Multicare Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma, WA

Pros

• The care for the little grandson with croup was top notch.
• The staff were amazing and caring; Lulu and Katie were especially kind and helpful.
• The ER and inpatient teams delivered outstanding care, with many families grateful for the doctors and nurses.
• Dr. Lashley’s surgical care for the son was outstanding and highly appreciated.
• The hospital is often praised as the best children’s hospital in Tacoma, with grateful families.
• Nurses and doctors explained procedures clearly to ease fears, such as when explaining how an IV works.
• The infant botulism case was diagnosed promptly and treated with attentive care.
• The playroom and child-friendly environment were appreciated by families.
• The staff on the 6&7 floor were described as angels with scrubs.
• The ER staff for seizures was amazing and compassionate.

Cons

• They waited more than six hours in the ER for a sick child who could barely breathe.
• The front desk staff were rude and dismissive, showing no compassion for urgent referrals.
• Billing practices were fraudulent, with thousands charged for care not provided and bills sent to collections.
• The ER had long waits with little to no updates from staff.
• The hospital allegedly calls police on parents who leave due to unsatisfactory care.
• Some doctors and nurses were described as rushed, disrespectful, and lacking bedside manner.
• Families felt unsafe returning due to inconsistent care and poor handling of complex medical histories.
• Several reviewers labeled the hospital as a nightmare for children and urged others to seek care elsewhere.

Review

Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma is best suited for families that prioritize high-level pediatric expertise and a child-centered care environment, especially when a child may need urgent hospital-based care, subspecialty support, or an inpatient stay. The facility earns its strength from a team that can manage complex pediatric issues with depth, from surgical care to NICU-level services, and from nurses and doctors who frequently meet families where they are during frightening moments. The setting is deliberately kid-friendly, with play opportunities and family-oriented touches that help ease anxiety for young patients. That said, the advantage of clinical excellence must be weighed against a pattern of variability in throughput and administrative friction that can turn a medical crisis into a test of endurance for exhausted caregivers.

Families who want a smoother ER experience or who must coordinate care around work, other children, or tight schedules may want to consider alternatives. There are repeated reports of long wait times in the emergency department, sometimes stretching into several hours before a room is even available or a clinician becomes engaged. When time matters, the inconsistency in triage flow and shift changes can leave parents anxious and unsure about when their child will be seen. For families who prize predictability in billing and a straightforward administrative process, Mary Bridge can present significant challenges, including disputes over charges and, in some cases, collections. In short, those who cannot tolerate intermittent delays, opaque billing, or uneven front-line interactions should evaluate other nearby pediatric centers known for more consistent throughput and clearer financial arrangements.

On the plus side, the key pros consistently highlighted by families include a clear pediatric focus across departments, strong bedside manner from many nurses and physicians, and successful outcomes in urgent and surgical scenarios. Inpatient teams frequently earn praise for attentive, compassionate care, and several caregivers point to individual nurses and doctors who made stressful experiences manageable through patience and clear explanations. The hospital environment, kid-friendly spaces, attentive pediatric specialists, and a culture that emphasizes family involvement, helps families feel heard during frightening moments. When a child’s needs align with the hospital’s strengths, these elements translate into meaningful, positive experiences: efficient post-acute care paths, quick action during surgical episodes, and a sense that skilled teams are doing their best for a vulnerable patient. These advantages do not erase the warts, but they do offer a credible counterweight to the more troublesome complaints.

However, legitimate and recurring cons temper the overall experience. The most consistent critique centers on the ER, where families report extended waits and uneven communication about when care will occur. Front-desk interactions and triage practices are cited as problematic in many reviews, and the resulting frustration can undermine confidence just when a child’s condition feels urgent. Billing and administration emerge as another major pressure point, with multiple accounts of unexpected charges, slow responses, and even collections attempts for services that were not clearly justified or itemized. Add to that a spectrum of bedside experiences, from deeply caring, thorough teams to moments of rushed care and perceived indifference, and potential parents must prepare for variability rather than a uniformly seamless journey. For some families, these factors are deal-breakers, especially when the emotional and financial stakes are high.

From a practical decision-making standpoint, families choosing Mary Bridge should go in with a clear plan. If the concern is an acute visit, request timely triage updates and advocate for a patient liaison or case manager who can translate medical decisions into understandable steps. In advance, confirm insurance coverage and request a detailed, itemized estimate of charges to guard against surprise billing, and set expectations about the potential for delays. When admitted, lean on inpatient teams and the pediatric subspecialists who frequently receive praise for their attentiveness. For ongoing concerns, compare experiences with Seattle Children’s or other regional pediatric centers known for more streamlined ER processing and more transparent administrative practices. The goal is to leverage the hospital’s clinical strengths while mitigating the administrative friction that repeatedly surfaces in reviews.

The bottom line is practical and decisive: Mary Bridge delivers compelling pediatric medical competence, with many patients reporting compassionate, capable care from nurses, physicians, and specialists during serious illnesses and surgical episodes. Families that can tolerate the ER’s irregular pacing and a sometimes opaque billing process may find a solid partner in Mary Bridge, especially for inpatient or urgent pediatric needs where expertise and a family-centered approach matter most. For those whose priority is consistently quick access to care, predictable wait times, and transparent, friction-free administration, alternatives should be seriously considered and compared. The right choice hinges on the child’s clinical needs, the family’s tolerance for variability, and the willingness to advocate vigorously within a system that, in moments, shines brightly but, in others, frays at the edges.

This part of Tacoma, Washington, offers a range of amenities and services that cater to senior living. With proximity to medical facilities such as Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers, Mary Bridge Pulmonary Clinic, and several hospitals including MultiCare Regional Cancer Center and Group Health Cooperative, residents can access quality healthcare easily. There are also a variety of dining options nearby, from fast food chains like McDonald's to more upscale restaurants like The Matador and Twokoi Japanese Cuisine. Additionally, there are places of worship like Christ Episcopal Church for spiritual nourishment. For leisure and recreation, seniors can enjoy parks like Sheridan Park and Kandle Park or catch a movie at Grand Cinema. Several cafes such as Starbucks and Panera Bread provide gathering spots for socializing with friends. Overall, this area offers convenience and accessibility for seniors looking for a comfortable and vibrant community in Tacoma.

Physicians

• Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers (0.1 miles)
• Mary Bridhe Pulmonary Clinic (0.1 miles)
• Joelene J. Werden, DO (0.1 miles)
• Kevin P. Kolostyak, MD (0.1 miles)
• Andrew B Kopstein (0.2 miles)
• Gyft Clinic (0.2 miles)
• Pacific Northwest Maternal Fetal Medicine (1 miles)

Hospitals

• MultiCare Regional Cancer Center - Tacoma (0.1 miles)
• Group Health Cooperative (0.1 miles)
• MultiCare (1.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Frisko Freeze (0.1 miles)
• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• The Matador (0.7 miles)
• Dirty Oscar's Annex (0.7 miles)
• Twokoi Japanese Cuisine (1.1 miles)
• E9 Brewing (1.6 miles)
• Peaks and Pints (1.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Christ Episcopal Church (0.2 miles)
• Bethlehem Baptist Church (3.8 miles)
• St Theresa's Church (4.5 miles)

Theaters

• Grand Cinema (0.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• Hilltop Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Bartell Drugs (1.5 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Alfred's Cafe (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3 miles)
• Panera Bread (3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (4.6 miles)

Parks

• Sheridan Park (1.5 miles)
• Kandle Park (2.7 miles)
• Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park (3.9 miles)
• Point Defiance Park (4.5 miles)
• Dash Point State Park (4.6 miles)
• Titlow Park (4.7 miles)
• Five Mile Drive (5 miles)