Ketchikan General Hospital in Ketchikan, AK

Pros

• Therapy at the facility is awesome.
• The experience with PeaceHealth was excellent, with clinicians who were caring and highly competent.
• The ER nurses and staff were pleasant and kind.
• The PeaceHealth system was compatible with MyChart, enabling the primary doctor to see all test results.
• Dr. Becker and the staff at the hospital and rehab center were exceptional; nurses were caring and friendly.
• Care from Dr. Stout and her nurse was exceptional - skillful, compassionate, and lovely.
• The staff in the women's center were nice and helpful.

Cons

• The ER experience was terrible, and the attending physician (Spencer Ashcraft) was described as incompetent for not reviewing the chart, skipping tests, and providing no pain relief.
• The scheduling system was extremely disorganized, with numerous appointment cancellations and no notice given.
• Several reviewers felt the ER staff disregarded patients and treated illnesses as inconveniences.
• The hospital was described as having the most incompetent staff the reviewer had ever seen, with undertrained, rude, and uncaring personnel.
• One reviewer warned never to go there, claiming there were no doctors - only a nurse who didn't trust what patients were feeling - and no labs were performed.
• An ER visit was criticized for not performing labs or offering any help, leaving the patient very ill for days.
• Wait times were repeatedly described as excessively long, sometimes with patients discharged while blood dripped from a head and receiving no meaningful assistance.
• There were reports of HIPAA violations and mishandling of records, including access to private medical information and incorrect labor status.

Review

Ketchikan General Hospital is best suited for residents and travelers who need local access to emergency care, general inpatient services, and a PeaceHealth-connected medical record within a small-island setting. It serves as a practical hub for those who value proximity and continuity of care within a familiar network, especially for routine, non-specialized needs that can be managed locally. For families prioritizing a consistently fast ER response, or for patients with complex, time-sensitive conditions requiring steady, high-volume support, this community should be evaluated with caution. The island reality means having a hospital on site matters, but it does not guarantee uniformly reliable outcomes across all departments.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are clear: if predictable wait times and flawless scheduling are essential, this facility often falls short. For chronic conditions that demand frequent follow-ups or diagnostics, larger centers in Juneau or Seattle typically offer steadier staffing and broader specialist backup. Privacy realities and communication lapses cited in several reviews should ring alarms for anyone who requires meticulous information handling. Families anticipating a uniformly patient-centered bedside experience will likely find the variability here challenging, and should weigh options outside the island when feasible.

Key positives do exist and must be weighed against the downsides. When the care team is aligned, ER staff can be compassionate, competent, and decisive, delivering meaningful relief and clear explanations during urgent moments. Therapy services are singled out as a strong point, offering value that supports recovery without necessitating extended travel. The ability to stay within the PeaceHealth network, and the broader system's MyChart compatibility, helps maintain continuity of care by ensuring test results and referrals stay connected from the ER to the floor and back out. These strengths are tangible anchors in a system that otherwise shows notable variability.

Yet the cons are persistent and influential in decision-making. Long or unpredictable waits to be seen, frequent scheduling glitches, and last-minute cancellations undermine confidence and create anxiety for patients and families. Reports of understaffing, inconsistent bedside manner, and communication gaps with case managers add friction to what should be straightforward care pathways. Some accounts describe minimal testing or diagnostic workups in the ER, which can leave serious symptoms inadequately addressed. Alarming anecdotes about privacy and documentation practices further temper the sense of reliability, making it harder to rely on routine visits without contingencies.

This is a practical calculus: proximity plus a PeaceHealth-backed framework are compelling arguments to stay local when needs are straightforward and the care team is stable. The strongest counterpoint is the risk of delays, miscommunication, and a lack of cohesive care planning during critical moments. For families who can tolerate a variable experience and who are prepared to pursue out-of-town referrals for specific services, the hospital remains a reasonable choice. For those whose care demands are non-negotiable - rapid diagnostics, dependable case management, consistently high bedside care - alternatives deserve serious consideration and proactive planning.

When evaluating options, the prudent approach is to map out who will be on the ER shift, and to request a patient advocate or case manager when possible. Use MyChart to track test results and referrals, and set explicit expectations around wait times and the sequence of tests and follow-up steps. Have a contingency plan for urgent needs that may require travel to Juneau or Seattle if specialized or high-risk conditions arise. For cruise visitors and temporary residents, the hospital can be a critical lifeline, but it is essential to acknowledge the potential for delays and ensure a clear escalation path if symptoms worsen. The decision hinges on balancing local proximity and network benefits against the real-world variability that marks this facility.

This part of Ketchikan, Alaska offers a convenient and vibrant community for seniors looking to settle down. With multiple healthcare facilities such as PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center and various physicians' offices nearby, residents can access quality medical care easily. Places of worship like the Church of Christ and Calvary Bible Church provide spiritual support, while transportation options like Alaska Airlines and Sourdough Cab make getting around town hassle-free. A variety of dining options at restaurants like Jeremiah's and McDonald's cater to different tastes, and pharmacies such as Island Pharmacy Incorporated are close by for medication needs. Additionally, cafes like B & D Espresso offer cozy spots to relax and socialize. The area also features recreational opportunities with parks like Whale Park within a short distance, providing a peaceful green space for leisure activities. Overall, this part of Ketchikan presents a well-rounded community ideal for seniors seeking a comfortable and engaging lifestyle.

Hospitals

• PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center (0 miles)

Physicians

• Ketchikan Psychiatry-Psychlgy (0 miles)
• Callisto Pediatric Clinic (0 miles)
• Rainforest Family Healthcare Clinic (0.1 miles)
• Visiting Physicians Clinic (0.1 miles)
• Wilson Medical Clinic (0.1 miles)
• Ketchikan Medical Clinic (0.3 miles)
• Harmony Health Clinic (1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of Christ (0.1 miles)
• Calvary Bible Church (0.1 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (0.1 miles)
• Holy Name Parish (0.2 miles)
• Holy Name Catholic School (0.2 miles)
• Lighthouse Church of God (0.2 miles)
• Presbyterian Church (0.3 miles)

Transportation

• Alaska Smart Car Rentals (0.1 miles)
• Alaska Airlines (0.1 miles)
• Sourdough Cab (0.5 miles)
• Ketchikan Gateway Borough Alaska (0.8 miles)
• Budget Car Rental (0.9 miles)
• First City Car Rental (1.1 miles)
• Taquan Air (1.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Jeremiah's (0.2 miles)
• McDonald's (0.7 miles)
• Ketchikan's Gold Pan Pizza (0.7 miles)
• Ocean View Restaurant (0.8 miles)
• Waterfront Cafe (1 miles)
• Waterfront Restaurant (1.2 miles)
• Jellyfish Donuts (1.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Island Pharmacy Incorporated (0.3 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• RainCity Drugstore (1.7 miles)
• Rain Country Nutrition (1.9 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2 miles)

Cafes

• B & D Espresso (0.3 miles)
• B And D Espresso (0.6 miles)
• New York Cafe (2 miles)
• Ketchikan Coffee Co. (2 miles)

Theaters

• Coliseum Twin Theatre (1.8 miles)

Parks

• Whale Park (1.9 miles)
• City Park of Ketchikan (2 miles)