Welcome Tri-City Orthopaedic: Strategic Partnership Strengthens Pacific Northwest Presence
When practices share insights that help each other succeed, we all benefit.
We're excited to welcome Tri-City Orthopaedic (TCO) to the PELTO family as our newest member practice and fourth partnership in Washington State.
TCO's addition represents not just geographic growth, but an evolution in how forward-thinking practices approach strategic collaboration.
A Proactive Approach to Partnership
What makes TCO's journey to PELTO particularly compelling is their proactive approach to seeking out strategic collaboration. Rather than waiting for market pressures, TCO leadership learned about PELTO through the success of the other three Washington State partners and reached out to explore partnership opportunities.
"As a smaller practice, we recognized that collaboration with larger, established groups helps us develop a stronger market position," explains Scott Faringer, CEO of Tri-City Orthopaedic. "Learning about PELTO through the success of Proliance, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates and Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, showed us how practices could maintain their independence while accessing enhanced resources."
This represents the kind of forward-thinking approach that's driving growth in physician-led collaboration - practices learning from their peers' success and proactively seeking partnerships that strengthen their independence.
Community Roots, Strategic Vision
TCO brings a unique combination of deep community connection and strategic business thinking. Dr. Faustin Stevens, their physician representative and board-certified foot and ankle specialist, exemplifies this balance. Born and raised in the Tri-Cities as the son of a local teacher, Dr. Stevens returned home after medical training specifically to serve his community.
"Joining PELTO allows us to strengthen our practice while preserving the personalized, community-focused care that sets independent practices apart," says Dr. Stevens. "We approached this partnership from a business perspective, having already seen the value through our existing relationships with several of their preferred partners."
The TCO Advantage
Located in Kennewick, WA, TCO operates as a full-service orthopedic clinic with a compelling integrated model - offering advanced imaging, ambulatory surgery, and physical therapy all on one convenient campus. With 7 physicians, 16 total providers, and 120 employees across 3 locations, they deliver comprehensive musculoskeletal care throughout the Tri-Cities region.
This integrated campus approach aligns perfectly with PELTO's focus on operational excellence and strategic resource optimization.
Strengthening the Pacific Northwest Network
TCO joins an impressive Pacific Northwest cohort within PELTO, including Proliance, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, and Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists. This regional strength demonstrates the appeal of our collaborative model even in markets with significant health system competition.
"Adding TCO as our fourth Washington practice strengthens our Pacific Northwest presence and demonstrates the appeal of our model even in markets with strong health system competition," notes Rachel Uzlik, CEO of PELTO Health Partners. "TCO's proactive approach to partnership shows how forward-thinking practices are choosing collaboration over consolidation."
What This Means for Independent Orthopedics
TCO's partnership validates several important trends we're seeing in independent orthopedic care:
Peer-to-Peer Learning: Practices are learning about partnership opportunities through the success stories of their peers, creating organic growth through proven results rather than marketing efforts.
Proactive Partnership Seeking: Forward-thinking practices are reaching out to explore collaboration opportunities before market pressures force their hand, allowing them to choose partnerships on their own terms.
Independence Through Collaboration: Independent practices increasingly recognize they can strengthen their competitive position through strategic collaboration while preserving the autonomy and culture that makes them successful.
The Road Ahead
For TCO patients and staff, this partnership brings no changes to daily operations, patient care protocols, or practice culture. The strategic business collaboration operates behind the scenes to strengthen the practice's foundation while preserving everything that makes TCO unique in serving the Tri-Cities community.
Looking Forward
TCO's addition reflects the continued momentum of physician-owned collaboration in healthcare. As more practices recognize the value of strategic partnerships over traditional consolidation models, we expect to see continued growth in physician-led networks like PELTO.
Welcome to the PELTO family, Tri-City Orthopaedic. We're excited to support your continued success and growth while preserving the community-focused care that defines your practice.
