This database was last updated in July 2015 and is based on data from 2009 to 2013. It should only be used as a historical snapshot.
PEACEHEALTH ST JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER
- 2901 SQUALICUM PARKWAY, BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON, 98225, PHONE: 360-734-5400
How Surgeons at This Hospital Perform, by Procedure
An individual surgeon who performs this procedure at this hospital.
At least one surgeon performing this procedure has a high adjusted rate of complications.
Prostate Resection: No surgeons met the volume requirement of 20 for this procedure.
Cervical (Neck) Spinal Fusion: No surgeons met the volume requirement of 20 for this procedure.
How to Read a Surgeon's Chart
Hover over each word for details
How we calculated these rates: Guided by top researchers and doctors, ProPublica used Medicare data from 2009-2013 to identify cases where a patient died in the hospital or had to be readmitted within 30 days for a problem related to one of these elective procedures. We then calculated complication rates for surgeons, carefully accounting for differences in patient health, age and hospital quality. These rates are calculated using data from Medicare records, which do not include patients with private insurance or in another program like Medicaid. A surgeon’s rate spans all hospitals at which he or she operates and is not unique to a given hospital. Read our methodology »
Important: Some surgeons may no longer be operating at this hospital.
Hover over underlined items to see details.
Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement (ICD-9-CM code 81.54)
Replace diseased knee joint with an artificial knee. The most common reason for a knee replacement is osteoarthritis, which is a breakdown of the cartilage in the joint. More information 
RONALD WOO »
GARY BERGMAN »
STEVEN BRUCE »
MATTHEW OSWIN »
JOEL HOEKEMA »
LEONARD KOLODYCHUK »
MICHAEL GANNON »
JAMES HOLSTINE »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
CHRISTOPHER VAN HOFWEGEN, SEAN OKEEFE, MICHAEL THORPE, CARTER KIESAU
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Hip Replacement
Total hip replacement (ICD-9-CM code 81.51)
Replace diseased hip joint with an artificial hip joint. The most common reason for a hip replacement is osteoarthritis, which is a breakdown of the cartilage in the joint. More information
JOEL HOEKEMA »
STEVEN BRUCE »
MICHAEL GANNON »
LEONARD KOLODYCHUK »
JAMES HOLSTINE »
GARY BERGMAN »
RONALD WOO »
MATTHEW OSWIN »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
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Gallbladder Removal, Laparoscopic
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ICD-9-CM code 51.23)
Minimally invasive gallbladder removal. This is performed most commonly when gallstones are blocking the flow of bile. More information
KEITH VANDER GRIEND »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
JAMES MILLER, PAUL FREDETTE, BARBARA BACHMAN, STEPHEN CESAR, AMY CYR, JAMES LOHSE, MICHAEL PIETRO, MICHAEL HIGGINS, WALTER MEDLIN, CAMILLE MILLER
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Lumbar Spinal Fusion, Posterior Column and Approach
Fusing two or more vertebrae in the lower back; performed on the back of the spine, incision in the back (ICD-9-CM code 81.07)
The fusing of two or more vertebrae in the lower back, performed on the back portion of the spine. One of the most common reasons is the narrowing of the space between the vertebrae, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain. It can also be done because of disc degeneration or a condition where one bone in the back slides forward over the bone below it. More information
JOEL HOEKEMA »
DAVID BAKER »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
Hospital Misattributions:
This hospital also billed Medicare for fewer than 11 cases of this procedure that were attributed to non-surgeons. Because the surgeon’s identity is uncertain, we do not report them. Of these cases, 0 resulted in complications.
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Lumbar Spinal Fusion, Anterior Column, Posterior Approach
Fusing two or more vertebrae in the lower back; performed on the front of the spine, incision in the back (ICD-9-CM code 81.08)
The fusing of two or more vertebrae in the lower back, performed on the front portion of the spine. One of the most common reasons is the narrowing of the space between the vertebrae, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain. It can also be done because of disc degeneration or a condition where one bone in the back slides forward over the bone below it. More information
JOEL HOEKEMA »
DAVID BAKER »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
Hospital Misattributions:
This hospital also billed Medicare for fewer than 11 cases of this procedure that were attributed to non-surgeons. Because the surgeon’s identity is uncertain, we do not report them. Of these cases, 0 resulted in complications.
Compare to other nearby hospitals performing this procedure »
Prostate Removal
Radical prostatectomy (ICD-9-CM code 60.5)
The removal of the entire prostate gland via the open or laparoscopic or robotic method. Usually performed to treat prostate cancer. More information
SEAN OKEEFE »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
Compare to other nearby hospitals performing this procedure »