Ketchikan General Hospital

Pros

• Every single person there was amazing and took very good care of the patient.
• The system was compatible with MyChart, enabling the patient's primary doctor to view all test results.
• Therapy at PeaceHealth is awesome.
• The ER nurses and staff were pleasant and kind.
• PeaceHealth provided an excellent experience, with clinicians described as caring and highly competent.
• Marvin went above and beyond to make the experience as good as possible under the circumstances.
• Diane and Dr. Lenny did good work.
• Dr. Lenny Dunikoski and nurse Tiffany Penn provided really amazing care to the patient's fianc?.

Cons

• The ER doctor Spencer Ashcraft is described as incompetent and provided nothing.
• The scheduling system is extremely disorganized, with repeated cancellations and no notice.
• ER staff disregarded patients, treating them as inconveniences and failing to provide care.
• The hospital staff are rude, loud, undertrained, and uncaring about patient well-being.
• No labs or testing were performed; diagnoses were made by guessing based on appearance, and no pain relief was offered.
• Wait times were long and patients were discharged without meaningful help, sometimes with ongoing symptoms.
• Bedside manner is described as too laid back.
• Infant blood-draw nurses were described as the absolute worst, poking the infant multiple times.
• One reviewer warned never to go there, saying people could pass away.
• Case managers sometimes failed to return calls or provide needed follow-up.

Review

The collection of reviews paints a hospital system that elicits a wide spectrum of experiences. On one end, there are glowing endorsements of care, empathy, and effective coordination; on the other, there are scathing criticisms about inefficiency, perceived incompetence, and a sense that patients' needs are not always put first. Taken together, the narrative is not uniform, but it reveals some recurring themes: the ER and hospital can be exceptionally caring and capable in some cases, while in others they feel disorganized, dismissive, or unreceptive to patient concerns.

Several accounts focus on the ER experience and how it can hinge on the individual clinician. A number of reviewers describe encounters where they felt their concerns were heard, their pain addressed, and their medical needs met with attentiveness. For example, some patients recount compassionate bedside manners from ER nurses and doctors, and they credit staff with providing meaningful help during frightening or painful episodes. In particular, there are stories of clinicians who took the time to numb a scared child, stitch wounds, or offer reassuring presence at a tense moment. A recurring sentiment is gratitude for those clinicians who combine technical competence with personal warmth, turning a frightening experience into something tolerable and even positive for families in distress.

Counterbalancing these positive notes are multiple criticisms about specific providers and the overall responsiveness of the ER. A prominent complaint centers on an ER doctor identified as Spencer Ashcraft, with a caller alleging that the provider did not review the patient's chart, did not order tests or pain-relief measures, and ultimately left the patient feeling neglected and billed for an experience that seemed to accomplish little. The language used is strong, with callers urging others to avoid checking in with the ER if the doctor on duty is the same one being criticized. This thread echoes across several reviews: when patients feel unheard, their fear or pain is not acknowledged, and the care delivered seems either minimal or purely reactive, it undermines trust and satisfaction even if some staff members are offering good care.

Another frequent theme is dissatisfaction with administrative and scheduling processes. Several reviews describe canceled appointments with little or no notice, online check-in glitches, and a lack of clear explanations for disruptions. The frustration isn't only about wait times or the clinical encounter - it's about the overall experience of navigating the system: missed communications, abrupt changes, and a sense that logistical hiccups sap time and energy that patients and families simply don't have when they're sick or caring for children. In a few anecdotes, patients contrast such administrative issues with more streamlined experiences elsewhere, further coloring the hospital's reputation with a sense that efficiency and reliability are not consistently present.

There are also notes about the hospital's broader service ecosystem and care pathways. Positive experiences are sometimes tied to the hospital's role as a regional center - the only full hospital in the area - and to the usefulness of digital health integrations. One reviewer highlights PeaceHealth's MyChart compatibility as a major advantage, allowing primary doctors to access test results and medical records across providers, which helped coordinate care after an ER visit during a cruise. Therapy is specifically praised in another strand of reviews, with several patients calling it "awesome" or "great," indicating that for some, the ongoing behavioral health and rehabilitation services meet or exceed expectations. On the inpatient side, there are commendations for the ER staff as a group when things go well and for particular clinicians who deliver thoughtful, patient-centered care during admissions.

But the negative notes persist alongside the positives. Several reviews describe experiences after admission where bedside manner felt too casual or where communication with case managers was inconsistent. There are reports of patients leaving messages that were not returned, or of paperwork and follow-up tasks that required persistence from families who were already dealing with medical stress. The same threads of concern recur: patients feel their questions aren't fully answered, necessary tests aren't ordered unless explicitly requested, and the system can seem indifferent to urgent paperwork and discharge planning. In some accounts, this perceived indifference translates into long waits, a sense of being overlooked, and concern that essential steps - like labs, navigation through discharge instructions, or timely calls - are not reliably completed.

Within the mix of praise and criticism, there are memorable individual stories of exceptional care, especially involving specific nurses and physicians. A number of reviewers single out particular caregivers who went above and beyond: nurses who provided steady reassurance, doctors who treated traumatic incidents with competence and empathy, and staff who helped families navigate scary moments with clear communication and skill. These stories stand out because they contrast with other reviews that describe systemic gaps, suggesting that the hospital's care quality can be highly variable depending on who is on duty and how well the team coordinates. In some pediatric cases during school accidents or routine injuries, caregivers report pediatric patients being treated with gentleness and precision, and families express heartfelt thanks to those who helped their children feel safe and cared for during difficult moments.

In summary, the overall impression is that the hospital system can be a source of real comfort and effective medical care, particularly when clinicians communicate well, manage pain and testing efficiently, and help patients feel heard. Yet there is a substantial countercurrent of dissatisfaction related to specific providers, inconsistent bedside manner, perceived underwhelming clinical effort, and ongoing administrative friction. Patients who have had positive experiences point to caring ER staff, competent clinicians, and integrated digital health systems that improve continuity of care. Those who have had negative experiences point to a combination of a problematic provider in one visit, challenges with scheduling and notifications, long wait times, limited testing when they felt it was needed, and a sense that administrative bottlenecks overshadow clinical expertise. The result is a nuanced, at-times contradictory portrait: a hospital that can deliver outstanding care in some moments and fall short in others, leaving patients to weigh moments of compassionate, capable treatment against episodes of frustration and disorganization.

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)