Dr. Eric Kim, DO is an Orthopedic Surgeon practicing at our Saint Johns, FL clinic, dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive Orthopedic care for older adults. He is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practices under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice), ensuring adherence to the highest standards of care. Dr. Kim understands the unique needs of seniors, offering specialized expertise in diagnosing and treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions common in this population, such as arthritis, fractures, and spinal issues. He works collaboratively with your primary care physician and other specialists to provide comprehensive and personalized care, tailored to each individual's specific situation. He serves older adults (65+) and active seniors, and is currently welcoming new patients. Please call (904) 634-0640 to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Kim is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with a focus on adult reconstructive surgery and trauma, and over 10 years of dedicated experience in Orthopedic care. He earned his medical degree from Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013, completing an internship and residency at Mercy Suburban Hospital and Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine, respectively, and a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. This rigorous training, coupled with his board certification by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery, ensures patients receive the highest level of expertise. He is a member of prestigious organizations like the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, demonstrating his commitment to staying current with the latest advancements in the field. Dr. Kim's practice aligns with Southeast Orthopedic Specialists' mission of providing exceptional orthopedic care, a commitment to leadership, and a commitment to setting a 5-star standard in the region. Dr. Eric Kim provides consultations primarily in English.
A cornerstone of effective senior care is a strong patient-provider partnership. Dr. Eric Kim is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on holistic strategies to protect health and enhance quality of life.
Dr. Eric Kim is a compassionate partner in your senior's health journey, providing comprehensive orthopedic care with a focus on personalized treatment plans. He collaborates closely with primary care physicians and other specialists to address a wide range of musculoskeletal concerns, including arthritis, fractures, and spinal issues, ensuring the best possible outcomes and maintaining a high quality of life for seniors.
By working together, you, your family, and Dr. Eric Kim can create a clear, actionable plan that respects your individual needs and healthcare goals.
Specific Plans Accepted
Aetna
Cigna
Coventry Health Care
Humana
Also Accepts These Carriers
- Anthem
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Curative
- Curative EPO
- Curative PPO
- Curative PPO Plus
- National (BlueCard) PPO
- United Healthcare
- UnitedHealthCare
Effective management of health is key to well-being in later life. Dr. Eric Kim provides expert, compassionate care for a range of conditions common in older adults, with a focus on managing symptoms and maintaining function. Common areas of focus include:
- Femoral Neck Fracture: A break in the upper part of your thighbone (femoral neck) can be painful and limit movement, but surgery can often help you regain your independence.
- Ankle Fracture: A broken ankle doesn't have to limit your independence. Modern treatments focus on restoring ankle function and minimizing long-term effects, allowing you to enjoy your daily life again.
- Adhesive Capsulitis Shoulder: Adhesive capsulitis, often called 'frozen shoulder,' makes it hard to move your shoulder freely due to inflammation and stiffness, limiting your ability to do things independently, however, medication and exercises can ease pain and improve range of motion.
- Leg Fracture Above Knee (incl. Hip): A fracture in the upper leg, possibly affecting the hip, needs prompt medical care to mend the break, often through surgery, physical therapy, and pain management, so you can return to your daily activities.
- Elbow Bursitis: Do you have a painful, swollen elbow? It could be bursitis, an inflammation of a fluid-filled sac near your elbow. Treatment focuses on reducing swelling and pain to allow you to remain active and comfortable.
- Hip Pain: Hip pain can significantly impact mobility and daily life, but with proper diagnosis and treatment, such as medication, physical therapy, or surgery, seniors can often regain comfort and independence.
- Hip Dysplasia: Experiencing hip pain and stiffness? It could be due to hip dysplasia, a condition where the hip joint is misaligned. Thankfully, with proper care and potentially surgery, you can regain mobility and independence.
- Coccyx or Sacrum Fracture: Breaking the tailbone (coccyx) or the bone above it (sacrum) is unfortunately common in older adults after a fall, however, with proper care including pain medication and physical therapy, most people recover fully, allowing them to live more comfortably.
- Thoracic Compression Fracture: Osteoporosis and other conditions can weaken your spine, making it susceptible to compression fractures in the thoracic region (your mid-back); however, with proper medical care, including pain management and sometimes surgery, you can recover and maintain independence.
- Patellar Dislocation: Experiencing a patellar dislocation can be frightening, but effective treatments, like bracing or surgery, are available to help realign the kneecap and alleviate pain, promoting independent living.
- Trigger Finger: Experiencing a finger that catches or locks? This might be trigger finger, a common hand problem that often responds well to non-surgical methods like splinting or steroid injections, helping you maintain your daily activities.
- Systemic Chondromalacia: If you're concerned about cartilage damage in multiple joints, this could indicate a systemic issue like advanced arthritis. Treatment, which may involve medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes, aims to ease discomfort and improve daily living for seniors.
This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes. An accurate diagnosis and a personalized care plan can only be developed through a direct consultation with a qualified medical professional based on your specific health history.
To provide comprehensive and person-centered care, Dr. Eric Kim offers a range of services designed to diagnose, manage, and support the health of older adults:
- Hip Reconstruction Surgery: As part of a comprehensive care plan, hip reconstruction surgery can restore function and improve quality of life for seniors with debilitating hip conditions.
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement: As part of a senior's care journey, a reverse total shoulder replacement can effectively manage debilitating shoulder pain and significantly increase their independence in daily activities.
- Hip Resurfacing: This surgical procedure helps diagnose and manage severe hip arthritis by replacing the damaged cartilage and bone surfaces in the hip, relieving pain and improving joint function.
- Knee Surgery: Knee surgery can help alleviate chronic knee pain and stiffness caused by arthritis, improving mobility and quality of life for seniors.
- Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement: Minimally invasive knee replacement is a surgical procedure that offers seniors a less invasive approach to repairing severely damaged knees, leading to faster recovery times and reduced pain.
- Excision of Femur or Knee: As part of a comprehensive cancer treatment plan, excision of the femur or knee may be necessary to remove cancerous bone tissue, improving the chances of successful cancer treatment.
- Bursal Drainage: Bursal drainage is a procedure to remove excess fluid from a bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushions joints, relieving pain and inflammation in seniors with conditions like bursitis.
- Open Hip Fracture Treatment: As part of a comprehensive care plan, open hip fracture treatment helps seniors regain stability and strength after a hip fracture, allowing for a faster return to daily activities.
- Synovial Biopsy: This procedure helps determine the type and severity of arthritis or other joint diseases, guiding your doctor in creating the best treatment plan.
- Viscosupplementation With Hyaluronate: Viscosupplementation with hyaluronate is a non-surgical treatment that lubricates and cushions arthritic joints, easing pain and improving mobility for seniors.
- Knee and Leg Fracture and Dislocation Treatment: Managing knee and leg injuries ensures seniors receive the appropriate carefrom pain relief to surgeryto minimize long-term effects and enhance their ability to stay active.
- Arthrocentesis: Arthrocentesis allows doctors to analyze joint fluid, which is crucial in diagnosing conditions like arthritis and guiding treatment decisions for seniors.
Service availability can change. To understand which services are appropriate for your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation to develop a personalized care plan.
All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Orthopedic Surgeries in Florida.
Dr. Eric Kim is dedicated to partnering with older adults and their families to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how compassionate care can make a tangible difference in a patient's life:
- Following surgery for a femoral neck fracture, a senior was thrilled to regain her mobility and confidently navigate her home, once again enjoying her favorite walks in the park.
- After a broken ankle, a senior felt renewed confidence navigating her home, thanks to a personalized treatment plan that focused on restoring her mobility. She was thrilled to resume her favorite hobby of walking the neighborhood again.
- With the guidance of a caring orthopedic surgeon, a senior woman regained the ability to reach high shelves in her kitchen, a task she loved, and felt much less pain.
These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results vary and depend on many factors specific to each person. He will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.
- Primary Location:
Practice
3801 E Highway 98 Ste 100100, Port St. Joe, FL, 32456
Phone: (850) 229-5752
View on Map
- HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital Port St. Lucie (Residency Hospital)
- American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery (Orthopedic Surgery)
Here are answers to some common questions about Orthopedic care with Dr. Eric Kim:
- What is an Orthopedic Surgeon?
- Dr. Kim is an orthopedic surgeon, a medical doctor specializing in the musculoskeletal systembones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. He diagnoses and treats conditions affecting this system, using both surgical and non-surgical methods to relieve pain and restore function for seniors.
- Does seeing an orthopedic surgeon automatically mean I need surgery?
- Absolutely not. Dr. Kim's practice focuses on finding the best treatment plan for each individual, often recommending conservative options like physical therapy, injections, or bracing first. Surgery is only considered when it's the most beneficial way to restore function and quality of life.
- How is a broken hip (hip fracture) treated in seniors?
- A hip fracture in an older adult is a serious injury and almost always requires surgery to stabilize the bone. The type of surgery depends on the specific fracture pattern. The primary goal is to relieve pain and get the patient moving again as quickly as possible, often with physical therapy.
- What is joint replacement surgery?
- Joint replacement surgery, performed by Dr. Kim, is a procedure to replace a damaged, arthritic joint with a new, artificial implant. The goal is to relieve bone-on-bone pain caused by severe arthritis. This very successful procedure dramatically improves mobility, reduces pain, and restores independence for activities like walking and climbing stairs.
- What can be done for my painful knee or hip arthritis?
- We understand the pain you're experiencing. Treatment for arthritis is a gradual process often starting with conservative measures like medication, physical therapy, and injections. If pain persists and limits your daily activities, Dr. Kim may discuss joint replacement surgery as a potential solution.
- What can be done for the numbness and tingling in my hand?
- Numbness and tingling in your hand are classic symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, a pinched nerve at the wrist. Initial treatment often involves a wrist brace or steroid injection. If symptoms persist, Dr. Kim can perform a quick, outpatient surgery to release the pressure on the nerve and provide lasting relief.
- What is a cortisone injection?
- A cortisone injection is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication injected directly into a painful area, like a knee or shoulder. It works by reducing swelling and inflammation, often providing temporary pain relief for conditions like arthritis or tendonitis. It's a safe and effective tool to help manage flare-ups.
- What is the recovery like after a knee or hip replacement?
- Recovery after knee or hip replacement is a process, involving a hospital stay and extensive physical therapy. Modern techniques often allow patients to walk the same day as surgery. The goal is regaining strength and motion, leading to reduced pain and a return to daily activities within a few months.
3055 County Road 210 W Ste 110
Saint Johns FL 32259
Phone: (904) 634-0640
Dr. Eric Kim, DO is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.
National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1124463088
Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.
The information on this profile, provided by infoaging.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with healthcare partners for yourself or a loved one. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the provider named. Orthopedic Surgeries like Dr. Eric Kim are skilled in helping seniors and their families navigate their health journey. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. Always consult with a qualified medical professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your care plan.