Pediatric Associates of the Northwest

I have three kids (now 2, 4, & 6) and have moved a lot with my husbands job. Because of this I have seen and worked with many many doctors and offices across the world (Guam & Hawaii to name a few). I am very pleased with this office and would rank them the best I’ve been to. I’ve had to make several emergency appointments for my children. They are able to get me in the day of, on short notice, with little to no wait on every visit I’ve been there. The staff is excellent to work with, friendly and efficient. The new building is lovely and the little children statues they have near the receptionist says «please touch» its so welcoming to children and families. I’ve have worked with three doctors there and would say they are all wonderful to work with (Dr Carr, Dr Morman, and Dr Reed). They are easy to talk to, answer all my questions and they are patient and work with me if I request alternate solutions. They are able to figure out whats ailing my wee ones and offer sound advice for a quick recovery every time!

What an unfortunate and heart breaking experience. This practice recently moved from Lake Oswego to Tigard and unfortunately their service and compassion for their patients has gone down hill. I have a three and a half year old daughter and a four month old son and we won’t be going back to this practice.
I recently arrived at my appointment for my four month son only to be turned away because I was five minutes late. His Dr., «Dr Moorman» was too booked to fit me in. I would understand if I had been 10 to 15 late… but five min late is just absurd. Perhaps they forgot that their main customers are moms with kids? I even showed the receptionist the clock on my phone and she still said «it’s policy» to turn people away if you are five min late. Wait what?
I respect policies. However, if you are in a business to help families with children, it’s hard for me to understand turning away a postpartum mom and her four month old son. Seriously… getting anywhere with kids on time is a challenge!
My take is that the practice is trying to book way more patients then they can handle and they have forgotten how to treat people with empathy and compassion.
The sad thing is that they used to be a compassionate and caring organization. I should know. As a baby I was one of the first patients of the clinic when Dr Whittemore and Stevenson opened the clinic. And I know for a fact that the treatment I received with my own child would never have been approved by the founding doctors.
Truly disappointing.

We were very lucky to have Dr. James Bluhm as our pediatrician for five years. He was responsive to our requests and concerns, including our requests for an alternative vaccine schedule. His demeanor/​manner was perfect, very sweet and calm and patient with our two energetic little boys. He explains things thoroughly but without condescension. He seems genuinely interested in helping parents raise happy, healthy children. It’s obvious that he truly cares about kids and their health. When we told him we would be having a second he literally clapped his hands! It was a no-​brainer to take our second child to this practice as well. If I could afford to travel back to Portland to have the boys continue care at this practice, I would do so in a heartbeat! I would gladly recommend PANW, and specifically Dr. Bluhm, to anyone looking for a pediatrician.

While the place was very clean, the front desk staff and nurses very nice and efficient, I found the doctor (I think it was Chaffin) to be presumptuous and rude to us, although sweet and good with our 10 month old daughter so I was a bit torn about if we’d come back.
They don’t kick you out of the practice if you don’t want to follow the recommended vaccine list to a tee but as soon as we told him we didn’t want some of them he immediately became dismissive and didn’t listen to what we had to say on other subjects from nutrition to toothpaste choices, he just assumed we were total uneducated idiots which is amusing if you know our backgrounds. He even gave us crap about our baby not getting enough protein as soon as I told him we were not going to feed her meat till an age where she could make the decision on her own. If he would have listened he’d know that she was getting plenty of protein through the diet we have her on, but instead we got a lecture.
So overall the clinic itself is great and we might come back but for sure we’ll request another doctor that can listen better.

I found Ped Assoc NW on Unilocal and have not been disappointed! My daughter had IUGR and I asked who would be a good doctor for that and they assigned me to Dr. Chaffin. We like him so far. He is a kind person, caring, and also gives it to you straight.
I appreciate that he’s an advocate of giving probiotics and DHA and other natural approaches to her health that I ask about or suggest.
They advise but don’t push vaccines and never make you feel bad for questioning it. They even gave me the names of all the vaccine manufacturers so I could investigate the ingredients, as they say that the ones they use do not contain mercury like some older vaccines.
The triage nurses are great and promptly get back to you within hours with doctors advice. I have never waited for an appointment. I’ve been late and they still take me. Dr Chaffin usually spends more than the allotted time with us. He even moved my appointment earlier for me when he knew we had some concerns and he wanted us to have 40 minutes to discuss with him. He thought of this and I didn’t have to ask for the extra time.
I saw their Lactation Consultant Jennifer Siebold at the Portland location and must say she is stellar! Really on point. Knows her stuff. Better than the LC’s I saw at Legacy Emanuel.
Love their patient portal and that you can email your doctor and he responds.
They emphasize that they are available all days of the year even holidays for care and emergencies. Great group of people at both LO and Portland locations.

Amazing clinic great with ths kids always available and very responsive to needs. The are punctual which is huge when trying to get a kid to see a doctor.

I’ve been taking my three kids here for over six years now. We see Dr. Carr and the kids love her. I have seen many other doctors here and never been disappointed. The MA’s are great here, very smart, sweet and great with the kids. They are GREAT with same day appointments which is real important with kiddos. I also love their advice nurses, they’ve talked me through issues like when my son got «swine flu» so that I didn’t have to bring him in to the office. They told me what to do and what to look out for in case he got worse. It’s also 24 hours because after hours they refer out to I think Emanuel’s advice nurses.

Dr Chaffin has been a really cool guy looking after my 12year old son through various ailments… My son really likes him and he is available to discuss care over the telephone when you need some reassurance. I would definately recommend him

OK, I may not have 18 kids or sextuplets plus 2 or whatever amount you need to have your own «reality» show on Lifetime or where ever they air that stuff (and I don’t have the personality to make it interesting, either, but then again, neither do they. I mean, wouldn’t it be more enjoyable if the «characters» are likable?), but I know my way around a pediatrician’s office. Three kids does not make me an expert, but I do know what works for my family.
Pediatric Associates of the Northwest in Lake Oswego (and their office on Lovejoy in Portland) is a very good choice to take of your lil bundles. Friendly office with a fish tank containing a Nemo and Dori look alike in the waiting room. Thoughtful and caring doctors, nurses, and other assorted staff listen to you and your child and take care of business. Doctors that make hospital visits. Same day appointment availability when you have not-​quite-​but-​almost emergencies. All this and a feeling that they care about and respect your family.
Maybe all pediatric clinics are like this, but we will never need to find out.