Practice Type: Specialty Care

In the United States, it’s estimated that the total direct and indirect cost of chronic pain is $294 billion every year. And that’s just the economics. There is no way to calculate the cost in suffering that pain causes. Pain makes it hard for someone to concentrate, to work or to continue normal activities. In fact, pain can overwhelm a person’s life.

Our focus is on your quality of life.

Our Pain Specialists Utilize State–of-the-Art Treatments

At Pacific Medical Centers, our pain specialists understand the many dimensions of pain. They combine appropriate and timely evidence-based therapies to provide pain relief and to improve quality of life. Whenever possible, the goal is to manage pain without the use of narcotics, through techniques such as transforaminal, interlaminar, or caudal epidural injections; sacroiliac joint injections; facet joint injections and radiofrequency ablation; epidural lysis of adhesions; vertebroplasty; and spinal cord stimulation, just to name a few of the therapies available.

Keeping Treatment on Target

Treatment strategies may rely on fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance to assure proper placement of needles for the injections and for enhanced patient safety. Fluoroscopy involves using a special technique to obtain real-time, moving images of the spine or related structures. Ultrasound may be used in other procedures for visualization and enhanced outcomes.

Hepatology focuses on the liver, as well as the gallbladder, pancreas and biliary tree. Traditionally, hepatology has been a sub-specialty of gastroenterology, although some physicians today specialize solely in hepatology.

Liver disease management needs a medical team with a unique set of skills. At PacMed, our specialists in liver disease provide comprehensive care for patients with acute and chronic liver disease, whether regular or advanced. Our gastroenterologists who provide hepatology care have advanced training in this field.

Your specialist will work closely with your primary care provider to coordinate your care. He or she will also team with endocrinologists, oncologists, rheumatologists, the University of Washington liver transplant program and other knowledgeable caregivers as needed. Should you require liver transplantation, our hepatologists are well-trained in caring for patients before and after this procedure.

Healing Partnership

Every year, more than a million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer. Thanks to medical advancements and new knowledge about cancer treatment, the potential for a cure has never been better.

When people first learn they have cancer, many questions go through their minds: how will the illness affect their life and family, what will the treatment involve and will they experience a loss of control. At Pacific Medical Centers, our compassionate team of physicians and nurses in the Oncology and Hematology Center understand how people feel about a cancer diagnosis and are ready to partner with our patients in a very personal way, within a comfortable environment that allows people to live their lives during treatment and beyond.

Pacific Medical Centers Oncology and Hematology Center

Our priority is your success. Cancer care has been transformed by new medicine. Today, outcomes range from complete remission to manageable chronic conditions. At Pacific Medical Centers, we offer the latest technology and treatments to help ensure our patients’ success, comfort and well-being including T-PET scanning, targeted therapy and access to clinical trials.

Pacific Medical Centers follows the guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for approved treatment plans. The NCCN provides the standard of care for North America.

A Personalized Approach to Treatment

Unlike larger, institutional-type facilities, we are a personalized, specialty cancer treatment center. As such, we are well suited to provide patients with the personalized treatment they deserve—both physical and emotional, from diagnosis to survivorship.

Our experienced team of board-certified physicians work collaboratively with Swedish Medical Center and the Swedish Tumor Institute, as well as with the University of Washington Medical Center.

Please download our brochure:

Comprehensive Cancer Care Guide

When you visit your gynecologist, it makes a difference to have someone you can speak freely with about your concerns. Because we have a number of gynecologists to choose from, you can find the one whose personality and medical approach fits you best.

You can see our gynecologists for anything from annual exams to hormone therapy. And if an urgent or complicated need arises, they’ll work as a team to treat your specific conditions. This may include post-menopausal treatments, or specialized surgery. Whatever gynecological issue you’re facing, a member of our women’s practice group can help.

Promoting a Healthy Digestive System

Gastroenterologists treat disorders of the digestive system. This system consumes food, absorbs nutrients and expels waste.

Our highly trained Gastroenterology team works closely with patients to help them achieve good nutrition and manage digestive issues so they can lead a productive life. Most of our specialists also completed additional training and are certified in the sub-specialty of hepatology, which focuses on the liver and pancreas.

Often, you’ll hear gastroenterology issues called “GI” disorders—which is short for gastrointestinal. The digestive system is about 30-feet long and includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver.

Common disorders include:

• Peptic ulcer disease
• Colon polyps
• Pancreatitis
• Gallbladder stones
• Gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD
• Functional bowel disorders—such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Acute and chronic liver disease
• Hepatitis
• Cancers (colon, gastric, pancreatic and others)

Building on a wealth of experience, our Gastroenterology department offers a comprehensive approach to your care. They see patients at our Canyon Park, First Hill, Northgate, Renton and Totem Lake clinics.

Colon Cancer Screenings

Colon cancer is increasingly recognized as a major problem, particularly in women, where the vast majority of cases are going undetected. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

Our team works joins our primary care providers in encouraging patients to get regular colon cancer screenings. Early detection of colon cancer can prevent up to 90% of colorectal cancer deaths. The screening for gastric and colorectal cancer is either a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy.

We understand that many patients may be reluctant to undergo these screenings. We strive to be sensitive and respectful of your concerns.

Our Podiatrists:

Kirk Alexander, DPM, FACFAS
Gregory Grant, DPM, FACFAS
Marlene Graves, ARNP, FNP-C

Dr. Alexander and Dr. Grant have been named Seattle’s Top Docs!

The human foot contains one fourth of all the bones in your body, so it can take a beating over time. Patients visit our podiatry team for treatment of conditions ranging from fractures to deformities. Those suffering from pain caused by arthritis, tendonitis, and diabetic foot wounds are also good candidates for podiatry.

Patient education is our strong focus, which may involve instruction on orthotics, braces, supportive shoes and foot care, and even surgery if needed. We also offer diabetic foot exams.

Our podiatrists see patients of all ages!

The Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery department at Pacific Medical Centers is dedicated to providing surgical and in-office solutions for the aesthetic rejuvenation, enhancement and reconstruction of the head, face and neck. The decision to have facial plastic surgery treatment is not one to be taken lightly. The face plays such a vital role in how we project ourselves to the world, and yet sometimes our outward appearance can seem disconnected with how we feel inside. Facial plastic surgery is not meant to change who you are but rather restore, define and enhance your natural features to allow you to look as good outside as you feel inside.

Treatment Options

An important step in considering facial plastic surgery is choosing your surgeon. At Pacific Medical Centers, we have a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who offers a broad range of treatment options:

• Rhinoplasty (to reshape the nose or improve nasal breathing)
• Facial rejuvenation
• Facial fat grafting (fat transfer)
• Face-lift/neck-lift
• Neck liposuction
• Brow-lift
• Eyelid surgery
• Skin resurfacing
• Lip enhancement
• Skin fillers such as Restylane, Juvedérm or Radiesse
• Otoplasty (ear pinning)
• Chin augmentation
• Botox
• Scar revision
• Mole removal
• Skin cancer excision and reconstruction

By choosing to work with our facial plastic surgeon, you can expect to receive:

• An excellent aesthetic and/or functional outcome.
• A strong focus on achieving natural, non-operated-appearing results.
• A team who fully understands patients’ aesthetic concerns, budgetary constraints and time commitment to recovery.
• Detailed information about your options so that a treatment plan is customized to your needs.
• The most advanced but proven techniques to achieve those goals with an emphasis on providing the most durable results possible.
• Open communication and the highest level of care throughout all stages of treatment.

Every day, physicians use radiography, or X-rays, to view and evaluate bone fractures and other injuries of the musculoskeletal system. However, a plain X-ray test is not the best way to assess bone density. To detect osteoporosis accurately, doctors use an enhanced, low radiation form of X-ray technology called dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, pronounced DEXA). DXA bone densitometry is today’s established standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD). DXA is a quick, painless procedure for measuring bone loss and is the most often used method to diagnose osteoporosis. The DXA test can also assess your risk for developing fractures. If your bone density is found to be low, you and your physician can work together on a treatment plan to help prevent fractures before they occur. DXA is also effective in tracking the effects of treatment for osteoporosis or for other conditions that cause bone loss.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis involves a gradual weakening of bone mass, causing the bones to become thinner, more fragile, and more likely to break. The hip, spine, and wrist become especially susceptible to fractures, but any bone can be affected. Osteoporosis is often called a “silent disease” because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse.

Risk factors include:

• Personal history of fracture after age 50
• History of fracture in a close relative
• Being thin and/or having a small frame
• Advanced age
• A family history of osteoporosis
• Estrogen deficiency as a result of menopause, especially before 45 years in age
• Abnormal absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea)
• Anorexia nervosa
• Low lifetime calcium intake
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Use of certain medications (corticosteroids, chemotherapy, anticonvulsants, and others)
• Low testosterone levels in men
• Current cigarette smoking
• Excessive use of alcohol

Osteoporosis can be effectively treated!

Treatment is tailored to your individual needs, and may include medications or hormone replacement therapies that are known to effectively treat the disease.

Knowing your bone density is important and will help you take better care of yourself, prevent injuries, and avoid the suffering caused by osteoporosis.

How to learn your bone density

Schedule a DXA screen:

• Discuss your risk factors with your primary care provider. He or she will recommend a bone density screening if it is appropriate to your needs, and will provide you with a referral
• Screening is recommended for all women over age 65
• A DXA screening is simple and quick, and takes only about 15 minutes while lying on a cushioned table
• To schedule your DXA screening, have your referral from your primary physician ready and call Pacific Medical Centers at 1.888.4PACMED
• Make sure that you have not had any gastroenterology or nuclear medicine testing done two weeks prior to your DXA appointment date. Also, remember not to take any calcium supplements on the day of your DXA screen

How to prepare for a bone density scan

Watch our video below and learn how to prepare for your DXA scan.

Pacific Medical Centers is an ISCD accredited facility.

Every year, about 15 million Americans* have surgery. The vast majority of these are not immediate, life-or-death procedures. With most general surgeries, you’ll have time to discuss your care and your procedure with our General Surgery team.

General surgeons have extensive, specialized training to diagnose and treat disease and injury. Their experience and knowledge span all phases of surgical care—from the diagnostic to preoperative care, from the actual surgery to postoperative monitoring.

General surgeons focus on surgeries in these primary areas:

• Gastrointestinal tract
• Abdominal organs (including the intestines, esophagus, stomach, colon, liver and gallbladder)
• Breast, skin and soft tissue
• Head and neck, including trauma, vascular, endocrine, congenital disorders and oncologic disorders
• Endocrine system (including thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and endocrine pancreas)
• Vascular system (excluding the heart and vessels in the skull)
• Cancer (screening, therapy, rehabilitation and follow-up)

With today’s minimally invasive surgical techniques, many surgeries that formerly required a large incision now can be done using a series of small cuts. This means less scarring and a quicker recovery. Surgeons use the small incisions to insert a thin tube with a camera (a laparoscope) into the body. Then, they use small tools to do the surgery. Removal of the gall bladder is one example of a common laparoscopic surgery that formerly required a large abdominal incision.

At Pacific Medical Centers, your general surgeon and the professional surgical staff will discuss your procedure with you and answer any questions you may have. You will learn about the procedure itself, anesthesia and recovery. Your surgeon will also work with your primary care provider to coordinate your treatment and continued care.

Our surgeons meet with patients at several of our conveniently located clinics:

• First Hill, Beacon Hill and Northgate in Seattle
• Canyon Park (Bothell)
• Renton

Procedures are performed at Swedish Hospital, considered one of the finest facilities in the Pacific Northwest.

*Source: Agency for Health Care Research and Quality

Registered dietitians, also called nutritionists, are health care professionals who have specialized expertise in food and nutrition. At Pacific Medical Centers, our dietitians help patients improve their health through better eating habits. This can include assessment of the nutritional care needs, development of nutritional care plans, and diet education/counseling.

Registered dietitians have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a university or college accredited by the American Dietetic Association. They have also completed an accredited practice program and have passed a national examination given by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. All of our dietitians also have certification through the State of Washington.

Dietitians at Pacific Medical Centers recommend dietary changes for patients with chronic conditions. For example, if you have high blood pressure, our dietitian can teach you how to use less salt when preparing meals. If you are overweight, our dietitians can help you reduce the fat and sugar in your diet and create a more healthful eating plan. Our dietitians also work and collaborate with other health care professionals to provide medical nutritional therapy to patients.