Accepting new patients

Nels L. Carlson, M.D.

Accepting new patients

  • Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine

Specialty

  • Orthopaedics and rehabilitation

Clinical focus

  • Electromyography
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Spine
  • Sports Medicine

Locations and contact

I see patients at
Tall building with the ariel tram to its left
Center for Health & Healing, Building 1
503-494-8311
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About me

Dr. Carlson is an associate professor with the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. His primary clinical interests are conservative spine care, sports injuries and electrodiagnostics.

Languages spoken

  • English

Education and training

  • Degrees

    • M.D., 1992, Oregon Health & Science University

  • Residency

    • Harvard Medical School-Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston

  • Fellowship

    • Neurophysiology-Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston

  • Certifications

    • American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 1998, 2008
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Insurance

Before scheduling an appointment

  1. Check your network. If you have health insurance,  call your company to find out if the OHSU Health location or provider you plan to visit is part of your network.
  2. Ask what you will pay. Your insurance company can tell you what your costs are likely to be.

If you schedule an appointment and your health insurance does not include OHSU Health, you may have to pay more than if you go to a provider in your insurance network. 

Visit our billing and insurance page for more information.

Ratings and reviews

Overall: 4.8 out of 5 (36 Ratings, 20 Reviews)

The patient ratings score is an average of all responses to the question "How likely would you be to recommend this provider to your family and friends (on a scale of 0 to 10)" on our nationally-recognized NRC patient surveys.

  1. He is very helpful. He always listens, and facilitates communication with other providers when needed.

  2. Dr. Carlson was the best! A doctor who listened to every word I said to get a complete picture of my health concerns.

  3. Dr. Carlson is our "go-to provider" in this specialty. Warm, engaging, patient, collaborative, aggressive In Imaging and diagnostic detail--and in treatment/therapy plans. The best--we both love him--long time patients now. His Resident also very careful and helpful this visit.

  4. He did and does a good job consulting with me to develop a reasonable course of action for the back pain I'm experiencing.

  5. Dr. Nels Carlson is an excellent provider, listens, is knowledgeable, respectful and caring.

  6. If I could give Dr. Carlson a score of 150% satisfaction at every encounter, I would. He's a very good listener, and asks investigative questions to get an accurate diagnosis. He's conservative as far as procedures go, and will recommend non-invasive treatments first. And, he is kind.

  7. Very well-educated, a good listener, takes care of there immediate problem, and projects future possibilities. Thorough.

  8. It was fine

  9. Dr. Carlson is very good to work with, as he listens well, gives a lot of good information and helps you make your choice based on that information and your needs.

  10. He was attentive and thorough.

  11. As always Dr Carlson is very adept at putting me at ease. He listens very carefully to all questions and discusses several ways to overcome whatever the question was.

  12. Show concern for patient's well being.

  13. Good

  14. Outstanding. And, he followed up with me on video! Neat.

  15. Very good, friendly and professional

  16. Good listener. Skillful in diagnosis and explanation. Helpful problem/solving and planning for follow-up. Kind and personable,

  17. Dr. Carlson is kind, caring, and helpful. He is a good listener. He had good recommendations.

  18. Very professional, thorough and communicative.

  19. Dr. Carlson is great. He also brought his orthotics person with, as well as a PA.

  20. Dr. Carlson is easy to talk to; he listens well; the visit notes are accurate; and he followed up on everything he said he would. His medical assistant Sam has been equally responsive.