Patient Testimonials

For months, I had been training for a significant hiking trip on Kodiak Island in Alaska; a true once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Just before my trip, I injured my knee and was worried I would have to cancel. Dr. Hofkens immediately made time to see me, provided excellent treatment, and helped develop a plan that allowed me to continue with my trip safely.

Thanks to his expertise and care, I was able to complete the hike and fully enjoy the experience. Dr. Hofkens was incredible throughout the entire process, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone in need of a skilled and compassionate physician.

In the fall of 2020, I was walking across my deck with an extension cord and tripped over the cord end. As I lay on the sidewalk assessing for possible damage, I rotated my leg left and right. Unfortunately, my right foot looked like it had quit, as my toes remained pointing skyward. I had made it to the age of 72 without breaking any bones. We were assigned to Dr. Ockuly and his team. My wife and I were introduced to Dani, who is Dr. Ockuly’s Care Coordinator. If we had any questions or concerns, Dani called back incredibly quickly and was very professional. If she didn’t have the answer, she found out and called us back promptly. During the consultation, we shared our faith life with Dr. Ockuly, who responded in kind. This deepened the relationship greatly and added significantly to the trust between patient and doctor.

Sometime after that, my wife was involved in a car accident. I drove to the emergency room and met her there after the EMTs had arrived. Lo and behold…she had unfortunately broken her arm and wrist. These were the first broken bones for her as well. During a break in the action, I slipped outside and left a message with Dani. She quickly called me back, and we scheduled an appointment with Dr. Ockuly again. I was so grateful to have his team help me get scheduled on the spot.

In my retirement, I took a job as a school bus driver. I am blessed with wonderful kids on my route, and they make me happy. One part of my job I did not like was taking the 200-yard walk from the base office to my bus, and the same walk again at the end of my shift. My arthritic knees made the journey so painful. This summer, Dr. Ockuly and his team replaced both knees. WOW! Though some discomfort remains, I am taking long, confident strides. At my follow-up appointment this week, I told Dr. Ockuly, “Thank you for using your God-given gifts to repair me so I could share my God-given gifts with others!” At that point, Dr. Ockuly offered me a tissue as I was starting to tear up! As I left, I thanked Dani profusely and received a hug from Annie, who invited us to her church to see their adoration chapel. My incisions are healing very well, and my final knee X-rays proved the surgery was perfect.

Dr. Ridley and his surgical team are truly amazing. He operated on both of my knees, and the experience exceeded my expectations. I would recommend Dr. Ridley to anyone. He genuinely listens and cares about his patient. Thank you very much to Dr. Ridley, his team, and the EXCEL staff.

I want to thank Dr. Arthur and Sarah Docken, PA-C for their care in getting my knee back in order so I could run. I was able to finish the Twin Cities Marathon. I couldn’t have done it without their help.

Dr. Chris Meyer and the TCO Team at the Ridgeview Two Twelve Surgery Center in Chaska have done a fabulous job for me. I had both knees replaced within the last three months. The scheduling, documentation, surgery, overnight stay, physical therapy, and follow-up has been a 10 out of 10 experience from start to finish. I was hesitant to have these old knees replaced at 73 years old, but I feel young again. I never had any pain after surgery, other than stiffness as I followed Dr. Meyer’s orders on best practices for rehab. He told me, “There are no extra credit points for pushing this along. Lay low for 2 weeks. Attend PT and your knee will heal just fine”. I followed instructions and I was on my way to normal range of motion within three weeks. The staff are professional, personable, friendly, and well trained. Thank you and great job to everyone!

I recently had a total knee replacement done by Dr. Hunt. The experience was quite beyond my expectations. It amazes me how efficient the whole process has become. The entire staff was exceptional, responsive to every inquiry, and focused on providing the best care possible. The surgery went flawlessly with Dr. Hunt and his team did a superior job. The scarring was minimal. They had me up and walking right after surgery. Physical therapy started on day three of my recovery. The booklet from TCO explaining the procedure from start to finish was right on target and answered all questions. It accurately described expectations for the entire timeline from pre-op, surgery, and recovery. The facilities at the TCO Chaska location were also top notch. Even the food was great. My wife and I want to thank the entire TCO team.

I arrived at noon for my 1:00 appointment and the front desk let Nick Meath know I was there. Although this was on his lunch break, he took me in early. Wow! Nick spent time reviewing the injection he gave me two years ago and we discussed my current knee issue. He answered my questions about steroid injections and explained why he was injecting at a particular place on my knee. I left with a good understanding of my knee health and future alternatives for treatment.

The Orthopedic Institute was a marvelous facility. The accommodations were first class, and the staff was incredibly attentive and helpful. I have commented to many people that the food was outstanding, definitely better than the food I’ve had in hospitals. If the building were moving, it would be like a luxury cruise.

TCO’s Dr. Samuel Carlson was great. Everything was thorough, considerate, and productive. The follow-up visits have been no less informative. I highly recommend Dr. Carlson and the process to friends and golf buddies.

Dr. Bircher and his team did an amazing job with my knee replacement. My pain was minimal from what I had expected. My bending range was immediately above what we had expected with the PT team. The rental of the ice and compression machine is a must for the first month of recovery. I will need to do my other knee next year and I will be having Dr. Bircher do the surgery. I have referred him to several friends that are in the same boat I am in.

Dr. Ridley performed knee surgery on my high school aged daughter and has been thorough in every step along the way. This was my daughter’s third knee surgery, but her first with Dr. Ridley. We live in the Duluth area, and working with Dr. Ridley has been nothing but positive. He is absolutely worth the extra travel. We had many questions, and it made things a bit more complicated than normal. However, he is a clear communicator. He is prompt for all appointment times, answers questions well, and we couldn’t be happier with the surgery results. We really feel he is an incredibly attentive physician. Thank you, Dr. Ridley, for such a positive experience!