A Word from Dr. Jonathan Franklin

Dear OSS Community,

It has been a great pleasure serving our community for the past 31 years with Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle. I have had the privilege of treating many great people and developing friendships with many of my patients & colleagues. However, now it is time to retire and pass my patients along to the talented partners that make up Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle.

Please know that for my established patients, all of your medical records are safely on file and remain confidential. We would enjoy continuing your care after my retirement, so please feel free to visit one of my skilled partners. If you decide to take on a new orthopedic surgeon outside of our practice, we will help take the necessary steps to help transfer your documents.

For those of you that are my established patients or my partners established patients, know that you are in excellent hands. We now focus on all areas of the body, including: neck & spine, foot & ankle, hand & wrist, shoulder, knee, and sports medicine. Some of you may recognize our longer standing surgeons, however, within the past few years, we’ve added more talent to the OSS team. You might recognize Dr. Grant Garcia, OSS’ excellent sports medicine surgeon, Dr. Stewart Kerr, OSS’ veteran neck & spine surgeon, and the newest to the team, Dr. Michael Kim-Orden, OSS’ total joint surgeon.

Over the past 3 decades, I have watched many of my patients get back to their active lifestyles. I appreciate your loyalty throughout the years and will take many memories with me into retirement. If I do not have an appointment to see you, then I wish you health and happiness. Hope to see you out in the community!

If you have any questions about how you can see me through the end of December 2020 or one of my partners, please call 206-633-8100 or visit https://orthopedicspecialistsofseattle.com/request-an-appointment/.

Sincerely,

Jon Franklin

Safe medication return program gets underway

For immediate release: November 21, 2020  (20-225)

Contact: Gordon MacCracken, Communications, 360-789-0041

Safe medication return program gets underway

OLYMPIA — Today is the go-live date for Washington’s Safe Medication Return Program, a pioneering effort aimed at reducing medication misuse, abuse, and poisonings.

This program creates a unified, statewide, medication return program that will give Washington residents free, convenient, and environmentally responsible options for disposing of unwanted medication. Physical drop boxes are available. People may also request free mail-back envelopes so they don’t need to leave their homes to participate.

People may return most medications. That includes over-the-counter and prescription medications, controlled substance medication, and even household pet medications. Unused and unneeded medications in a household pose a potential risk for poisoning and overdose deaths. Improperly discarded medication also presents an environmental hazard. Flushing medicine down the toilet or throwing it in the trash pollutes water and soil.

Washington is the first state to implement such a program as a result of state law. Funded by drug manufacturers at no cost to taxpayers, the program encourages people to return unwanted and expired medications.

The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says about 50 percent of people who misuse prescription medications get the drugs from friends or family members. Many people who become addicted to heroin and other illicit drugs first abuse prescription medications found in the home. Poisonings often occur among young children who take medication not intended for them.

MED-Project is the approved program operator, under the Department of Health’s oversight.

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