Fellowship trained sports medicine and adult reconstruction orthopedic surgeon specialist Jim Lorge, DO, recently joined Stellis Health. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Lorge to our medical staff and community,” says Brent Wilde, CEO of Stellis Health. “His patient-first approach to care complements our orthopedics team and clinic philosophy perfectly.”
“I enjoy taking care of the athlete, weekend warrior and the construction worker whose job is probably more physical than half the sports out there,” says Jim Lorge, DO, orthopedic surgeon at Stellis Health. “When considering surgeries like an ACL or meniscus repair, first and foremost I consider their quality of life and how surgery and, more importantly, recovery will impact their ability to take care of themselves and their family. Most surgeries require post-operative follow up and a possible period of non-weight bearing or limited use of an arm that can impact a patient’s ability to work. I take these restrictions, as well as considering time off work, and try to provide an individualized plan of care that treats the pathology but also tries to allow for the patient to take care of their families,” continued Dr. Lorge. “My job is to give patients the knowledge to make the right decisions about what’s right for them and their family.”
Dr. Lorge was a registered nurse before going back to medical school which gives him a unique perspective on patient care. He pays attention to cues like a patient wearing a local construction company hat or when he shakes their hands and feels callouses, he knows this is someone that works with their hands; he’s immediately thinking about how to keep them working and doing things that are important to them. And, he continually strives to make his patient’s better and eliminate potential issues down the road.
“I love orthopedics and what I get to do in a day,” say Dr. Lorge. “My colleagues joke that I’m only content, not happy, immediately after surgery. I’ll be happy in six weeks when everything is healed and my patient’s happy. I believe in close follow up. It’s the Christmas present in a way—at the post-op follow ups when my patients are recovering and progressing as they should, and ultimately, doing even better than when we started.”
When asked why he joined Stellis Health, Dr. Lorge said, “The general feeling at Stellis Health that really struck a chord with me was the genuine respect for patients and doing the right thing. I was looking for a community-focused clinic with access to the latest technologies where I’d work beside colleagues that support one another as we follow what we love about medicine.”
Dr. Lorge is board certified in orthopedic surgery with an added training in sports medicine and adult reconstruction (hip and knee replacements). For the past nine years, he has been practicing at Fairview Northland Medical Center in Princeton, MN where he was named Outstanding Physician of the Year. Dr. Lorge completed his fellowship in adult reconstruction and sports medicine at Triangle Orthopaedic Associates in Durham, NC, and his orthopedic surgery residency at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, MI. He received his medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, IL and his Bachelors in the Science of Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Dr. Lorge is very process focused and enjoys working with his hands. He loves to fix and build things, even around the house. He enjoys fitness with his family including his wife Kari, daughter Gabi (12) and son Anderson (9). “Gabi is doing lacrosse this year and Anderson is into baseball,” says Dr. Lorge. “We’ve been going to a lot of hockey games with the kids too.” Dr. Lorge also LOVES high school football and looks forward to connecting with the athletic trainers in the area.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lorge, call 763-271-3800.
