Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, AK

Pros

• Providence Alaska Medical Center's service and care from everyone is incredible.
• Dr. Lee He was absolutely amazing.
• Shellie and Eli went above and beyond to make patients feel comfortable.
• The Infusion Center and AK Woman Cancer Center staff are the best and very caring.
• The surgery team delivered top-notch, compassionate care.
• The nurses and technicians are friendly and good people.
• Dr. Fitzgerald provided skill, reassurance, and a steady presence.
• Nurse Tristan's warm attitude and calming energy made patients feel supported.
• The Cardiovascular Unit was phenomenal.

Cons

• The ER is described as very unprofessional.
• The doctor flirts with young girls and staff talk dirty to each other.
• They sit around and do the bare minimum and never go back.
• A patient ringing for assistance was ignored by doctors and staff.
• They show no compassion, are prideful about their care, and turn people away for serious issues.
• They gossip at the nurses' station and mock other patients.
• They label patients and lie to their family doctors; care seems to be about money.
• The hospital is dirty and sanitation is subpar, with sanitizer dispensers often not working.
• They issue overpriced, deceptive bills with questionable coding.
• They are rude to patients, with long waits and poor bedside manners.

Review

Providence Alaska Medical Center is best suited for families facing urgent, high-acuity medical needs in the Anchorage area who prioritize access to experienced clinicians and comprehensive acute care over a perfectly uniform patient experience. The institution compounds strong, hands-on emergency and surgical capabilities with high-energy teams in ICU, post-operative care, and specialty services. For travelers or residents dealing with trauma, complex surgery, or labor and delivery, the facility can deliver skilled, attentive treatment from dedicated professionals who frequently receive praise from patients and families when outcomes are favorable. In short, when the priority is expert medical management delivered with competence and compassion, this center often rises to the occasion.

Those who should consider alternatives include families seeking highly predictable administrative processes, pristine consistency in ER triage and throughput, or a consistently respectful, stigma-free environment across all departments. A substantial portion of reviews highlights long wait times, repeated billing questions, and frequent administrative friction, sometimes accompanied by miscommunication or rushed discharge planning. Issues with record handling, insurance processing, and unexpected charges create a credibility gap that cannot be ignored for families budgeting tightly or navigating complex care trajectories. For those who prize seamless front-desk service, transparent pricing, and uniformly courteous care from intake through discharge, alternatives may offer a more reassuring path.

The most persuasive pros center on clinical excellence and genuine caregiving. Several reviews spotlight skilled surgeons, attentive nurses, and collaborative teams delivering solid outcomes in areas like post-surgical recovery, cardiac care, and maternity services. In the best moments, patients report feeling heard, carefully monitored, and reassured by staff who explain procedures and stay engaged through recovery. The infusion center, cancer center staff, and certain ICU teams receive particular appreciation for empathy, clarity, and consistent support. These strengths can offset a fair amount of administrative rough edges when the medical need is urgent and the team is aligned around a patient's well-being.

Yet the weight of the cons cannot be dismissed. ER wait times, perceived inconsistency in triage, and experiences of rude or disengaged frontline personnel show up repeatedly in feedback. Sanitation, cleanliness, and basic comfort in some public areas are criticized, signaling a mismatch between clinical prowess and facility-wide operational discipline. Billing and coding practices come under sharp scrutiny, with patients reporting surprise charges, billing errors, and convoluted explanations that erode trust even when clinical care is solid. For families, these financial and administrative risks can dominate the decision unless a strong, favorable clinical case is clear and well supported by a responsive financial team.

Maternity, orthopedic, and critical care stories illustrate a bifurcated reality: superb moments of competence and kindness exist, but so do episodes of miscommunication, discharge mishaps, or uneven staff accountability. Positive reports credit thoughtful nurses, diligent doctors, and consistent post-discharge follow-through, while negative anecdotes describe mislaid records, obstructed access to care, or experiences that feel impersonal or careless. This inconsistency is a real determinant for families weighing the hospital's value, especially when plans hinge on precise timelines, predictable costs, and coordinated care across departments.

The practical takeaway is clear. Providence Alaska Medical Center offers formidable clinical capacity and many staff members who demonstrate genuine dedication; those factors often drive favorable outcomes in serious cases. However, the combination of billing opacity, inconsistent administrative performance, and variable patient experiences - particularly in the ER and around discharge - means that care plans should proceed with a plan for proactive advocacy. Before choosing this center, families should engage a patient or family liaison early, request itemized estimates, and confirm coverage specifics. When possible, compare concurrent alternatives for expectations around cost, throughput, and the consistency of nonclinical interactions, ensuring the chosen path aligns with both medical needs and financial realities.

This area of Anchorage, Alaska, offers a convenient location with easy access to various medical facilities, including Providence Health & Services and the Children's Hospital at Providence. There are also several pharmacies nearby for easy access to medication and healthcare needs. In terms of dining options, there are familiar fast food choices like Wendy's and McDonald's as well as casual sit-down restaurants like Taco Bell and Village Inn. For those who enjoy coffee, there is a Starbucks within walking distance. Additionally, Castle Heights Park provides a peaceful outdoor space for leisurely walks or picnics. Overall, this neighborhood offers a balance of medical amenities, dining options, and recreational opportunities for seniors considering living in the area.

Hospitals

• Providence Sleep Disorders Center (0 miles)
• Providence Health & Services-Washington (0.2 miles)
• Providence Day Surgery (0.2 miles)
• Providence Medical Center Pharm (0.2 miles)
• The Children's Hospital at Providence Prenatal Unit (0.2 miles)
• Psychiatric Emergency Department at Providence Alaska Medical Center (0.2 miles)
• Providence Alaska Medical Center (0.3 miles)

Physicians

• Kaylyn Hum, Au.D (0 miles)
• Anchorage Fracture & Orthopedic Clinic (0 miles)
• Totten Mary C Md (0 miles)
• Alpine Urology (0 miles)
• Alyeska Family Medicine (0 miles)
• Seattle Children's Pediatric Cardiology of Alaska (0.1 miles)
• Alaska Digestive and Liver Disease (0.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Providence Health Park Pharmacy (0.1 miles)
• Lake Otis Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• Carrs Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Carrs-#0720 (1.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Wendy's (0.4 miles)
• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.5 miles)
• Village Inn (1.4 miles)
• Max's Beefy Burgers (1.5 miles)
• Wendy's (1.6 miles)
• McDonald's (1.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.6 miles)
• Arctic Grounds Coffee Company (1.5 miles)

Parks

• Castle Heights Park (1.1 miles)