Dr. Richard Lee Stowell, MD

Dr. Stowell, partner of Orthopedic Sports Institute, is one of the leading Orthopedic Surgeons in America specializing in shoulder and elbow treatments. He is also one of the few surgeons in North Idaho performing Superior Capsule Reconstruction and Stryker InSpace™ Balloon Implants!

Call To Schedule Consultation

(208) 457-4211

Dr. Richard Lee Stowell of Coeur d'Alene, ID

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Shoulder & Elbow Orthopedic Care in Coeur d’Alene & Hayden, ID

Restore Your
Peak Potential

What Patients Are Saying

from John Yarno

former Seattle Seahawk | University of Idaho Hall of Fame

I was really impressed with Dr. Stowell. The way he communicated to me, and his knowledge. This guy knows what the heck he’s doing . . . I couldn’t be happier. I feel great now

from Colleen

Could not have been a better experience. Back playing tennis soon after.

from Jake

Best doctor I’ve ever been to . . . My son has not had any issues with his arm since!

from Daron

He’s on the cutting edge of everthing that’s available and explains everything he’s going to do. With the way that I’ve healed I believe in what he says and does.

Specialized Services

Dr. Richard Lee Stowell is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow conditions. He provides the highest quality of musculoskeletal care by using state-of-the art, minimally-invasive arthroscopic techniques for joint reconstruction surgery. Serving north Idaho, Dr. Stowell aims to restore your peak potential with an extensive practice in trauma and fracture management, as well as general orthopedic procedures.

Next Steps

Step 1:

Call (208) 457-4211 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Stowell.

Step 2:

Complete forms digitally.


Three days prior to your appointment time, you will receive a text and email from our check-in platform called Phreesia to complete your forms electronically.

Step 3:

Check-in at our front desk.


On your date of appointment, we will scan your insurance card, photo ID, and collect any copayments.

Step 4:

Consult with Dr. Stowell.


If needed, you may receive X-rays. You will meet Dr. Stowell and he will discuss your treatment plan with you.  

  • You do not need a referral, unless it is required by your insurance company.
  • If you are calling due to a workplace injury, most employers will require you to be seen at an urgent care or hospital first to start your workers compensation claim. Your employer’s workers compensation adjuster would then usually have your claim and approval information ready for you to submit to our team to begin your healing journey with Dr. Stowell.
    When you call, our Patient Scheduler will ask you for your name, phone number, date of birth, address, insurance information and a brief summary of your orthopedic problem. Our Patient Scheduler will then coordinate an appointment time with you to see Dr. Stowell.
  • We accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Medicare, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Mountain Health Co-op, PacificSource, Kaiser, Tricare and other insurance providers. We advise you to call the number on the back of your insurance card to verify network participation. If still unsure, call or contact us and we would be happy to see how we can help.
Dr. Richard Lee Stowell

About Dr. Stowell

Dr. Richard Lee Stowell has completed 14 years of formal education to receive the honorable designation, Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is fellowship-trained in shoulder and elbow at the prestigious CORE Institute.

Although he is located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, patients seek Dr. Stowell’s care from all over the United States. He is one of the few orthopedic surgeons in north Idaho that performs Superior Capsule Reconstruction, a surgery that helps restore shoulder stability in irreparable rotator cuff tears. He is one of very few orthopedic surgeons in the nation performing the Stryker InSpace™ Balloon Implant, which was FDA-approved in July 2021 after 10 years of clinical research. This breakthrough shoulder balloon implant is a biodegradable spacer to arthroscopically treat massive irreparable rotator cuff tears.

Dr. Stowell is a naturally gifted orthopedic surgeon who is commited to bringing excellence to his skill and delivering the best in orthopedic patient care. In 2022, he was honored to be selected as the eastern Washington and northern Idaho representative for an exclusive orthopedic society called PacWest ASES. He continues to advance the profession of orthopedic surgery by designing orthopedic instruments–SIX that are patent-pending.

Testimonials

ExcellentGoogle star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5.0.74.728 reviews
4.7Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5.0.7
Excellent28 reviews
Posted on Google Google
Stacey profile picture
Stacey
2 September 2026
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Thank you Dr. Stowell and your excellent staff for the wonderful work you did on my shoulder dislocation surgery. From the start my Orthopedic Sports Institute experience has exceeded any of my expectations. I started with a shoulder that was extremely painful and lacked any range of motion. Through surgery Dr. Stowell repaired a torn rotator cuff, torn biceps tendon and torn labrum, as well as trimming the clavicle and cleaning up a shoulder that looked like a hand grenade went off in it. Afterwards with excellent Physical therapy by Barrett Reid , I quickly gained my full range of motion and am looking forward to strengthening it. Thank you sincerely, Mark Bonilla
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Jennifer Ferreira profile picture
Jennifer F
4 November 2025
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I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Stowell for his exceptional care. He performed rotator cuff repair surgery on my left shoulder six weeks ago, and I’ve been thoroughly impressed by his skill, professionalism, and compassion every step of the way. Dr. Stowell has been incredibly thorough in explaining each phase of my surgery and recovery, always taking time to answer my many questions. Most of all, he has been genuinely encouraging throughout this process, which has made a tremendous difference in my confidence and outlook during recovery. I truly couldn’t have asked for a better surgeon or experience.
Posted on Google Google
Douglas Anderson profile picture
Douglas A
28 October 2025
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I am writing to express my immense gratitude and appreciation for Dr. Richard Lee Stowell, MD and his team at Orthopedic Sports Institute. After many years of suffering with a severely worn shoulder, I finally hit a point in which the pain was more than I could bear. My initial meeting with Dr. Stowell was amazing and left me excited about the next steps in the process. I have never had surgery of any kind my whole life and my research showed that Dr. Stowell was the best of the best for my shoulder surgery. His explanation of the reverse shoulder replacement procedure, expectations for recovery, kindness, and friendly nature was incredible. I am finally pain free for the first time in many years after the surgery and excited to resume the hobbies I enjoy thanks to Dr. Stowell. From top to bottom, everyone at Orthopedic Sports Institute is kind, friendly, and amazing to work with. I had the other shoulder replaced a couple weeks ago by Dr. Stowell. As with the first shoulder, the experience was great and Dr. Stowell and the entire team at Orthopedic Sports Institute are amazing!!!!!!
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Katie Robbins profile picture
Katie R
2 October 2025
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The best!
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Karen Truss profile picture
Karen T
29 July 2025
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I'm a stained glass artist who lost her passion for this hobby due to shoulder pain. Dr. Stowell performed a total shoulder replacement on 4 months ago, and I can't express how much gratitude I have for what he did for me. I'm pain-free and feeling great, and it's all owed to his compassion and skill to make me whole again. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me my life back, Dr. Stowell and giving me back my passion for glass again! I hope you love your new shoulder as much as I love mine!
Posted on Google Google
chip chick profile picture
Chip C
28 October 2024
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in october of 2023 i destroyed my left rotator cuf at the age of 70. my first dr. opinions were terrible for a recovery, thankfully i found dr. stowell. we did a reverse shoulder rebuild and after 9 months i am nearly full strength, thank you to him and his staff. have already referred others to his care.
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John Jackson profile picture
John J
10 September 2024
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He fixed my shoulder when another doctor couldn’t he exceeded all expectations. My shoulder is 100% today thanks so much.
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Dylan Rogstad profile picture
Dylan R
6 February 2024
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I can not stress how amazing my experience with Dr. Stowell has been, I am a former professional kickboxer and trainer who has had many injuries and surgeries throughout my life; none of which were enjoyable. That being said I had a severe injury to my left shoulder and had previously received a surgery from another surgeon done poorly, Dr. Stowell fixed the damage from that surgery and the damage from the injury and time. He was kind, caring, informative hands down the best surgeon I have ever had. I recommend him to everyone I know and will continue too. Thank you Dr. Richard Stowell for giving me my shoulder back!
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Alene Graham profile picture
Alene G
29 October 2022
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We went to urgent care when our toddler got hurt on the trampoline. They took x-rays and told us nothing was broken and sent us home. She was in pain the entire night. In the morning I contacted Dr. Stowell and let him know our daughter couldn’t stand or walk. He pulled up her x-rays, called us back immediately to have her come in right away. Dr. Stowell and his team were amazing, they casted her leg and were able to keep her calm through the whole process. I would highly recommend going to see Dr. Stowell! Urgent care called us three days later to tell us her leg was actually broken. I suggest skip urgent care and go straight to Dr. Stowell.
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Ben Brough profile picture
Ben B
19 November 2021
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After years of elbow pain, Dr. Stowell got me back on the court again. He did a great job explaining my options and making sure I knew what to expect. He’s very thorough and knowledgeable.

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Fequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need a referral to see Dr. Stowell?
In most cases, no referral is needed to schedule an appointment. However, some insurance plans require a referral or prior authorization—so we recommend calling the number on the back of your insurance card to confirm. If you’re unsure, give our office a call and we’ll help you figure it out.
What insurance do you take?

We accept many major insurance plans, including
Blue Cross Blue Shield,
Medicare,
UnitedHealthcare,
Aetna,
Cigna,
Mountain Health Co-op,
PacificSource,
Kaiser Permanente,
and
TRICARE.

Because insurance plans and network participation can vary, we recommend calling the number on the back of your insurance card to confirm your coverage. If you have questions or need help verifying benefits, our team is happy to assist you.

What if I was injured on the job?
If your injury happened at work, your employer will usually ask you to start a workers’ compensation claim through an urgent care or hospital first. After that, your employer’s workers’ comp adjuster can provide the claim details and authorization paperwork. Once you have that information, our team can help coordinate your appointment and treatment plan.
Where does imaging take place?
We can often do X-rays in the clinic during your visit. If you need advanced imaging—like an MRI, CT, or ultrasound—Dr. Stowell can order it and we’ll coordinate with a trusted local imaging facility. Once the images are complete, we’ll review the results with you and map out next steps.
Where will my surgery take place?

Surgery is performed at Hayden Surgery Center. It’s designed specifically for outpatient procedures, with a specialized surgical team and a patient-focused setup to make check-in, surgery day flow, and recovery as smooth as possible. Our team will walk you through where to go, what to bring, when to arrive, and what to expect before and after your procedure.

Where are you doing clinics for checkups?
Dr. Stowell sees patients for clinic visits, follow-ups, and checkups at two locations: the OSI office in Coeur d’Alene and at Hayden Surgery Center in Hayden. When you schedule, our team will confirm the best location for your visit and make sure you have the address and directions.
Where do I go for physical therapy?

Physical therapy is available at both the Coeur d’Alene OSI office and the OSI office at Hayden Surgery Center. This makes it easier to keep your care coordinated—your therapist can follow Dr. Stowell’s protocols closely, track your progress, and help you safely return to work, sports, and daily activities as efficiently as possible.