OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

My son was admitted to Doernbecher recently for a couple of nights. This was our first hospital visit here. We’ve previously been at Randall, but because of a change of insurance, this is now the hospital we’ll be visiting on occasion. To be honest, I wasn’t impressed. The hospital rooms were old and dingy. The nursing staff was below average. One of our four nurses over the weekend had good bedside manner; that’s all… ONE. And there were way too many nurses/​doctors coming in our room all asking the same questions within minutes of each other. I had to have explained my son’s situation at least 5 times a day for 2 days. The patient chart outside of his room was never update the 2.5 days we were there either. Each time we had to ask one of our male nurses for something, he’d never remember. This happened 3 or 4 times. He specifically felt inconvenienced by our requests, which were tape for the NG tube on his face, my breast milk and formula mixed and being stored in their fridge and distilled water (that they request I use) for his formula. I’m confident that those aren’t wild requests.
Also, I am directly comparing this hospital to Randall as that’s our only children’s hospital experience. We have a few more stays coming up in the next couple of months and I sure hope they aren’t as dreadful as our recent one.
Side note — Our son’s specialty doctor here is phenomenal! I really enjoy working with his entire team. It’s specifically the overnight portion of the hospital — 9^th floor — that I’m super dissatisfied with. I just expect more from such a renowned hospital!

I don’t have experience at any other Children’s Hospital but this one is excellent. My daughter was born with pretty severe complications so Doernbecher has become our second home. We are here at least once a week for various appointments and hospital stays. We love our doctors and specialists. The hospital is so kid friendly. There are play things, craft carts, pianists, guitarists, clowns, etc. that come around to not only the hospital rooms but also the appointment areas to entertain the kids while they wait. The lobby is decorated with birds and animals hanging from the ceiling and there’s a Starbucks right there for mom and dad! Everyone from the doctors to the cleaning staff are wonderful and everyone makes you feel like family. We honestly love it there. You can even as we deer sometimes from the waiting area on the 7^th floor! We are so thankful to have this place!

I have been coming ere for the past 13 years for many different things from x-​Rays to surgeries. I don’t ever remember having a bad experience here. They have friendly staff that are always willing to help where possible.
During my most recent surgery recovery, I managed to fall, and do some damage to my leg brace. Thankfully, my dignity was hurt worse than my leg, but a nurse was there surprisingly quickly to help me off the floor and back to bed. There was also someone at the surgery waiting area helping people make jewelry. It was fun, and made waiting a lot more entertaining. I would highly recommend Doernbecher’s if you are in need of a children’s hospital in Portland.

I came here once, WAY back in 8^th grade. Today I’m back for another serious issue. When I got here, they were quick to triage, assessed the situation and started blood work and blah blah. All the while they have been friendly and fast to do what they can to help, even though they have a ER lobby full of people in bad moods (they are sick after all). I’ll add more after the visit.

Wow! Nothing but good things to say.
Our niece came to live with us and needed to be admitted to Doernbecher. Having little experience with this type of thing (well, kids in general!), the team at Doernbecher was amazingly helpful on all aspects — financial, insurance, education, treatments, general well beeing etc. Whenever a problem cropped up, the team there was able to tackle it with a smile and make things happen. No complaining, no belittling, just getting stuff done. We’ve been here for about 1 week now, and everything has been great. Throw in the fact that the hospital is beautiful and warm, I would highly recommend this place to anyone who has a child that needs care. Amazing!

Best hospital ever. It’s a children’s hospital… you will probably never be there on a happy occasion… but they make everything just a little bit better.

Gastroenterology Endoscopy:
I’ve had endoscopy done there twice now. The IV setting is painfree, they use lidocaine. Staff is very agreeable, and they don’t pull any macho Chest-​thumping «I’m so fab, you won’t need it, here bite on this stick». This last time, he used it again, I did not feel the IV setting whatsoever. This reduced a huge amount of stress for me, and I’d be much more relaxed about doing followups. I’ve had this done at other places, MISERABLE fiascos. The IV nurse at OHSU could make a ton of money giving lessons at other hospitals, day surgeries, skin doctors. If they could use twilight sedation to decrease the stress of ex: getting all your skin-​cancers taken off, anti-​aging/​anti-​age descrimination work, or dental surgeries, I bet more people would take care of it.
Also, the staff knew how to use the Medical Records software, so I only had to verify the meds I was taking once, not 10 times like at St. Vincents/​Tuality Day Surgery.

My daughter was born with a cleft palate we’re from Northern California so originally we were sent to UCSF and we’re completely disappointed in the care we got there, after just one consult with the cleft team we never wanted to come back. So we switched to OHSU and are so glad we did! Every part of the hospital is extremely kid friendly and very family oriented. Every staff member we met was helpful. She just had her palate repair and ear tubes, we were able to walk her to the OR doors and brought us back as soon as she was waking up in recovery and during the procedure we were kept completely informed on how it was going. Doctors and nurses we’re compassionate, and understanding on how stressful and worrisome it is to have a child with medical problems, they were great in every way. We are extremely happy that we made the switch and will continue be using OHSU for the rest of her cleft care as long as we’re in the area.

Moving to Oregon a couple years ago was terrifying for my family, as my daughter has a life-​long, life-​threatening condition. We had so much trust in her old team. And while the faces, personalities, and subtleties of specialty are different, we have found the comfort level we hoped for. Each and every department is at the top of their fields. Although it’s been a medically challenging few years, we couldn’t be more pleased with the care and knowledge that has been shown.

I cannot believe I am actually giving a 5 star review to a HOSPITAL! I was here twice in the last week, one as a planned surgery, and one not planned in the Emergency Department. Both times, the staff were wonderful. I had a surgery planned many months in advance, at the Multnomah Pavilion. After surgery, I was taken straight over to Doernbecher for the night (I am 15). All of the nurses were wonderful, and always listened and got whatever I needed. They made sure that I got my pain medication on time and that I was always comfortable. Discharge process was smooth, until 3 days later. I could not keep any liquid or food down, and due to that, the pain was becoming unbearable as none of my medications would stay down. I was packed in the car and taken straight back to the Doernbecher ER. I was taken straight back to a room and was immediately seen by a doctor, which was amazing. I was never happier to see an empty waiting room in my life! In our local ER in Southern Oregon, it would have been at least an hour, probably much longer until I saw a doctor. I was given medications for nausea and pain, plus 2 liters of IV fluid due to my severe dehydration. About 5 hours later, I was discharged feeling MUCH better. Overall, Doernbecher is a wonderful hospital filled with caring doctors and staff. I have another surgery in December and I would not even dream of having it anywhere but at Doernbecher.

We’ve been to the pediatric E.R. countless numbers of times, been to many outpatient visits here, and had an overnight stay with my kid as he underwent a colonoscopy.
First, as to the countless visits to the E.R. Our wait time is generally small, and their diagnoses have proven to be pretty accurate. They have a channel on the TV that plays kids movies, which can be great when kids are cooped up in a little room. They also sometimes have an individual which goes around blowing bubbles and handing out toys. Once or twice, that individual has sat in the room entertaining our children for close to an hour. Almost always, it is recommended by our doctor or pediatrician that we go to Randall childrens hospital, but we prefer Doernbecher by far.
Outpatient visits. I’ve had slightly «better» experiences in the E.R., but this part of the hospital is pretty good too. The wait times are a little longer than i would like, but they are generally pretty good, with the exception of a couple of times where we have had extended waits. Just like the E.R., they have an individual that comes around blowing bubbles and sometimes handing things out to the kids, but that individual is now spread out over far more patients, so they don’t get the one on one time like they might in the E.R.
Our overnight stay. They did a really good job with my sons procedure. Everything went well until the end. When it was time to go home, they made getting us out of there VERY low priority. They said we would leave about 11:00 am. We got out of there after 3pm, but we had to go to extremes to get us home. They left his I.V. in his arm, and kept saying, «well, as soon as a nurse takes that out you can leave.» Since it had been close to four hours that they had been saying that, we decided to just leave and drive to his pediatrician to have him take it out. They FREAKED out. They tracked us down on the elevator and threatened us with CPS if we left, and promised to take it out immediately. I don’t know if that was the best decision or not, but after being there for as long as we were we were ready to go home.
My five star rating though is based on the «hospital» overall, and not just that one episode.

this review is not of the ER at OHSU (they suck!). this hospital has staff that really care and are intent on providing a professional service to those that require the need to be here. I could have a lengthy review but it is very individual experience.

My son, who is autistic, had a brain tumor diagnosed in our local hospital & was transported within hours by the caring ambulance team to Dornbecker. The ICU is stressful for anyone, but especially for an autistic child. Although the staff was not trained sufficiently about autism beforehand, they listened carefully to my insights & suggestions for how to help him be as comfortable as he could be. I’m not going to lie, it was he’ll for all of us. It was brain surgery after all, but the nurses made it easier. The childlike specialist was initially irritating to me because she is SO perky & cheerful (I wasn’t in the best frame of mind – worried about my kid), but she turned out to be a wonderful resource! She made a sign of the things that helped me son & posted it on his door, she brought in a therapy cat for him to pet, prizes, activities (including BINGO that EVERYONE won) & made it much easier for him than it otherwise would have been. There was a video library & a movie channel to also keep him occupied, as well as Wifi. As for me, I could hardly leave the room, but there was a kitchen down the hall on the ward & in the ICU. They even had food room service for when I couldn’t leave at all. Most important of course is that they saved my son’s life! His surgery was delicate & dangerous & the surgeon’s ands were deft. He has permanent damage from the tumor itself, but I take him up o be treated regularly by the amazing endocrinologists there & he’s doing well.
I owe Dornbecker, which is a Shriner’s hospital, my son’s life. Thanks are not enough!

For one who hates Doctors this place has some of the best I have ever dealt with. They took awesome care of my son and made sure to double check everything before the procedure. If my children have to have a specialist I would not hesitate to take them here!!!

Son, 16, has had two surgeries at Doernbecker in the children’s orthopedic surgery ward. Both times the experience was just superb. Nurses, attendents and the doctor were all first class. Highly recommende! Even have a Starbucks for us parents waiting for our kids to come out of surgery.

Maybe we’ve just been lucky, but for both of our pediatric ER visits so far, the wait has been very short.
The peds waiting room has TVs, gaming consoles, book, and other things to entertain little ones while waiting.
The doctors and nurses have always been wonderfully helpful, explaining what needs to be done, why, and so on. They don’t push unnecessary tests or treatments, which is great. When they have to do something unpleasant (like, say, digging a festering splinter out of a toddler’s hand), they’ll bring in someone to blow bubbles or otherwise calm and amuse the child afterward to make it less of an ordeal.
Basically, this is a pediatric ER that understand that kids aren’t just small adults, and that’s a very good thing.

My son’s mother works for OHSU and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital is where he receives much of his ongoing pediatric and other therapeutic care. I have personally met with my son’s providers and call me impressed by the professionals who indeed are at the top of their game. And IMHO, the services he receives here are much better than what he previously enjoyed in the Bay Area.
The entire OHSU campus is also an exploration adventure within itself. You can drive up Marquam Hill to get here and even try a hiking trail through the back Campus. Better yet, take the Tram, take in the view, and avoid the parking hassles. While on the 9^th Floor, wander through the suspended sky way to the VA hospital and return to read the history board about OHSU, which is on your right as you reenter the common area. Retreat into the new and ornate Mark Hatfield Research wing lobby, and then double back to Doernbecher. Take the elevator down to the Lobby, and experience the beautiful elevated art birds, the animal sculptures/​Eternal Flame at the outside entrance, and the relaxing and comfortable indoor Commons area with a piano, Starbucks, natural light, and a view.
I’m also grateful knowing that my son feels really cool and confident as he can easily navigate this multiplex (including taking the Tram up from his mother’s office and back down). My son is growing up healthy and happy, and I can thank Doernbecher Children’s Hospital for helping make that possible.

I’m biased toward OHSU, so I’ll try and keep this review toned down.
This is probably one of the greatest additions to our fine city that most Portlanders don’t even know exists. Not only is it’s location up atop Marquam hill inspiring, but so are the countless doctors, nurses, and staff that help provide us with some of the best children’s health care in the country.
Not only is their service other worldly, but so are the facilities. Everything from the Children’s ER waiting room right down to the examination rooms.
Going to the ER is not a fun experience. However I can only imagine how my opinion of the dread term would have been changed had I been taken to Doernbecher’s as a kid. So do your kid a favor. If you’ve got the luxury to drive up there for ER care, do so.
Regardless, make the time to check them out as healthcare providers in general. You won’t be sorry.

At every visit I laugh and I cry. This is probably the only 5-​star review of a place I hope you never have a need to visit. Although, even if you don’t need their services it has some of finest gasp-​inducing views of the city and is probably my favorite art gallery in town.
This place is all passion and raw emotion. Professionals at the top of their game and patients and parents getting some of the best and worst news of their lives. This place is simply the best.
Here you confront your worst fears, make deals with God (if that’s your thing) or just take a deep breath, and try to find some peace while you wait. On my first visit four years ago, I was practically nauseous, shaking, and didn’t know what to expect. At every turn I was met with compassion and kindness. Things turned out fine and now we go back every now and again to make sure they stay that way.
I say fine, but I actually mean better. While I was waiting for my son I took an inventory of my life and how I was living it. I decided to make some significant life changes after asking a hard question, «If this was the last day of my life (or of those I love), how would I want to live it?» I decided to work less, love more and I try to laugh to the point of crying every day. Essentially I learned one of life’s most important lessons. You can’t always control what happens to you, but you have a lot of control over how you respond.
Now when I drive up Pill Hill to Doernbecher, I don’t feel afraid. I feel grateful, because it will always be a place where my family’s life changed for the better. And if the worst ever happens, I know that I will have a team of professionals fully committed to laugh, cry and fight alongside me.