Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center

My father recently passed away in the I.C.U. at Sunnyside. He was there several weeks, and our family spent quite a lot of time there, visiting him. The nurses we encountered were, almost to a person, professional, courtious, and caring. There were however, several who stood out as people possibly needing to find another vocation. Anyone who has visited the I.C. U. at Sunnyside knows that you have to pickup a phone in the hallway outside the entrance, state who you are, and who you are there to see. Sometimes, as we found, there is a dragon guarding the entrance. This «lady», I use the term loosely was most times condecending, overbearing, and sometimes outright rude. She acted like it was a privelege to be allowed access to our dying father. She acted like access was entirely at her whim. Once, when a nurse was going in she (the nurse) invited us to go in with her. she tried to explain to the dragon lady, she had let us in with her. The dragon cut her off, and admonished us, saying in a very rude manner, «you know you are supposed to call on the phone for admittance». In my opinion, having studied psychology, and dealing with thousands of people from all walks of life in my 40 year professional career, I see in this person a petty, miseable little person who has found themselves in a position with a little bit of power over others. She does not care how the family member might be feeling about their loved one in the process of dying, she cares for no one but her self, and her ability to control who comes in to the I. C. U.
Kaiser needs to seriously monitor this person, and preferrably move them to a position where she has little to no contact with the public. The people working in the I.C. U. need to have compassion, and most do. This ugly, witch looking woman has none. Anyone who comes into contact with her more than once, or even briefly, can see, she is in the wrong position.
My father had a number of medical problems, which when combined were sure to end his life. In the last few weeks, he was being kept alive with a ventilator. He could not breath on his own. He was lucid, aware, and tried hard to communicate with tubes down his throat. He could not write. We were asked on several occasions by doctors, if we wanted to keep him alive. We tried asking our father what he wanted, but we could not understand him, and he seemed unwilling to give up. We wanted it to be his decision. Finally, after weeks of not being allowed to drink anything, being fed through a tube up his nose, and down his throat, a catheder and diaper, he finally gave in and said enough. He conveyed his wish to be removed from life support to the doctor. Our entire family met to be with him at the end. The hospital was prepared even before we arrived, providing a cart with beverages, fruit, etc. for us. We were assured by the doctor that he would not suffer, that his passing would be painless and completely stress free. When the time came, surprisingly, the doctor was not in attendence. Instead, two female nurses, and one male nurse, disconnected his ventilator, gave him an injection, and left. Prior to this final procedure, I met with one of the nurses, and told her in no uncertain terms, that I expected my father to pass without stress or drama. She assured me that would be the case. Within a minute or two of being disconnected, our father began to struggle. His eyes were wide open, he waved his arms in the air, and looked to each of us, as if for help. My wife emediately got a nurse, and she increased whatever medication they were giving him in his I.V. and again left. He continued to struggle, gasping, choking, gurgling, fighting, until we were all crying, and the three sons, myself included prayed that he would let go. I was horrified that our sons and daughters were witness to this horrible end to a wonderful man. It took at least ten minutes for him to take his last gasping breath and die. It seemed forever. This happened weeks go, and I still am bothered by it to say the least. Someone, anyone, at Kaiser, explain to me why the doctor was too busy? to not be in attendence? Explain to me why we had to go looking for nurses to try and aleviate his suffering, twice. Tell me why our father’s passing was a nightmare, not the calm, stress free, drama free, painless passing we were assured over and over it would be. Add to this the petty little dragon at the reception desk, acting like we were admitted at her whim, with only her approval. is there no accountability at Kaiser Sunnyside? Or are you just a big business, which is in the business of filling beds, emptying those beds, and filling them again to the tune of millions, if not billions of dollars. I doubt Kaiser will respond, and if they do, it will be in platitudes and excuses. They must of course defend their receptionist, their doctors and nursing staff, their procedures. To do otherwise would be to admit that they might have errored, that there might be need for improvement.

Who are you people? You call me to tell me false info on my elderly mother. You then threaten her facility making it impossible for her to return. Then you stress my mother out and myself with false info costing me tons of $. Flew in from 3000 miles on your lies to find nothing wrong with my mother. Cept now I have to find a new home for her when this should’ve never happened.
Shame on you. My 89 year old mother is now being run thru your inept bedside and phone disinformation. You are still the same thieving institution that roll people for anything you can get. HMO hand the money over. Shame on you kaiser.
I would like to add that my mother would’ve been surrounded by loving caregivers in her last days. Now that will happen quicker with strangers. You just don’t do this to the elderly.

Went to ER and was admitted for just over a week due to severe pancreatitis and needed gallbladder surgery. All the staff from my Drs, to nurses to CNAs everyone was exceptionally kind, took time to explain everything to me, and made my stay very comfortable. Something that started as a scary experience for me– first hospital stay/​surgery– turned into a pleasant experience. The nurses here go above and beyond their jobs. I will never forget their kindness, smiles, explanations, time helping me, quick responces, and attention to making me and my husband feel very well taken care of. Facility was very clean, well organized and my private room was quite nice. Even the food was very good.

Was injured at work and was brought to the ED. Was very impressed with the Nurses and Doctors… they were professional, kind and very knowledgable. Was grateful for the help and great care I received.

My elderly family member was in this hospital when a resident doctor here accidentally overdosed her on her medication. Within hours she died. She was supposed to be coming home from the hospital that day when our family got the call. The staff was very apologetic and admitted the wrongdoing. Our family reported the incident to Medicare but they dismissed it because of her age. The family was told that if she had been younger/​healthier, than that overdose would not have killed her, but due to her age, her body could not handle it. It shouldn’t matter what her age is, what was done was completely wrong and the resident doctor and hospital should have been held accountable, but they weren’t. This was medical malpractice and this hospital got away with it.

Dr Chang was allegedly the oncall urgent care doctor at Mt Scott today. who knows if she even was on the premisis. She REFUSED to actually show her face in the exam room — but wrote a ‘modified duty’ note for my sons oji based on her ‘belief’ that he could go to work and lift 80 lb bags of concrete with a strained groin and calf muscle without ever seeing him. In fact absolutely REFUSED to examine him. Instead she sent in the nurse to tell me that no other doctor would be examining him either and that ‘this’ was all we would get.
Drove back to Beaverton (where we are originally from before we moved to this side) and the doctor there examined my son and determined that because he was unable to walk… he was unable to lift 80 lb bags of concrete at work and, rightfully, put him off work.
NEVER going to Mt Scott Sunnyside again. In fact. thinking about hiring a lawyer.
The one thing Kaiser forgets is that People definitely have a choice in medical insurance now — and Kaiser ISNT the least expensive OR that unique anymore and patient care and Customer service is EXTREMELY important. And for a doctor to REFUSE to see a patient is something the bill paying parent (me) is going to take into consideration next time my medical choices come up for review (which is in 2 months)

Recent surgery at Sunnyside. Everyone I encountered was excellent-​friendly, competent and skilled. The facility was very clean and inviting. Mostly well organized, with the exception of a confusing radiology desk…
Overnight stay was great and I had a private room. All of the nursing staff were excellent – very empathetic and friendly — esp Daryl, Abbi and Ivy in med-​surg and Cynthia in pre-​op.
I was very nervous about the whole thing, but they made it easier. I LOVED that they had therapy dogs in the reception areas and one also visited my room!!! See photo of Charli attached.
I was surprised that the food was good, especially my morning omelet.

The Kaiser at Sunnyside is fairly competent across the board. It is near the MAX and Clackamas Town Center. You can walk there or take the bus from the light rail. The facilities are large.
I went in by bus. They were able to help me to the specific building I needed at the desk of another building. The downstairs of the main building is stuffed with a large cafeteria and vending machines. Waiting is fairly easy, and there are all kinds of signs.
The doctors were efficient and pleasant. Sometimes, it takes a bit to see someone for specific concerns, but otherwise it is fine. Although in the daily tasks of life it is easy to see how health does no matter, it does more than one can initially perceive, but Kaiser is there to help.

Calling takes a bit but my questions always answered, and I’m treated fair and respected. I’m glad they hire kind patient people. The waiting is only few minutes and they provide many options when calling.

I took my father in today for a procedure. We went to the Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Hospital.
The parking lot building was a little busy, people who are not handicap parked in handicap spots. But I managed to get a spot close, after a couple of turn-​arounds.
The Check-​in Medical Receptionist was pleasant and courteous.
The Admitting Representative was harsh and just overall rude, had we appeared culturally similar to her’s, her address would may have been different. Maybe she was having a bad day.
The procedure waiting area was at the other end of the hallway, it was a bit small for the large quantity of patients and their families waiting to be seen. Once you arrived there, you had to lift the phone receiver to let the nurses know, you had arrived.
We waited for 20 minutes in the lobby, we were walked into the locked procedure prep area. It was as large room with a nurse station in the middle, like an ER with the same sterile feeling, rooms separated by curtains and glass doors/​walls.
My dad’s «room» was surrounded by curtains. We could hear all of the medical conversations about other patients’ procedures and infection outbreaks concerns.
Our male nurse was top of the line– amazing, with great bedside manner, kind, patient, caring and very helpful. I think his name was Henry. He demonstrated to be an excellent Nurse professional, an expert placing IVs.
We love the Specialist MD. The Pulmonologist Dr. Walters makes sound decisions. He is passionate about his job and about his patients. He is a true knowledgeable professional. And also an amazing, kind, caring, patient and very helpful medical provider. In addition, Dr. Walters is bilingual in Spanish.
The bathrooms were exceptionally clean, in any floor, in any area. Kudos to the CNAs & Housekeeping team!
The cafeteria was clean, their employees very corteous and helpful.
The hot food was overpriced for the taste or is quality. The cold cuts and salads priced by the pound, the frozen yogurt machine needed cleaning but it was running with 2 flavor products inside.
Water is free.
I had the Gyro with Beef patty, Tahini sauce, humus, lettuce, tomatoe slices, and kalamata olives, my husband had the grilled by order cheese burger with fried potato wedges, and my dad had a couple of pounds of cold cuts Turkey and cheese, tomatoes and beets, and skipped the bread.
My dad was the most inexpensive meal, and was better in taste.
But we were there for a procedure, so based on the team care coordination of the medical procedure, Kaiser Permanente did pretty darn great. Saved by a nurse and the Specialist.
It boils down to patient care.

do not sign up for kaiser. this is the worst medical hmo i have ever been part of. the doc as he calls himself, Richard Steinberg destroyed my abdominal in a horrible tear of surgery. he ripped a catheter out of my pubic bone without anesthesia and ruined my lower core. that is, because he tore it out on an angle. he is malicious and should not be on this planet. destroy kaiser by never going here. make them go out of business forever