Northwest Hand to Shoulder Center, a new specialty clinic offering upper-extremity orthopedic care and thumb joint replacement surgery, is opening June 1 at 2207 N. Molter Road, Suite 101, in Liberty Lake.  

The clinic is closely associated with Post Falls-based Northwest Specialty Hospital.  

Executive Director of Clinic Operations at Northwest Specialty Hospital, Heather Claussen, said the hospital is a physician-owned and operated healthcare organization with an affiliated network of specialty clinics and services throughout North Idaho, and is now expanding into Liberty Lake. 

Dr. Chad Turner is the clinic’s orthopedic surgeon. According to a May 8 press release, the clinic will be the first in the Inland Northwest to offer the TOUCH implant, a new procedure for patients with severe arthritis at the base of the thumb. 

“It’s brand new to the region,” Dr. Turner said. “We’re going to be the leaders in offering the TOUCH prosthesis to patients with basilar thumb arthritis.” 

Claussen said the Liberty Lake location was chosen with regional access in mind, as Turner has treated patients from Spokane, North Idaho, Montana, Central Washington, the Tri-Cities and beyond. 

Claussen added that although they can’t project an exact number of people in North Idaho who need the services the clinic provides, there is a clear need for them.  

“North Idaho has a large aging population, and arthritis alone affects about one in four Idaho adults,” she said. “When you add in carpal tunnel syndrome, fractures, tendon and ligament injuries, nerve conditions and complex joint problems, there is a significant population of patients who can benefit from specialized hand-to-shoulder care closer to home.” 

Claussen said the FDA recently approved thumb joint replacement, and that the first procedure in the Pacific Northwest was completed in Seattle around April 1.