The Portland Clinic – East

I have finally found a better clinic for primary care service. In my year at The Portland Clinic East two of my primary physicians left the practice and I was forced to start anew with another doctor on their ever changing roster. This fall I had some strange and painful symptoms occur and came to the clinic seeking care. I was very much disappointed with my experience. Several appointments and lab tests later, I came to expect the same experience every time I came in: 15 minutes waiting for a 10 minute visit with a doctor who had little insight, a dismissive and cold bedside demeanor who was quick to try a new pharmaceutical prescription out or schedule me with another doctor at the clinic. When I finally was able to find a new primary care doctor and shared my records from The Portland Clinic, she was aghast at the long list of pharmaceuticals I had been prescribed, all which treated some symptoms and never the cause. Her reaction to the lab tests I had paid for out of pocket was that they were largely unnecessary or irrelevant. After insurance this episode cost me a total of $ 1500 out of pocket with no change in my symptoms. I was physically taxed from being over-​prescribed of drugs and feeling very much alone throughout the experience. The bills for these 10 minute appointments were usually over $ 250 each and when I was unable to pay the total was promptly sent to collections with an additional 20% fee. There was simply no cost transparency or attempt to communicate the cost of each visit. The experience as a whole made me lose faith in the medical field until I found a new clinic who values their relationship to their patients and offers an experience centered around wellness and not standardized procedures which exploit the sick. As far as medical practices go, I do not recommend The Portland Clinic due to their antiquated, uncommitted, and exploitative practices.

The staff at Portland Clinic East is friendly and helpful. No complaint there. The doctor I’ve been seeing, however, leaves much to be desired. She fails to explain why I may be feeling a certain way and she never asks if I have any questions. Her attention to patient care is lacking, to say the least. Hopefully the other doctors there are not quite as disappointing.

Dr. Kraly is amazing and so is her MA Mark. She listens to me and makes me feel like I am not just another patient. She diagnosed me with something pretty big and scary, but found it out soooo quick so I didn’t have to stay in pain! I would highly recommend this clinic. Only downside is I do often have to wait quite a bit after my appointment time… But I’ll take that to see Dr. Kraly!

Haven’t actually been to the clinic but in regards to experience I had with the answering system, my call with the receptionist (Wilma) was extremely efficient. I was on hold for less than 2 minutes. No BS conversation. Very informative. Felt taken care of.

Actually really amazing. I was a little reticent about going there because I’m so used to health care being a sh*tshow (pardon my language) in this country, but this was perfection. I hadn’t had health care for eight years, and what I had before was terrible. They were kind, friendly, knowledgeable, and really took the time to ask me questions and make certain I’d been satisfied with my health concerns. Also, I had my blood taken and, to my astonishment, I didn’t even feel the needle. At all. I mean, I suppose there was a slight pressure. But not even a little prick when the nurse inserted it. Plus you can email them through their web interface and they’ll respond to your questions within hours! Amazing! I can’t recommend this place highly enough. They truly care.

I have been a patient at the Portland Clinic for several years and have never had a bad experience. When they were transitioning from Portland Family to Portland Clinic things seemed a little confusing (in terms of some doctors that were moved and some services dropped), but overall I love my doctor visits there. My doctor is always easy to talk to, thorough, and never makes me feel rushed. She is a gem.

I’ve gone here for about 4 years. I rarely get to see my «regular» doctor unless I schedule what seems like a month in advance. It seems hit or miss with whoever I get scheduled with otherwise. I had a 4:30 appointment once on a Friday and they didn’t get me in until 4:50 and it felt rushed because staff were leaving at 5 and I think the PA or RN was ready to head out too. I do really appreciate the woman who takes your blood in the lab (had it taken 4 times and it was the same woman). She is the best. Fast, painless and she even made a courier wait one time so I would get my results sooner.

This was the worst medical experience of my life. I got a physical here, what a complete joke. After waiting for an hour, the doctor finally came in and spent about 5 minutes with me. She seemed awkward and was very rude. She listened to my heart asked me a couple questions and then I was billed for $ 180. Was supposed to be covered by my insurance, but they somehow coded it wrong and Im still dealing with their terrible billing service department to get it resolved 4 months later! Avoid this place like the plague

I used to be seriously disappointed with their service, but my last visit was much better. I called on Thursday, got an appointment Friday afternoon. I didn’t wait forever and Dr. Casden (I think that’s how u spell his name) was great. I had made my appointment for one thing and a referral, instead he took the extra 15 min to talk to me and helped then, no referral no extra doctor appointment no unnesscary doctor bill. I actually felt confident about my visit not rushed and made to feel like an inconvenience like past visits

Look, I’ve been going here for almost 30 years. The staff has been there for everything from urgent care to yearly check-​ups. The doctors are friendly and funny, and spend time with their patients. They are knowledgeable and hard working. Most of all they’re people too, so sure things happen. I have had to wait, I’ve also shown up late and received they were kind enough to still fit me into their schedule.
As a side note, Unilocal is great for a restaurant review. But do you really want internet strangers advising you on where to go for healthcare?

Terrible time management and lack of customer service!!!
I have consistently had to wait a minimum of 45 minutes for my doctor’s appointments and have even tried switching doctors to see if it’s an individual or office issue. The staff typically get me into a room within 10 minutes which seems reasonable, but then I sit and sit there for another 35 — 55 minutes waiting for a doctor. I’m a healthy person and my appointments typically only last about 10 – 15 minutes. The fact I have to set aside at least an hour for such a short appointment is completely disrespectful and a terrible business practice.
I also had a change in my insurance which required a pre-​approval for one of the medications I was taking. It took 8 phone calls, 5 emails and 2 personal visits to the doctor’s office to get someone from the Portland Clinic to call my insurance and give them the authorization information. It wasn’t until I went down and refused to leave the clinic until someone made the call did I finally get the issue resolved. The individual who did help me that day was fantastic. She made the call to my insurance and my medication was cleared that day (proof it was not a complicated process). She then promptly followed up with me to provide an update. If only the rest of the office could figure out how to take care of their patients in a timely fashion…

We were forced to leave Estes Park, CO earlier than scheduled due to the massive flooding. The medical center there was unable to administer my husband’s ADT injection (for prevention of reoccurring prostate cancer) because they did not have the drug and access to town was severely limited. His Fort Collins urologist faxed us a prescription to take with us to Portland where we were going to visit relatives so he could receive his injection there with minimal delay. As our family lives near Tigard, he called that branch of The Portland Clinic and asked to bring in his prescription. After some discussion in which he even offered to get the doctor there in contact with his Colorado physician and also explained that we were victims of the flood, he was told that Dr. Bresee would only treat his own patients and did not given do him the courtesy of offering other suggestions. We are very disappointed in the lack of compassion for those who have been through traumatic events and also for the lack of medical concern for ongoing treatment.

The 2 stars are for my doctor, who is kind, knowledgeable, and sympathetic to my needs. Besides the fact that she practically leaves skid marks on the floor in a rush to get out the door and on to her next patient, I have no problems with her.
The clinic staff, however, are a constant hassle. The reception is icy and short (thanks for the eye roll) Dealing with the doctor’s aide is frustrating. Most phone interactions are more pleasant. While being asked to arrive 15 min. earlier than your appointment, it’s typical to wait 30 min after your appt time in the waiting room and then another 30 min in the exam room before being seen for your allotted 10 min. Their practice has become too large, it seems.
I was once contacted by my pharmacy that a new prescription was ready. I contacted the pharmacy, and they told me a thyroid medication had been ordered. My thyroid had just been checked a few days before, but I had not heard that any results were abnormal. I called the office to find that my thyroid levels were normal. They swore they had not ordered any medication for me, and the pharmacy swore they did. I could just as easily have gone to the pharmacy and taken a medication I did not need.

The good: Dr. Uphoff is excellent! He is knowledgeable, friendly, and took the time to discuss things with me so that I understood my diagnosis and what the next steps were. I felt very comfortable with him and would highly recommend him to others.
The bad: Ever feel like you’re not liked, but you don’t know why? That’s how I feel when I talk to Dr. Uphoff’s staff. I’ve had to call a few times and always feel like I’m annoying the person on the other end of the line with my stupid questions. And if you can’t handle being treated like a child, don’t bother asking for an emergency prescription refill.

Well, I have been going to PFP for over a decade with glowing results, for I appear to still be alive. However, now that they have merged with The Portland Clinic, there should be some new curse word specifically tailored for the putrescence of bureaucracy and thievery that the clinic has now achieved. Sure, health care costs money, insured or no. But a visit 4 months ago cost me one third what it cost me last week. Apparently the Portland Clinic deemed the service I received last week, which was the EXACT same service I received 4 months earlier (in the same room, I might add) a «higher level of service.» As well as the fact that, unlike the previous incarnation of PFP, this newly dubbed adjunct of The Portland Clinic no longer offers a discount for cash payments. Mind, the doctors and nurse practitioners are nice and knowledgeable, but the business end ruins it. They are no friend of the uninsured, which means they are over-​billing the insured as well. In short, Portland Family Practice has become terminally ill.

Whoa, two stars? Huh. This is one of those rare times where I didn’t Unilocal something but instead went off of the recommendation of a friend. And my experience is drastically different from the overall rating here.
I have lived in Portland for around 12 years but in that time have never had a GP that I liked. I’ve seen a few doctors here and there for various ailments and most of their diagnoses have been the same: take some of these pills to kill the symptoms and wait it out. Aside from the kinds of doctors that set my broken bones, perform surgeries, take X-​rays and MRI’s and my chiropractor… I haven’t had much luck finding someone who can not only give me the time of day but at the same time work with me on a holistic approach.
Dr. Pulliam at PFP can do this. I made an appointment with her upon a personal recommendation to see about a nagging sore throat (that had come with a fever). At the same time I signed up for a physical and check-​up. Dr. Pulliam spent plenty of time with me, chatting about what my approach to healing is (fix whatever is causing the root of the problem instead of battling the symptoms with pills) and finding a good middle ground. I have since been to follow-​up appointments with Dr. Pulliam and various members of her staff to address some concerns and, for lack of a better word, get healthy. I’ve been plenty pleased all around.
The office itself is a little dated and the appointment staff can be kind of stretched thin (I often have to leave a message to reschedule and wait for someone to call me back) but aside from these and a few weird billing nuisances (I can’t pay online?!) I am very pleased with the level of care I have received here and the quality of my Dr.
It’s refreshing to see someone who is not simply on a mission to get in and out of the exam room and who prefers to address the actual problems instead of throwing pills at them. I see that PFP has opened a patient portal which allows me to submit questions to my Dr. online, which is a nice bonus as well. As soon as I can manage appointment settings and payments online so I don’t have to call and leave messages or put actual paper checks in snail mail then I would say my rating would jump to a 5.

I dunno what everyone’s issue is… I guess they have just had bad luck? I’ve been coming here for years and I’ve never had a problem with waiting or rudeness or anything!
Admittedly, I have only had to come in a couple times on short notice (for strep & pink eye). But even at that, they were able to accommodate me same-​day without any trouble. The rest of the time I schedule my appointments well in advance (annual check ups, etc) and I probably have never waited for more than 5 minutes in the lobby and 10 minutes in the exam room. It’s almost disappointing, because I always bring a book with me and hardly get to read it when I’m there!
In fairness, I happen to love my specific doctor, Lauren Roberts, and that’s the number one reason I like PFP. I’ve seen other doctors & nurses when I came in on short notice, and they seemed nice too, but it’s my particular doctor that earns them a 5 star rating from me.
Dr. Roberts is extremely kind and I really feel like she’s listening to me. Whenever I voice a concern about something, she never brushes it off, as other doctor’s have done. She always makes sure my questions are answered, whether it’s ordering some lab tests or just looking at a little spot on my skin and agreeing that it looks weird, but reassuring me that it’s completely harmless. I never feel like she’s just trying to get me out as quickly as possible. Also, she rides her bike to work, which is one of the things that bonded me with her the first time I met her.
So, yes, they are pretty busy and yes, their phone system can be a little confusing. But this is the happiest I’ve ever been with any doctor/​office I’ve ever had! Not every person gets stuck with an unreasonable wait time or dealing with rude staff, I can assure you.

After going to this doctor for almost a year, I am completely fed up. Every time I make an appointment they give me a new doctor who I have to explain my entire medical history to. Whenever I go in, I am misdiagnosed or treated badly or both. They even billed one of my appointments saying that it was for «depression» (it definitely was not) and my insurance wouldn’t cover it.
i don’t know who’s fault it was, but the last time I was there the fire alarm got pulled during my appointment and I had to get dressed and then stand outside for almost 40 minutes (during the heat wave last summer) waiting for the fire truck to come and inspect the building. That was definitely a ‘last straw’ for me. I will not be coming back to this doctor.

I’ve been twice.
The first time 2 years ago I waited 15 minutes in the waiting room then literally 35 by myself in the exam room before I got up, went to the desk and asked what was going on. When the doctor did see me she was apologetic and assumed responsibility for the lack of communication.
Thats cool, I understand. I’m not unreasonable. I know doctors are late. I just suggested that closing a person in a closet sized room, for over a half hour without so much as a «we haven’t forgotten you» was a bit rude. She agreed and the visit was fine.
This week I went for a physical. This time I didn’t even make it to the exam room. Instead I sat in the waiting room an hour! Seriously! I’m not making it up. I have the time on my charge slip and the time on my refund slip when I got up and asked for my $ back. 60 minutes and not a single person bothered to even say «the doctor is late», «there was an emergency». Nothing. Just «have a seat and we’ll call your name.»
When I did get up and ask was going on the receptionist looked at the woman next to her and remarked knowingly on my original appointment time. I’m not stupid, I could see it in her face and hear it in her tone. «Here’s another one the doctor made wait too long.» Note to the receptionist, it’s not only the doctors fault, it’s your responsibility to make sure patients aren’t ignored too. I had to stand silently staring at her to get the most insincere «I’m sorry» I’ve heard in a while.
Needless to say all I got for visit was a cold from all over the other people hacking and coughing around me as they came and went.
Don’t go here for care! Only neglect.
Don’t believe me? Do a google search on all the other reviews like this. I wish I had.
One last note to anyone who works at PFP. You have my name, my phone number and you knew that you screwed up and I left. If you had so much as picked up the phone to call and say we’re sorry at any point afterwards I wouldn’t have put this review online. Your in the business to care for people. Try to act at least a little like you do.

A practice with a ton of amazing doctors. My sister’s family loved them and, though I’m new to them, I’m a fan, too. They are busy, so get in when you can.
The phone system can be a little annoying at times, but it does allow you to get messages to and from your doctor without the endless phone tag, or get answers/​messages even when your doctor is out or seeing another patient.
These people are good, smart health professionals.