OHSU Hospital and Clinics in Portland, OR

Pros

• She delivered her baby at OHSU and felt lucky to have had the very best delivery team and the most caring nurses in the NICU and mother‑baby units.
• The staff took the time to understand and respect her birth plan while explaining every option objectively, always prioritizing comfort and the baby’s safety.
• The nurses and CNAs on the oncology floor were fabulous—compassionate, attentive to her needs, and treating her family with respect.
• The ER team was incredibly positive and motivated, handling difficult cases with the best attitude and keeping patients informed.
• The staff on the labor and delivery floor and NICU were professional and unbelievably awesome.
• The hospital helped the family find a place to sleep for the night, showing thoughtfulness for patient families.
• Christina went above and beyond to make sure the patient was comfortable during delivery.
• Julia, RN, and Jean, CNA on the ER observation floor, were nonjudgmental, kind, and comforting, demonstrating excellent bedside care.

Cons

• The patient developed a deadly MRSA infection after minor surgery and endured a 15-hour wait in the ER.
• Dirty floors in the pre-op area were blamed for infections, and the patient had to walk to the bathroom without shoes or socks.
• The family says the hospital failed their father, citing a lack of compassion, follow-up, and accountability, and noting the surgeon never saw him after the operation.
• The husband’s care was inconsistent, with poor nursing attention and unresolved fluid removal, leading to weight loss and fear for his life.
• Billing problems are rampant, including random demands for payment, threats of collections, and slow or incorrect refunds.
• Nurses were sometimes rude or negligent, including a case where medication was mishandled and a patient was left with glass in his face.
• The ER is severely overcrowded with no beds for admission, forcing patients to wait for hours in a chaotic, under-staffed environment.
• The facility’s lobby and common areas are dirty, with trash and fluids visible and hygiene conditions described as unhygienic.

Review

OHSU Hospital and Clinics in Portland is best suited for families facing high-acuity, life-saving needs where access to top-tier subspecialists, advanced procedures, and a comprehensive academic medical ecosystem matters most. The community shines for complex maternity care (including NICU services), transplant and cardiac programs, intricate surgical interventions, and oncology or pediatric care that benefits from a wide network of specialists. For families with critical conditions requiring rapid escalation to specialists, OHSU’s breadth of resources and its reputation as a leading research hospital make it a compelling choice. The balance here favors outcomes and access to know-how over a quiet, routine care experience, and that trade-off should guide the decision when the priority is survival, long-term prognosis, or highly specialized treatment.

Those who should explicitly consider alternatives are families prioritizing consistent bedside warmth, predictable scheduling, and straightforward billing processes. If the aim is routine outpatient care, quick in-and-out visits, or a smoother administrative path with fewer the-worlds-collide moments, a smaller community hospital or a regional center with a narrower scope may deliver a calmer, less bureaucratic experience. Several reviews flag difficulties with scheduling, inconsistent communication, and billing frustrations that can magnify stress during already challenging times. For those who value uniform service quality across departments and fewer surprises in discharge planning or insurance interactions, exploring other providers can avoid ongoing friction.

The strongest positives at OHSU are the depth and reach of clinical talent. Reviewers repeatedly point to teams of dedicated nurses, physicians, and support staff who can mobilize rapid, multidisciplinary care in emergencies and complex cases. The maternity and neonatal care teams are lauded for sensitivity to birth plans, postpartum support, and the NICU’s capabilities, while the transplant, cardiac, and oncology services are perceived as capable of life-altering interventions. Across departments, patient-centric acts, clear explanations, compassionate bedside manner, and staff who requested questions and ensured understanding, demonstrate a culture that can bend toward life-saving action even under pressure. When care succeeds, the hospital becomes a lifeline, a place where patients and families feel that skilled hands are directing a difficult journey.

Yet, the lexicon of experiences is not uniformly positive. Critical bottlenecks, such as crowded emergency departments, long wait times, and the logistical fog of large-scale operations, recur in reviews. Instances of miscommunication, inconsistent follow-through, and billing mismatches remind families that even a premier academic hospital carries operational headwinds. Some reports describe perceived indifference or dissonance in certain units, palliative care interactions, and maintenance issues that erode confidence in the overall experience. Cleanliness concerns and uneven nurse-to-patient coverage in high-stress zones underscore the reality that volume and complexity can outpace steady, flawless execution. These threads matter because they color the perception of a facility that otherwise attracts praise for clinical prowess.

The way the pros offset the cons hinges on the patient’s stakes and the family’s capacity to navigate a complex system. When life is on the line, OHSU’s access to subspecialists, innovative procedures, and coordinated care plans can decisively improve outcomes, making administrative rough patches tolerable. The hospital’s strongest redeeming features, expert clinicians, compassionate bedside teams, and a demonstrated history of saving lives, often outweigh the frustrations of scheduling, billing, or occasional communication gaps. Relying on proactive advocacy, leveraging case managers, and pushing for thorough discharge planning can mitigate some drawbacks; the institution rewards decisive families who partner closely with care teams. In short, the robust medical apparatus can compensate for frictional aspects, provided the decision-maker is prepared to fight for clarity and continuity.

If choosing OHSU, approach the process with a concrete plan: identify a primary care pathway and secure a reliable care team early; insist on written discharge instructions and a clear post-visit communication cadence; and engage a patient advocate or social worker to navigate billing, referrals, and appointments. Prepare to be explicit about insurance coverage, anticipated costs, and expected timelines, because administrative friction can surface quickly in a hospital this large. Communicate preferences for rooming, family accommodations, and a transparent care plan, especially in maternity or intensive care contexts. While the environment can deliver extraordinary medical outcomes, success hinges on active collaboration with providers, timely information, and a willingness to escalate concerns when gaps appear. For families with complex medical journeys, OHSU stands as a formidable option; for those prioritizing consistency and simplicity, it warrants caution and a careful comparison with alternatives.

This part of Portland, Oregon offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With several hospitals in close proximity such as Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Portland VA Medical Center, and Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, residents have access to quality healthcare options. Additionally, there are numerous parks nearby for leisurely walks or outdoor activities, including Terwilliger Playground and Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park. A variety of pharmacies and medical clinics are also available for convenience. In terms of dining options, residents can enjoy a mix of international cuisine at restaurants like Dough Zone Dumpling House and Momo's. The area is well-connected with public transportation options such as Amtrak for easy travel. Overall, this neighborhood provides a vibrant and convenient setting for seniors looking to settle down in Portland.

Hospitals

• Doernbecher Children's Hospital (0 miles)
• Portland VA Medical Center (0.1 miles)
• Shriners Hospitals For Children (0.3 miles)
• Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center (2.3 miles)
• Legacy Emanuel Childrens Hospital (3.2 miles)
• Randall Children's Hospital (3.3 miles)
• Legacy Emanuel Burn Center (3.3 miles)

Parks

• Terwilliger Playground (0.5 miles)
• Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park (1.3 miles)
• Albert Kelly Park (1.5 miles)
• Alberta Park (1.8 miles)
• Washington Park (1.9 miles)
• Colonel Summers Park (2.2 miles)
• Sellwood Riverfront Park (2.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Brooklyn Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (1.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Dough Zone Dumpling House (0.9 miles)
• Momo's (1.5 miles)
• Toki PDX (1.6 miles)
• Jake's Famous Crawfish (1.7 miles)
• Von Ebert Brewing Pearl (1.8 miles)
• Upper Left Roasters (1.8 miles)
• Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House (1.8 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Pioneer Place (1.4 miles)

Cafes

• Coava Coffee Roasters (1.6 miles)
• King's Hookah Lounge (1.7 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (2.3 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (2.3 miles)
• Portland Cà Phê (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Peet's Coffee and Tea (3 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (2.2 miles)

Physicians

• Good Samaritan Building 1 (2.2 miles)
• Sellwood Medical Clinic (2.9 miles)
• Legacy Medical Group (3.1 miles)
• Richmond Family Health Center (3.1 miles)
• Legacy Medical Group-Emanuel (3.2 miles)
• Legacy Medical Group-Raleigh Hills (3.8 miles)
• To Summy Od Myoptic Optometry Dr Summy To Optometrist Portland (3.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• St John Fisher Church (2.6 miles)