Dr. Lucy Hostetter

Dr. Lucy Hostetter is a nationally recognized, board-certified, fellowship-trained anesthesiologist. She has established a regenerative medicine practice to offer her patients groundbreaking, effective alternatives to traditional medical treatments, such as surgery or medication to treat pain and discomfort in the back, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankle pain.

Dr. Hostetter built her career specializing in orthopedic and spinal surgery with expertise in regional anesthesia. She brings a rare level of knowledge and experience to an array of regenerative medical techniques and has a passion for bringing non-surgical, innovative pain treatment strategies to the field of regenerative medicine.

Background and education

After earning her medical degree from UCLA School of Medicine, Dr. Hostetter completed her anesthesiology residency at Virginia Mason Medical Center. After residency, she was awarded the Moore-Bridenbaugh Regional Anesthesia Research Fellowship, where she honed her interest and skill in pain management by training anesthesia residents and researching alternative treatment methods for acute pain.

The journey to advanced regenerative medicine

Following her fellowship, Dr. Hostetter joined a private practice group at Swedish Medical Center where she initiated a groundbreaking adductor canal nerve block program for postoperative pain management, resulting in shorter hospital stays, decreased opioid use, and improved pain scores in patients following total knee surgery.

In 2014, building on the success of this program, Dr. Hostetter went on to establish the first-ever regional anesthesia nerve block program for orthopedics and podiatry at St. Francis Hospital. There, she also founded the multimodal pain program for joint and spine patients, significantly improving postoperative pain outcomes.

“While I have a deep love for the practices of surgery and anesthesiology, I am excited to offer patients an alternative to surgery … a means to repair and restore themselves so they can enjoy the life they want, do what they love to do, and live without the pain and trauma of surgery. This is the direction in which all of medicine should be going … to help the body heal itself.”

Breaking new ground in natural healing: Dr. Hostetter

Dr. Hostetter formerly specialized in anesthesia techniques for joint replacement and spinal fusion treatments, and now focuses her practice on regenerative, rather than surgical or drug-based treatments, with the goal of helping her patients feel better naturally. While it is impossible to stop the aging process, with her fresh approach to healing, it is possible for people to feel better while they age. Patients should be able to feel their best selves. Dr. Hostetter crafts custom-tailored treatment plans based on your needs, symptoms, and pain levels. For a treatment plan to restore your energy, vitality, and experience less pain, meet with Dr. Hostetter for a private consultation.

smiling Dr. Lucy Hostetter with black top and red hair up in pony tail

Author and researcher

Dr. Hostetter has published several research papers and co-authored the Spinal and Epidural Anesthesia chapter in a leading Clinical Anesthesia textbook. She is an enthusiastic educator and lecturer who routinely teaches ultrasound and regional anesthesia to anesthesiologists nationwide.

Dr. Hostetter’s dedication to optimizing the patient experience through minimally invasive strategies drove her interest in regenerative medicines such as stem cell therapy. This approach has the ability to restore orthopedic function, rejuvenate mental and emotional vitality, and relieve pain without relying on opioid drugs.

Publications

Evaluation of Ultrasound-Assisted Thoracic Epidural Placement in Patients Undergoing Upper Abdominal and Thoracic Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blind Study
Continuous Ultrasound-Guided Adductor Canal Block for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial
Ultrasound Refraction Artifact Is Unlikely: A Response to Duplication of Brachial Plexus, A Letter to the Editor
Clinical Anesthesia, 7th Edition; Chapter 34: Epidural and Spinal Anesthesia