MEND your bones at new Shoreline clinic

Fractures, sprains and broken bones are all seen at the new MEND Clinic on Ballinger Way Northeast in Shoreline.

“That we know of in the North Seattle area, this is the first (clinic) of its kind for extremity injuries,” Christian Leeloy, marketing director, said.

The MEND Prompt Injury Care Clinic officially began treating injuries ranging from hands-to-shoulders and knees-to-toes on Oct. 1. Patients can see one of several specialists on the same day an injury to the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee, foot or toe occurs. Leeloy said the clinic is an alternative to visiting an emergency room.

“In the long run it’s less expensive for both the patient, for the provider and for the insurance carriers,” Leeloy said.

Terry LaBrue of Issaquah said he was “in a world of hurt” after he tripped and fell in August. He needed medical attention; the wait time at the nearest hospital was more than two hours long and his doctor’s office wasn’t open. He chose to see a specialist.

“This allows you a passing lane so you can have a same day appointment and meet with a specialist that knows about orthopedic injuries,” he said about single-specialty care clinics.

The MEND Clinic offers X-ray services, blood tests, medical examinations and therapy. If a patient needs surgery, procedures are done in the on-site surgery center. The MEND staff includes doctors, physician assistants, anesthesiologists and therapists.

Local residents ages 20-65 participated in a focus group earlier in the year in Lynnwood and expressed interest in the specialty clinic, according to LaBrue.

“It really is a major step in the right direction for customer care,” he said. “When you have an injury you want to see a doctor immediately … you want attention and until now the health care model didn’t allow for that kind of quick, specific attention.”

MEND Clinic is an expansion of Northwest Hand Specialists, LLC, a hand and upper extremity clinic established in 1989. Patients do not need a referral in order to schedule an appointment at the clinic.

Care is provided at the MEND Clinic Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. For more information about the clinic visit www.mendmedical.com or call 206-361-6363.