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Pictured is a CDC scientist preparing a patient sample for testing. | JAMES GATHANY/CDC

The CDC Scientist Who Couldn’t Get Monkeypox Treatment

State and federal missteps amplified long-standing health inequities when it comes to testing and treatment of Monkeypox.

Oct 11, 2022

DAVID CAVE IS A RECOVERY COACH ON AN ADDICTION SPECIALTY TEAM AT SALEM HOSPITAL, NORTH OF BOSTON./JESSE COSTA/WBUR

Hospitals Have Been Slow To Bring On Addiction Specialists

Discharging a patient without specialized addiction care can mean losing a crucial opportunity to intervene and treat someone at the hospital.

Oct 11, 2022

JOSE FIGUEROA, LEFT, SPEAKS WITH OREGON RURAL ACTION ORGANIZERS ZAIRA SANCHEZ, CENTER, AND ANA MARIA RODRIGUEZ AT A VACCINE CLINIC IN BOARDMAN, ORE., ON SEPT. 2, 2022/.ANTONIO SIERRA/OPB

Nonprofit Organizes Eastern Oregon Latinos One Conversation At A Time

The pandemic led Oregon Rural Action to coordinate Latino-focused vaccination drives, but their ambitions go further.

Oct 6, 2022

COLLECTIVE OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS OF OREGON AND PUEBLO UNIDO PDX STAFF AT THEIR TARDE DE FIESTA EVENT ON SEPT.11, 2022./COURTESY OF PUEBLO UNIDO PDX

Indigenous language interpreters welcome new health care rules, say more work is needed

As rules requiring the use of credentialed interpreters in health care take effect, Indigenous language interpreters seek additional legislation to promote equity.

Oct 6, 2022

GUNDULA VOGEL/PIXABAY

Nursing Home Surprise: Advantage Plans May Shorten Stays To Less Time Than Medicare Covers

Half of the nearly 65 million people with Medicare are enrolled in the private health plans called Medicare Advantage.

Oct 6, 2022

PENNY WINGARD OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, HAS SURVIVED BREAST CANCER, A BRAIN ANEURYSM, AND SURGERY ON BOTH EYES. FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, SHE'S BEEN BATTLING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICAL DEBT./ANERI PATTANI/KHN

Medical Debt Sunk Her Credit. New Changes From Credit Reporting Agencies Won’t Help.

Earlier this year credit reporting companies touted changes to erase medical debt, but experts say the effects will be limited.

Oct 6, 2022

A PATIENT IS CARED FOR IN THE HALLWAY OF THE SALEM HEALTH EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN SALEM, ORE., IN JANUARY 2022./KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF/OPB

Oregon Will Keep Masks Mandatory In Health Care Settings For Now

With case counts expected to rise, the state will retain its mandatory mask rules for health care settings at least through the respiratory virus season despite federal changes.

Oct 6, 2022

A new study by public health officials in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties showed that common death investigation software is contributing to the problem of death certificates misgendering transgender and nonbinary decedents. Pictured, the Washington County Public Safety Building./Courtesy photo

Most Transgender, Nonbinary People In Portland Metro Misgendered In Death Records, Study Finds

Researchers compared ten years of medical examiner’s narratives to death certificates, and found they frequently did not match.

Oct 5, 2022
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LAURIE YOUNKIN, A CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT AT PEACEHEALTH’S SACRED HEART MEDICAL CENTER RIVERBEND IN SPRINGFIELD, PARTICIPATED IN AN INFORMATIONAL WORK SITE PICKET ON OCT. 4, 2022. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION REPRESENTS HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT THREE HOSPITALS INVOLVED IN TALKS./COURTESY OF SEIU LOCAL 49.