material has enough stretch that the top loop stretches over the head nicely and the bottom tie straps do not break. It is an odd color and a tad rough against the face but this is a pandemic not a beauty pageant! We bought a roll of 475 towels from Amazon for about $70. These are the larger size: 12.5" x 13.4" and the product number is Wypall 41055x80. The goal was to create a mask that is easy and fast to make that does not require a lot of sewing skills or extra materials (for example, it is now difficult to find elastic [...]
When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time? I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Hobby-wise, I like to cook, exercise, and read. What are you currently (or most recently) reading? I’m listening to a biography of US Grant, and reading “How to Raise and Adult”. What’s the first concert you attended? I saw Garth Brooks at a small venue in high school. It was just as he was becoming popular. What’s your favorite book? The Lord of the Rings trilogy. What’s the best Halloween costume you’ve ever had? My dad and I made a robot costume out of boxes and dryer vent tubing when I was in kindergarten. What was your first job? I grew up on a farm, so daily chores could be considered my first job, I guess. Otherwise, I worked as a bank teller during the summers in high school. What was your favorite subject in school? Science/Biology If you could win an Olympic medal for any sport, real or fake, what would it be? I would like to be crazy and daring enough to medal in the snowboarding half pipe. Since I’m not, I’ll settle for either the biathlon or 400m. [...]
Plantar Fasciitis Plantar Fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a strong tissue that is situated at the bottom of the foot. It acts as the connection of the heel bone and the toes, creating the arch in a foot. It also supports the foot’s arch by absorbing impact from jumping and running. The lack of stretching or strength in the calves and hamstring can lead to plantar fasciitis. To avoid this injury, stretch and strengthen your calf muscles. Stress Fracture Stress fractures are tiny fissures or cracks inside the smaller bones of the foot. There will be pain where the bone is situated. Fractures are caused by landing or planting the foot improperly or awkwardly, especially on harder surfaces. Stress fractures heal over time as long as little to no weight is applied to the foot. Ankle Sprain Ankle sprains occur when there is damage to the ligaments inside of the ankle. This happens when the foot rolls outwards and the ankle is forced inwards. It mostly happens during an awkward landing or misstep. After the event of the injury the ankle will be swollen and stiff. Bunions A bunion is a bump on the joint that is [...]
Keith V. Anderson, MD has announced his upcoming retirement effective March 31st, 2018. Forthe last 27 years, Dr. Anderson has practiced orthopedic medicine at Washington Orthopaedic Center in Centralia and Olympia. Over the years, he has helped thousands of people from the Pacific Northwest recover from their sports injuries, and has performed thousands of orthopedic surgeries. Dr. Anderson has had an impressive career that started well before he joined Washington Orthopaedic Center. He was the past chief of staff at Providence Centralia Hospital and has done significant work overseas. He worked at Tenwek, a Kenya Mission Hospital under MAP- Reader’s Digest International Fellowship Scholarship, and has done volunteer work at mission hospitals in Papua New Guinea, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Bhutan. Washington Orthopaedic Center will have been his longest place of employment. Over Dr. Anderson’s long tenure, he was highly regarded by his peers and community for his expertise in arthritis surgery, total knee and total hip replacement, sports medicine, and arthroscopic surgery. "Dr. Anderson has demonstrated capable leadership at Washington Orthopaedic Center and for Providence Centralia Hospital for many years. The WOC staff and our patients appreciate his dedication to this practice and our community and his dedication to our [...]
Runner’s knee or patellofemoral pain syndrome is a common knee problem found in many athletes, especially new runners. Patellofemoral pain is seen most commonly in athletes and runners; this constitutes 25% of all identified knee injuries [1]. PFP affects women more than mend in a 2:1 ratio and is seen most commonly in adolescents [2]. What causes patellofemoral pain syndrome? Patellofemoral pain syndrome is due to the kneecap (patella) not tracking properly in the femoral trochlea, causing rubbing of the cartilage in abnormal ways. The cartilage on the underside of the kneecap is there to let your knee cap glide back in forth between the groove on the femur. The abnormal tracking of the kneecap is usually due to a muscle imbalance of the Quadricep muscles pulling the knee cap usually to the outside of the knee. Can also be caused by tight hamstrings, poor foot mechanics, hip problems or various other causes. There is also various ligaments that attach to the inside and outside of the patella, which can be injured, stretched, or torn in trauma which can lead to kneecap instability. These are best assessed with an MRI. Symptoms Most common symptoms of patellofemoral pain syndrome include a dull or [...]
Jessica Hannigan has done plenty of exploring since establishing herself in Lewis and Thurston counties last year. Originally from South Carolina, and having done her physician assistant schooling in Tennessee, exploring the new and unique environments of the PNW was only natural for her. The new opportunities allow her to express her interest in finding new challenges outdoors, and in the clinic, and speak to her active disposition. If you know Jessica, you know she likes to keep moving. Her coworkers may know that best. What you do not see as a patient while waiting to be seen in our orthopedic clinic is the hustle and bustle through the hallways. No matter the reason to be hurrying through the halls, it is up to each individual provider team to stay on time and have all the necessary documents for each of the day’s patients. Jessica is among the quickest in the clinic; she always seems to be everywhere at once. Jessica says it seems this way because she enjoys the challenge. Joining a new practice means encountering many new challenges, and for many, the best way to combat the challenges is by allowing more time to spend on them by getting from [...]
Lukas completed his physician assistant program at Bethel University in St Paul, Minnesota. While finishing his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota Lukas gained experienced by working with individuals with disabilities and participated in research in the field of cancer genetics. After his undergraduate degree, he took a year off to gain even more experience by working at an internal medicine clinic and a mental health clinic. For this article, we aimed to get to know Lukas Steffan PA-C by asking him a few questions about himself: Why did you choose to move to the PNW and what's your favorite aspect of the PNW so far? I chose to move to the PNW for the outdoors and the mountains, also to get away from the cold winters in Minnesota. I would say my favorite aspect of the PNW would be hiking in the forests and exploring all of the new places each weekend. What moved you to pursue a career in healthcare? I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare because I've always been a people person. I enjoy meeting new people and finding out about their stories while trying to help with whatever ails them and ultimately make a difference [...]
A Dupuytren’s contracture is the result of thickening fascia beneath the skin of the palm most often near the pinky and ring fingers. Over time the skin at the base of an affected finger will become thicker before finally creating a knot and dimple appearance. A knot formation is indicative of the fascia thickening aspect of Dupuytren’s. Fascia is a layer of tissue between the skin and muscle layers that help anchor down your skin. Otherwise, the skin on your palm could be manipulated much like the skin on the back of your hand. As the fascia tightens into a knot like structure, the tightened skin and fascia cause the fingers to become progressively flexed, making extending the fingers difficult. Unlike a similarly presenting problem, trigger finger, Dupuytren’s does not involve any tendons. Although there is no known cause of Dupuytren’s, there are several risk factors: • Gender: The prevalence is greater in men than women • Ancestral Descent: People from Northern European or Scandinavian descent are most likely to develop the condition • Age: Likelihood increase with age • Alcohol & Tobacco Use: People who smoke and drink more regularly are more likely to present with the [...]
