LOA Celebrates 25th Anniversary
When Longview Orthopedic Associates (LOA) opened in 1983, the world was a much different place. Ronald Reagan was President. The space shuttle embarked on its first voyage. Poland’s Lech Walesa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But while 25 years have come and gone, one thing has remained the same – Longview Orthopedic Associates continues to be the area’s foremost orthopedic team.
Founded by Longview native Bruce Blackstone, the staff has grown from three to more than 30 and includes five board-certified orthopedists – Blackstone, Dave Black, Bill Turner, Jon Kretzler, and Eric Hansen. Together, they have more than 100 years of orthopedic experience.
(L-R) Jon Kretzler, Bill Turner, Eric Hansen, Bruce Blackstone, Dave Black
Specializing in joint replacement, arthroscopy, sports medicine care, and hand, foot, and ankle surgery, the physicians at LOA have introduced new surgical procedures to the community and constantly updated their training and credentials, so that patients have access to the most modern and most effective treatment options.
LOA physicians handle nearly 20,000 patient visits each year and perform more than 1,500 surgical procedures.
R. A. Long graduate returns to hometown
A 1970 graduate of R. A. Long High School, Blackstone attended Stanford University where he played varsity football. After completing medical school and residency programs, Blackstone decided to return to the place where his father had worked as a physician for many years.
“Longview was still home,” Blackstone said, “and it seemed like a good opportunity.” Three independent orthopedists were working in Cowlitz County in 1983, but Blackstone saw an immediate advantage in teaming with other physicians. “It’s tough to practice independently because you can’t bounce questions and ideas off a partner, and you can’t really specialize.”
Dr. Bert Robertson, who was in the process of retiring, worked with Blackstone for a year and a half before Dr. Dave Black arrived. Turner (1988), Kretzler (1993), and Hansen (2005) followed.
“It’s very unusual for a community of our size to have five orthopedists with this much experience,” Blackstone said.
Relationships with patients, providers keys to success
Turner attributes LOA’s success to several factors, including an ability to attract and retain surgeons who were at the top of their class and attended top-flight university residency programs.
“We’ve been around long enough to develop relationships with our patients and understand their needs,” Turner said. “We also know who in the medical community is best at providing the specific services that our patients require.”
Changes in orthopedic techniques, training
In the past 25 years, orthopedics has seen dramatic improvements in knowledge about musculoskeletal illnesses as well as radical evolution of diagnostic tools and surgical techniques. The latest developments are now available to orthopedists in the local community through Internet educational programs and resources like the Orthopedic Learning Center in Chicago.
“Today, we implant artificial hips with ceramic and metal bearing surfaces not available a decade ago, with the potential to markedly improve the joint’s performance and longevity,” Turner said. “We repair damaged shoulders that were unapproachable in the past, allowing patients the opportunity to continue to work and play years beyond the timelines of their parents’ day.”
Blackstone added that improved anesthesia and pain control techniques have been very beneficial to patients. “The bottom line is that patients have far fewer extended hospital stays,” he said.
Pacific Surgical Institute opens in 2006
In 2006, Longview Orthopedic Associates moved from Delaware Street to Pacific Surgical Institute (PSI) at 625 9th Avenue. Because PSI includes an imaging facility, clinical lab, surgery center, and physical therapy practice, LOA patients are now able to receive a full range of orthopedic services at a single site.
“Having high-field MRI on site at Pacific Imaging Center makes our practice more efficient,” Blackstone said. “The radiologists that read our scans are all specialists in musculoskeletal imaging and are the same group that does the radiology work for the U.S. Olympic Team.”
“It’s also huge to have Longview Physical & Sports Therapy right across the hall. Patients that we refer for physical therapy really appreciate the convenience. And it might seem like a small thing, but we’ve had many patients tell us that they love the fact that we have plenty of parking so close to the facility.”
Committed to the community
“The thing I’m most proud of is our 25 years of dedicated service to the community,” Blackstone said. He pointed to the group’s record of speaking at educational forums and volunteering to provide medical services for local high school, college, and community athletic events. For 23 years, LOA physicians were the primary providers of emergency room service to patients in need of orthopedic care.
“No one in our group is resting on their laurels,” Blackstone said. “We share the same philosophy about continuing improvement in techniques and patient care.”
Turner echoed that sentiment. “Our commitment to the community, as longtime residents and physicians, is to maintain high quality in our group and the staff of LOA. We want the doctors who join us and succeed us in the future to take orthopedic care to even higher levels of excellence.”
Patients can schedule an appointment with LOA by calling 501.3400. No referral from a primary care physician is necessary.