Doernbecher Children’s Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

When Doernbecher recommends pediatric emergency care

Serious illness or injury should be assessed urgently. Examples specifically highlighted by Doernbecher include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Severely deformed or obviously broken bones
• Severe burns
• Fever in an infant younger than 2 months
• Seizures
• Severe dehydration or inability to drink
• Very limited urination
• Major trauma
• Other serious or life-threatening conditions

ER parking and drop-off

Doernbecher’s Emergency Room page states that patients and families can park free in Parking Garage C across the street.

The ER also currently lists free valet parking from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for patients and visitors.

• Jessica Bailey, MD
• Beech Stephen Burns, MD, MCR
• SunHee Chung, MD
• Robert Louis Cloutier, MD
• Keith Cross, MD, MSc
• Matt Hansen, MD, MCR
• David Jones, MD
• Joshua Kornegay, MD
• Steven Mcgaughey, MD
• John Organick-Lee, MD, MBA
• Nithin Ravi, MD
• Alfredo Sabbaj, MD, MA
• Monica Saladik, MD
• David Sheridan, MD, MCR
• Laura Waagmeester, MD
• Lalena Yarris, MD, MCR

Why there is no single doctor fee

OHSU bills can include several types of charges:

• Provider services — charges from doctors and other clinicians
• Hospital services — supplies, medication and other hospital care
• Facility fees — applicable to certain hospital-based clinic visits
• Anesthesia — may be billed separately
• Laboratory services
• Imaging
• Procedures and surgery

Emergency-room cost

The final ER cost depends on the complexity of the emergency, physician services, testing, imaging, medication, procedures, specialist consultation and whether the child is observed or admitted.

Good-faith estimate for uninsured/self-pay patients

If you are uninsured or not using insurance and scheduled care is arranged at least three days in advance, federal rules allow you to request a written good-faith estimate. OHSU says the estimate covers expected non-emergency costs such as provider fees, testing, medical equipment and hospital fees.

If the final bill is at least $400 above the good-faith estimate, federal dispute rights may apply.

Published OHSU MyChart medical-message costs

OHSU may bill for a MyChart message when the question requires medical decision-making and more than five minutes of provider time.

• Oregon Health Plan / Medicaid: medical MyChart messages are free.
• Commercial insurance / Medicare: OHSU says the copay is commonly about $25–$40.
• If there is no copay: OHSU currently states the maximum patient charge is $77, subject to coverage/deductible.
• Uninsured: OHSU currently applies a 35% discount to the total message charge.

What information should you have ready?

• Child’s legal name and date of birth
• Insurance information
• Referral information when required
• Medication list
• Known medication allergies
• Previous medical records
• Relevant outside X-rays/imaging
• Notes about symptoms and family questions

Main hospital parking

Valet hours

Parking and transportation: 503-494-8283

ADA parking

The closest ADA and patient parking for the main Doernbecher building is in Garage G.

Overnight visitors

OHSU currently permits up to two adult overnight visitors for a hospitalized child when the unit and patient’s care allow it.

Standard Doernbecher patient rooms generally have accommodations for one or two parents/caregivers to sleep in the room. Siblings cannot routinely stay overnight.

Pediatric cancer unit

The current hospital-wide visitor policy allows:

• Two visitors at a time
• Two adult visitors overnight
• Four visitors at a time at end of life
• The same eight designated visitors during the admission

NICU

The current hospital visitor policy allows two healthy visitors at a time in the NICU.

Illness screening

Visitors should not enter if they are ill or have recently been exposed to a contagious disease. Individual units can require masking or other protective equipment when needed.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Doernbecher’s PICU provides private rooms with space for one or two parents/caregivers to stay overnight.

Current PICU guidance states:

• Parents and primary caregivers may visit at any time.
• Other visitors may generally visit from 8 a.m.–8 p.m..
• Up to four people may be in the child’s room at one time.
• Siblings and friends age 13 and older may visit under general unit guidance.
• Visitors check in at the locked PICU front desk.

PICU front desk: 503-418-8500

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Doernbecher NICU provides 24/7 neonatal critical care. Parents are welcome around the clock. Current NICU guidance permits two healthy visitors at a time, subject to unit screening and patient-specific restrictions.

What to bring for surgery

• Medical insurance card
• Required copay or deductible payment
• Guardianship/legal paperwork when applicable
• Current provider list
• Current medications and dosages
• Change of clothes if staying overnight
• Comfort item such as a favorite blanket or toy

OHSU participates with hundreds of insurance plans, but a plan name alone does not guarantee every service or provider is in-network.

Before a non-emergency appointment, ask your insurer:

• Is OHSU Doernbecher in-network?
• Is the individual pediatric doctor in-network?
• Does the service need prior authorization?
• Is imaging or laboratory work covered at OHSU?
• What is the expected copay?
• Does the deductible apply?
• Will a hospital facility fee apply?

Who may qualify?

Eligibility depends on household income, household size, insurance status, residence and the type of care received.

Financial assistance generally covers emergency and medically necessary care. OHSU excludes certain services such as elective cosmetic care, some clinical trials, fertility treatment, routine vision care, take-home prescriptions and some highly specialized treatments from standard assistance.

When can you apply?

OHSU says families can apply before, during or after treatment, including up to 240 days after the first billing statement for covered services or within 12 months after paying for those services.

Ways to pay

• OHSU MyChart
• MyChart Guest Pay
• Phone payment
• Mail payment
• In-person payment

Single-payment discount

OHSU currently invites patients to call 503-494-8047 to ask whether a discount is available for paying an eligible bill in one payment.

Payment mailing address

OHSU Patient Billing Services
P.O. Box 575
Portland, OR 97207-5975

Who can request a child’s records?

Parents and legal guardians may request medical records for a minor child when they have legal authority to do so. Other authorized representatives may also request records when legal requirements are met.

Ways to request records

1. Use the MyChart Sharing Hub / Record Request when available.
2. Complete OHSU’s medical-record access form.
3. Email it to HIMReception@ohsu.edu.
4. Or fax it to 503-494-6970.
5. Or mail it to OHSU Health Information Management.

Medical-record mailing address

Health Information Management
Mail Code OP17a
3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road
Portland, OR 97239

Medical-record fees

OHSU states that copying and postage fees may apply to record requests. The exact fee depends on the request. Call 503-494-8556 for current pricing rather than relying on an old fee schedule.

Radiology images and films

Call 503-494-8631 for copies of radiology films or image CDs.

Copies of old medical bills

Call 503-494-8760 to request copies of past or current medical bills.

MyChart is free to use for account access and gives families a central place to manage many parts of a child’s OHSU care.

MyChart can be used to:

• See upcoming appointments
• Check appointment locations
• View medications and allergies
• View most test results when released
• Request medication refills
• Message care teams
• Request a formal medical-record copy
• Download health summaries
• Share records with another provider
• Pay medical bills

The Doernbecher pharmacy is at 700 S.W. Campus Drive, seventh floor.

Portland Aerial Tram

The Tram connects OHSU’s South Waterfront campus with Marquam Hill in roughly five minutes.

OHSU patients and their visitors can request courtesy Tram tickets from their clinic or an OHSU concierge desk.

Bus routes serving Marquam Hill include

• TriMet Line 8 — Jackson Park / NE 15th
• TriMet Line 43 — Taylors Ferry / Marquam Hill
• TriMet Line 56 — Scholls Ferry / Marquam Hill
• C-TRAN Express 190 from the Vancouver, Washington area

Public transit serving OHSU is ADA accessible.

Lost on campus?

Call 503-418-1818 for campus-navigation help or 503-494-8311 for OHSU concierge assistance.

Concierge desk

Doernbecher’s main-lobby concierge desk is currently staffed 5:30 a.m.–4 p.m. weekdays.

At night and on weekends, families can use the main OHSU Hospital concierge desk, reached from Doernbecher through the ninth-floor skybridge.

Interpreter services

OHSU offers free interpreter and translation services for patients and families who prefer another language or need communication assistance.

Doernbecher/OHSU Interpreter Services: 503-494-2800

Rood Family Pavilion

OHSU’s Rood Family Pavilion provides lodging resources for some out-of-town patients and families receiving care at OHSU. Ask your care team or social worker about eligibility and current availability.

• Confirm whether you need the main hospital or the separate Emergency Room entrance.
• Confirm the pediatric specialty and doctor.
• Verify the exact appointment location in MyChart.
• Ask whether a referral is required.
• Check insurance prior-authorization requirements.
• Bring the insurance card.
• Bring any required copay or prepayment.
• Bring a current medication and allergy list.
• Arrange for outside records and imaging to be sent when requested.
• Use Garage G for many hospital/clinic visits.
• Use ER parking directions for an emergency rather than outpatient parking.
• Remember that designated patient and personal-visitor parking is free.
• Request a courtesy Tram ticket if traveling through South Waterfront.
• Call 503-418-1818 if you get lost on the OHSU campus.