Iva French, manager of the Gig Harbor Medical Park’s Day Surgery Center, in one of the operating rooms shortly before opening. MultiCare Health System opened an ambulatory surgery center at its Gig Harbor Medical Park at the end of January.
The day surgery center was part of MultiCare’s original medical park plans. read more »
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, has been around long enough for most everyone to know about it. We all have had times when we have heard a high pitched tone or buzz come on suddenly and just as suddenly go away. That is normal. Significant tinnitus however is usually constant and in some cases, debilitating. The bad news is that there is no magic pill that will cure tinnitus. read more »
At a time when house calls are practically unheard of in medicine, one Bainbridge Island physician not only visits patients when their situation requires it, his office also gives some clients rides to appointments. Dr. Jared Hendler, MD, not only offers home visits , he offers them — along with a long list of other services — for a flat, reasonable monthly fee.
Hendler converted his practice in January to what is called direct patient-provider model. A law enacted in 2007 made Washington the first state in the country to allow this approach, which is sometimes referred to as “retainer medicine.” According to the Revised Washington Code that regulates this type of care, “Washington needs a multipronged approach to provide adequate health care to many citizens who lack adequate access to it. Direct patient-provider practices, in which patients enter into a direct relationship with medical practitioners and pay a fixed amount directly to the health care provider for primary care services, represent an innovative, affordable option which could improve access to medical care, reduce the number of people who now lack such access, and cut down on emergency room use for primary care purposes, thereby freeing up emergency room facilities to treat true emergencies.” read more »
