As published in Petoskey News-Review— August 14, 2020
PETOSKEY — As Bay Street Orthopaedics and Spine moves through its fifth decade of operation, the Northern Michigan specialty medical practice can point to a variety of recent updates aimed at enhancing orthopedic care offerings in the region.
Justin Blohm, chief operating officer for the practice, said Bay Street’s physician lineup traditionally consisted of general surgeons, but additions of more fellowship-trained surgeons to the staff in recent years have boosted subspecialty offerings for addressing complex orthopedic issues.
Among the newer arrivals who’ve completed fellowships are Dr. Eric Mancini, who specializes in sports medicine, and Dr. Anthony Bozzio, a spine surgeon. Longer-term surgical staff members with fellowship training include Dr. Alfred Wroblewski (specializing in hand, elbow and shoulder surgery) and Dr. Scott Nemec (a foot and ankle surgeon).
“Our goal is to provide the whole range of subspecialty training so that people don’t have to drive downstate,” said Mancini, who currently serves as the practice’s managing partner.
Previously known as Bay Street Orthopaedics — a name referencing the original office location in downtown Petoskey — the practice added “Spine” to its name in 2019, reflecting the recent addition of surgical services for the spine to the existing range of musculoskeletal care.
Since the early 2000s, the Bay Street practice has been headquartered just west of Petoskey at the corner of U.S. 31 and Lake Grove Road. Some renovations earlier this year brought a new look to the building’s lobby area as well as the creation of a bracing services area, where patients can be provided with devices such as knee braces and shoulder slings. Previously, Bay Street referred patients to outside providers for bracing needs.
Bay Street, a practice founded in 1975, has expanded its group of satellite offices in recent years, adding locations in Gaylord, Traverse City, Cheboygan and Rogers City to a list that also includes satellite sites in Charlevoix and St. Ignace.
The practice’s surgeons can provide services at multiple hospitals around the region, and earlier this year joined with members of some other area surgical practices to open Northern Michigan Surgical Suites in Boyne City. Blohm said an ambulatory surgery center of this type often allows for outpatient surgeries at lower out-of-pocket cost to a patient than if performed in a hospital setting, and that the lower-traffic environment can allow for a more personalized level of care.
Blohm said Bay Street also has worked in recent years to increase its ranks of mid-level care providers — physician assistants and nurse practitioners — who can help in tending to a variety of patient needs, allowing for quicker turnaround times.
“Having practiced in Petoskey for 23 years, I’ve never been more excited about our practice with the addition of top quality sub-specialists in Orthopaedics at BSOS,” Wroblewski said in a written statement. “I’m also thrilled with all of outstanding mid-level practitioners we’ve added recently who help us deliver quality care in a more timely fashion.Having fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons here means we have surgeons with the latest and most advanced treatment options for our patients. Every day we strive to deliver the very best for our patients in Northern Michigan.”
Following the most recent addition to Bay Street’s team of surgeons — Dr. Logan Hanson, who is based primarily at the new Gaylord office — Blohm sees possibilities for the practice to add another surgeon or two to its team within the next several of years to help respond to a growth trend in patient volume, as well as potential for a couple more satellite locations.
Although patients often are referred to Bay Street Orthopaedics by primary-care physicians, such referrals aren’t necessary to seek out care there. For more information about the practice, call (231) 347-5155 or see baystreetortho.com.
