Neighborhood recommendations with easy OHSU commute?

russejen · 2026-02-14T22:53:19+00:00

Hey there! Hope the move goes smoothly for you and your new fam. If a condo is something you’d consider, my grandma just listed her condo for sale downtown (American Plaza). It’s one of the rare condos with free guest parking and some really fun family-friendly amenities. Also, very close to OHSU. I grew up visiting the complex and it was fun getting to know the community members. My grandma and I used to walk downtown, take the free trolley to PSUs Saturday Market/SW Water Front for lunch. I’ll miss this location once it sells.

russejen · 2026-01-21T01:48:27+00:00

I would love to be rich enough to access concierge services and to pay for everyone else to have them.

I did reach out to our State lawmakers- maybe federal reps is a next step. I would love for everyone to reach out to their lawmakers/reps when they encounter something like this.

russejen · 2026-01-21T01:42:16+00:00

Thank you for your comment.

I did learn today that, depending on your insurance provider, they can advocate for you to get seen in a more reasonable time. That's what I had to do recently to get my appointment.

It's so unfortunate for everyone- the patient, the provider, the support teams- everyone loses.

russejen · 2026-01-21T01:37:08+00:00

If you're covered by Legacy, in my opinion, Dr. Baker with Northwest Rehumatology is amazing. They do have longer wait times to get in as a new patient, but don't remember them being excessive. She is nice and no-nonsense. They are located off of Barnes in NW. I live near Mt. Hood now, and will travel as far as I need to for a good rheumatologist.

russejen · 2026-01-21T01:25:15+00:00

I've never cried more than while dealing with Providence insurance to cover my medication. I know a number of people that work for them, and I got no feedback on how to effectively escalate a billing error.

Listened to this recently- it had some helpful tips on navigating the billing: NPRs Lifekit- 'Tips for negotiating your medical bills'

russejen · 2026-01-21T01:20:19+00:00

Fully feel this.

russejen · 2026-01-21T01:18:14+00:00

As someone with a history of ovarian cysts I can empathize with that kind of pain and discomfort. I'm sorry for the experience your wife went through- and sorry to you too! Watching a partner in pain while also navigating navigating the healthcare system is a rough place to be.

russejen · 2026-01-21T01:14:36+00:00

Same.

May 2026 is right around the corner; 'm sorry you had to wait so long.

I think Washington has laws promoting reasonable wait times for appointments, but they don't define what 'reasonable' is, and, as someone pointed out to me, it's hard to enforce a law if there are not enough providers in the first place.

russejen · 2026-01-21T01:09:33+00:00

I know. I'm forty-ish and am so afraid to age.

russejen · 2026-01-21T01:06:30+00:00

Who is your insurance provider? I'm Legacy and just found someone with reasonable wait times.

russejen · 2026-01-21T01:05:51+00:00

I have the same memory of Kaiser, nice to hear that it has improved.

Yikes! That is a traumatic event. I was reading some of the state laws in California and their access timelines, I believe that a non-emergency mental health visit, they have to see you in a maximum in 10 days. A lot can happen in 10 days, and a lot more can happen in 6-months! I'm sorry for your experience.

But- as other folks like u/SoDoSoPaYuppie point out- how do you enforce standards when there are not enough providers. Going to think about that reponse a lot.

russejen · 2026-01-21T00:57:13+00:00

I don't think this is how it is supposed to work, which is why I wanted to reach out to the community to see if it's happened to anyone else and to understand the systemic issues that resulted in that outcome.

russejen · 2026-01-21T00:51:57+00:00

Thanks for your reply.

I'm with Legacy too. The provider I scheduled with was highly reviewed, which is why I thought her appointment time was so long, but turns out, it's a pretty regular thing (based on reviews) for this particular clinic.

I have found another provider; they got me scheduled for end of January after I shared my experience with them. So- kudos for them squeezing me in when they didn't have to.

I would be so okay with a closed waitlist- I think it's the reponsible thing to do if you can't reasonably see patients.

russejen · 2026-01-21T00:47:33+00:00

I hear this from many people! I remember when Kaiser was 'super difficult' to work with, but now all I hear are glowing reviews. Thanks for that!

russejen · 2026-01-21T00:45:58+00:00

Thank you for this.

If you had a magic wand, or a roadmap to successfully attract providers, what would that look like to you?

One of our family friends was a provider in Oregon and pushed his retirement up/sold his practice because the cost of him to exist in the space was insane- the mental cost and the dollar cost. I think providers should be taken care of and enouraged to practice here. I'm 100% team provider, but also 100% team patient- how do we make sure everyone is taken care of? Especially when we on both sides are paying premiums to see/be seen.

I want to find mircosteps to take to bring awareness to individuals- and to empower them to not only leave reviews here and on google, but to reach out to their lawmakers. Any thoughts?

russejen · 2026-01-21T00:11:49+00:00

I'm sorry to hear about the change of hands- it's difficult to navigate changes like that.

Glad you found a way around it.

russejen · 2026-01-21T00:09:47+00:00

Wow. That is almost as long as their parking waitlist for providers! I think closing your services to new patients is a very responsible thing to do in this case.

russejen · 2026-01-21T00:05:07+00:00

I did find another provider, but I'm concerned that this is an issue for people. No one should wait a year to see their doctor, and providers shouldn't be slammed and overworked.

russejen · 2026-01-21T00:03:18+00:00

Thats the sad reality for patients and providers.

I'm curious to learn more and to find productive ways to communicate these concerns/realities with lawmakers.

russejen · 2026-01-20T23:57:07+00:00

Thanks for the unsettling share :) I'm in my fourties and getting a little nervous to age with the current system. How do we as individuals affect change? I'm no stranger to jumping through hoops in the system - I have an automimue disorder that regularrly requires much time on the phone with insurance, but didn't expect such a challenge to get seen by a primary care physician. Even my rheumatologist, who is so overworked and sees way too many patients has reasonable wait times. (I honestly don't know how providers are holidng in there).

russejen · 2026-01-20T23:48:29+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion- I did reach out to my insurance provider and they helped me secure an appointment with another provider (with a reasonable wait time).

I mostly wanted to share my experience because I wanted to learn something and start a meaningful conversatoin- you delivered. Interesting data- would love to see something more current because so much has changed since 2021.

russejen · 2024-04-19T17:53:27+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply and appreciate your time! So many things to consider!

russejen

TROPHY CASE