best hospitals in/near Seattle (Bellevue, Kirkland: renter, daycare, home)

[reno-ite]

We are both physical therapists and want to relocate to the Seattle area. We have two young kids and are trying to figure out where to live and work to enable a short (even bike-only if possible) commute to a good hospital. Right now, in Reno, NV we have a 7 mile commute to a hospital with on-site daycare. But, then again, we have to live in Reno! Any opinions of best hospitals either in Seattle or in surrounding areas would be great.

[scirocco22]

I'm sure you'll get a lot of controversial comments on this. What's a good hospital to some may not be to others.

I do know that Virginia Mason has been the recipient of numerous awards. Swedish I also believe has a good reputation. These two are on "pill hill" (First Hill) close to downtown Seattle.

Overlake in Bellevue has been featured in a lot of national publications of supposedly being a good hospital. This hospital is located in Bellevue, an eastside suburb of Seattle.

I hope somebody who's in the field will give you some expert opinions on this subject.

[jwb123]

You didn't say what your specialty was for PT - but my child has received PT since he was 4mths old. We have had services from Swedish Medical Center, Seattle Children's Hospital and Boyer Children's Clinic. You would have to live IN Seattle to minimize your commute to these.

Evergreen Medical Center is another well respected hospital. It's on the eastside, in Kirkland.

[goldengrain]

US News did a 2006 survey of Best Hospitals. Maybe you can google that and get some indication. I looked at their A-Z index and eyeballed the list and spotted 3 hospitals.

[scirocco22]

Nice find, goldengrain! Very interesting article.

Yes, one that didn't even cross my mind for some reason, even though I knew it is well respected, is the U of W Medical Center.

As Jen has mentioned, Children's Hospital always is nationally mentioned and has a stellar reputation.

U of W also was ranked high in rehabilitation medicine.

So apparently the three goldengrain "eyeballed" would be:

Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center
U of W Medical Center
Virginia Mason Medical Center


edit: actually, Harborview is on the list (http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/directory/hosp_alph.htm#c - broken link) which surprises me so I don't know which three goldengrain eyeballed.

[goldengrain]

'eyeball', a quick viewing.

Thanks for spotting the 4th hospital.

My local hospital made that list and we think it is a very dirty place. Really, the IV gurney looks like a Jackson Pollock inspired piece. The Magnetic Resonance machine has a (thick blanket) whole community of dust bunnies on it. The food is so overcooked as to be totally devoid of vitamins. The muffin for diabetics is too sweet to even my taste (me, who eats desserts). The floor corners in the room restrooms are black with dirt and the rooms are as small as an airline john. Oh, but they have carpeting in the halls and art on the walls - nice things to impress the contributors.
The only thing that they made the USNews list for was Cardiac - most likely because mostly older people have heart troubles, and there is more money there.

[reno-ite]

Thanks everyone for the information. If we were to try for the Eastside hosptials mentioned (Overlake and Evergreen), is living over in that area realistic on two pretty moderate incomes?

[gallo]

Not to be rude, but please define moderate income.

[jwb123]

and as a renter or home buyer? What's your housing budget?

[reno-ite]

Originally Posted by gallo

Not to be rude, but please define moderate income.

between the two of us...about $110,000 per year.