Pre-registration

When your doctor schedules you for an office visit, procedure, or admission at OHSU, we try to contact you prior to your scheduled visit to obtain current demographic and insurance information. You may also pre-register online or call 503 494-7999.

If you are having a surgical procedure, you may also be scheduled for an appointment in our Pre-Admit Testing clinic. During this visit you will be directed to the Admitting desk where an Admitting Representative will pre-register you for your surgery. If you are being admitted for a hospital visit and would like to pre-register in person, you may do so at the main Admitting Office, located on the 9th floor of the OHSU Hospital. You can also call to pre-register at 503 494-2443 and leave a message on the pre-registration answering service.

Arriving for your hospital stay

Arrange to have someone bring you to the hospital when you arrive for your stay. Your driver may park for free in the patient parking garage under the Physicians Pavilion on the day of admission and on the day of discharge. You may choose to use alternative transportation such as a Tri-Met bus or a local cab.
For extensive resources to help you find your way to and around OHSU, visit Getting to OHSU. 

If you need further assistance, call the OHSU operator at 503 494-8311.

What to bring with you:

• Money for any insurance co-pay or deductible that your plan requires
  
• Personal toiletries
• Robe and slippers
• Insurance billing information

What to leave at home:

• Valuables, including items such as money (other than money that may be asked for co-pay or deductible), billfold/wallet, purse, credit cards and jewelry.
  
• Electrically operated appliances
• Medications (unless your doctor asks you to bring them) 
• OHSU Ambulatory Oncology Medication Policy
• OHSU Ambulatory Oncology Clinic Timelines

Checking in for surgery

Please ask your doctor for your specific check-in time.

Surgery and admission check in

OHSU Patient Access Services, 9th floor main lobby

Open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. 

Call 503 494-8927 for more information.

Doernbecher patient access services main lobby

Open from 5:30 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Call 503 418-5313 for more information.

Day surgery check in at Casey Eye Institute

Casey Eye Institute, 6th floor surgery check-in
Open for surgery check-in at 6 a.m., Monday through Thursday.
Call 503 494-5191 for more information.

Day surgery check in on Multnomah Pavilion, 4th floor

Open from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For more information call 503 494-1102.

Financial matters

If you have medical insurance, an Insurance Verification Specialist (IVS) will confirm authorizations and/or PCP (primary care provider) referrals (if required) to financially secure your admission.

If you are non-sponsored or under-sponsored, an IVS representative will determine whether you are eligible for hospital financial assistance.

If you are ineligible for hospital assistance, the IVS representative will discuss with you deposit requirements. If you are eligible for a hospital assistance, the IVS representative will discuss you the amount of discount. If you appear to be eligible for the Oregon Health Plan or another Medicaid program, and IVS representative will refer you to Finance and Medicaid Services (F&MS). A F&MS representative will assist you with the application process.

Visit billing and insurance for more information.

Radiation therapy appointments

What to bring to your first appointment

1.    Your insurance information and co-pay  
2.    List of medicines you are taking, or prescription bottles
3.    List of questions for the doctor  
4.    Any X-rays or scans on film or CD

Types of appointments

Consultation:  Your first radiation therapy visit is called the consultation visit. It will take one to two hours. At this appointment, you will meet the radiation therapy doctors and talk with them about how radiation therapy can treat your cancer.

Simulation visit: Your next visit is called the simulation visit. This helps us plan the best way to send radiation to the areas where there is disease or a tumor.

Daily treatments: Most people have radiation therapy every day, five days a week. Most cancers need to be treated for five to eight weeks.

Weekly on-treatment visit : Once a week, you will see your radiation oncologist to talk about your treatments and general health. These appointments are called on-treatment visits.

Follow-up appointment: You will probably see your radiation oncologist four to six weeks after your radiation therapy ends so the doctor can see how you are feeling after treatment.

Frequently asked questions

1.    What happens during treatment?

At your first radiation treatment, the radiation therapist will check the measurements and marks they made at your simulation visit. They will take X-rays to make sure you are in the correct position for radiation to reach your cancer. A doctor will need to check the X-rays before your treatment starts. These X-rays will not tell your doctor if the treatment is working on your cancer, but they do help us make sure radiation has the best chance of reaching cancer cells. Because these X-rays take a few extra minutes, your radiation treatment will take a little longer on the first day, and any other days we need to take X-rays.

Radiation therapy does not hurt. You need to stay very still during treatment. The radiation therapist cannot be with you while the machine is on, but they will be able to see and hear you with a camera and intercom. You may leave the therapy suite when your treatment is finished each day. The therapists will help you schedule your daily appointments.  

It is best not to interrupt your treatment schedule once you start radiation therapy. Sometimes, your health or the need to replace a part in the radiation machine may cause you to miss a day of treatment. If this happens, the missed day is added to the end of your radiation therapy schedule. Because this may happen, please do not make travel plans for a week or two after your treatment is scheduled to be finished. 

2.    What are the side effects of radiation therapy?

Fatigue (being tired) and skin reactions are the most common side effects of radiation therapy. Except for feeling tired, side effects mostly affect the area of your body where you get radiation. The amount of radiation will also affect what side effects you have, and how strong they are. Your radiation oncologist and nurse can tell you about possible side effects and what to do about them. Many side effects do not start right away, but you  may notice them around the second or third week of treatment. Once your radiation therapy is over, side effects may take several weeks or longer to go away. Ask your doctor or nurse about any lasting effects from radiation treatment.

If you have any questions about radiation therapy, ask a doctor, nurse or staff person. We want to make sure you understand the information we give you. At Knight Cancer Institute, someone is always available to answer your questions about radiation treatments. 

3.    What should patients and families do when getting radiation therapy?

To stay as healthy as possible during radiation treatment, remember that everyone is different, and radiation affects everyone differently. Eat nutritious meals, drink eight to ten glasses of water and other fluids daily, rest when you need to, and do some type of regular exercise or activity each day. At Knight Cancer Institute, the radiation oncology team includes doctors, nurses, radiation therapists and other staff members who can help you manage any treatment side effects you experience. We want to help make your treatment successful, so please let us know if you have side effects, questions about your treatment or need help with anything else.