Patient Testimonials

I am one month out from a total hip replacement through the TCO EXCEL program. From the start of my visit at TCO Stillwater Orthopedic Urgent Care, to check-in at the High Pointe Surgical Center, and finally on to my ride down from the EXCEL Care Suites at the Omni Hotel at Viking Lakes, I found each step of the process nothing short of an incredible display of excellence. Every person I encountered from start to finish exhibited such passion for their work. At each stop, my physical and emotional needs were attended to with great care.

From the time Dr. Meisterling recommended surgery and told me my journey in the EXCEL program would be a successful one, I felt I was in the right place. Of course he was spot on! I felt more at ease undergoing this major surgery then I have with some dental work. I like to think that if you saw me now, you would not believe I am a hip replacement patient. Am I pleased? I AM. I feel blessed to have come upon TCO, Dr. Meisterling and the EXCEL program. Consider me delighted with the program, the people, the process and the success!

Dr. Bircher is awesome. After falling and breaking my hip previously, a surgeon at another practice repaired my hip using three screws. That repair just didn’t heal properly. I was then referred to Dr. Bircher. He evaluated the situation and recommended a total hip replacement as a second surgery to remove the screws and put in a new hip. The recovery went as expected and I am now virtually pain free and recovering on schedule. Dr. Bircher has excellent “bedside manners” and is not only good at what he does, but seems to enjoy what he does. Thank you so much Dr. Bircher, you are my hero.

I was referred to Dr. Bircher for my hip joint infection. He was very compassionate about my situation and proceeded to fix the infection. It started with a spacer that included antibiotics and two different IV antibiotics for 6 weeks. We made sure infection was cleared up and then proceeded with my second total hip replacement. I am optimistic and feel good about this one. Thank you Dr. Bircher.

I have suffered from hip discomfort for years. At only 45 years of age, I could barely walk and I was in so much discomfort. I saw a few surgeons but it was Dr. O’Neill that had the knowledge and experience which made me choose him to perform my surgery. His demeanor is calm and kind, and his team was also amazing in making me feel so comfortable. I am very thankful for the talent he has and that I am able to enjoy daily activities again. Thank you to Dr. O’Neill and his team!

Dr. Ockuly replaced my husband’s hip, and did an outstanding job. My husband was walking without a cane in just a few weeks. Not only did the surgery go well, but we were so pleased with Dr. Ockuly’s care for his patients and the time he takes with each one of them to make sure they have a good experience and great result. The entire team with Dr. Ockuly is truly great. We are very thankful for their outstanding expertise and caring manner.

I met Dr. Ockuly over a year ago at TCO River Falls. After completing X-rays and an MRI, it was determined that I needed to have a total hip replacement for my right hip. Dr. Ockuly and his staff were friendly, professional, on-time, efficient and willing to help in any way possible. Due to being a diabetic, my surgery was postponed until May of 2023 until my A1C was below 8. The surgery was a success. I no longer need to use a walker and am back riding my HD motorcycle within 6 weeks after my surgery. Thank you so very much Dr. Ockuly. You are a world class surgeon!

In April 2023 I fell at the gym, landing on my right hip and was in terrible pain. My husband took me to TCO Urgent Care in Vadnais Heights. I was seen right away and X-rays showed a hip fracture. The staff worked hard to find an operating room available for emergency surgery and I was told that Dr. Leafblad would do my surgery the next morning at Hudson Hospital. He talked to me on the phone, explaining the surgery, and after talking to him I felt relieved that there was a good plan in place. We went to the hospital and met him the next morning before surgery. The surgery went well and I have been following up with him at two, six, and twelve weeks post-op. I will see him two more times. Dr. Leafblad is a wonderful doctor and it’s obvious he cares about how I’m recovering from my injury. I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Leafblad, his staff, and TCO.

My hip replacement experience was made so much easier with the information I received prior to the surgery. The guidebook for hips was so informative and useful. I followed all of the steps needed before and after surgery, which made everything go so smoothly. Doing the physical therapy before and after surgery made healing go so fast as well. Being 75 years old I thought the recovery would take a long time but 18 days after surgery, I am walking without the use of a walker or cane. I truly believe all of the information I received contributed to my fast recovery. I can’t thank Dr. Morgenstern and TCO enough.

I would recommend Dr. Ridley and his team to all my family and friends. The care and concern I received before, during, and after my hip scope surgery was amazing. The pain management they provided me helped to aid in my healing and recovery. Everything from insurance approvals, to connecting with people, to setting up cooling devices for after surgery, was taken care of for me. There was always someone available for me to reach out to with questions. All in all, it was a great experience!

Dr. Ridley and the TCO team have been awesome to work with from the start. Alec Weis, the certified athletic trainer at our school, started the process and helped open up lines of communication from the beginning. Dr. Ridley has been great by communicating with us every step of the way. We had a lot of questions prior to surgery, and he answered everything with clarity and gave us a lot of confidence in the process. Our experience with TCO physical therapy has also been outstanding. The level of experience and expertise from the staff is evident, and the recovery process has been smooth. Thank you, Dr. Ridley, for helping us navigate this experience.