Jake Thomas

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A view of the Oregon State Hospital spire from the courtyard on Nov. 21, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS

Oregon should be held in federal contempt for mental health failures, advocates tell judge

New court filing claims state officials have ignored a predictable situation in which the civil rights of mentally ill people are violated on a routine basis

Jan 7
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Dr. Lisa Reynolds, a pediatrician and Democratic lawmaker, speaks at the CCO Oregon conference in Salem in Sept. 2024. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Kids' health in mind, Lisa Reynolds gains clout in new Senate role

Already a strong voice in health policy, the Legislature’s only physician says prevention and better childhood development will improve behavioral health.

Jan 2
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Nurse staffing law’s start in Oregon: flood of complaints, ‘mixed bag’ effects

A new staffing law sparked a slew of complaints, driven in part by disagreement over its meaning. So far it’s unclear whether lawmakers plan to revisit it.

Dec 19, 2024
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Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay. | COURTESY BAY AREA HOSPITAL.

Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay explores operations deal with Quorum Health

Tennessee-based firm owned by private equity firms promises to invest at least $75 million in coastal hospital while operating for 30 years

Dec 16, 2024
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The Oregon Health Authority headquarters in Salem | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon officials, experts grappled behind the scenes with youth gender-affirming care guideline

Records show how state medical advisors decided questions around youth transgender care were outweighed by a state law ensuring access

Dec 12, 2024

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Students at the OHSU School of Nursing Ashland Campus learn, practice and refine nursing skills at the campus’ Simulation and Clinical Learning Center. | COURTESY OF OHSU/ALLEN HALLMARK

Growing ranks of Oregon nurses not enough to ease shortages, expert warns lawmakers

Oregon is steadily graduating new nurses or attracting them from other states. But the leader of a local nursing think tank says too many are fleeing jobs because of working conditions

Dec 11, 2024
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Rulings in Oregon, Washington may kill national Kroger-Albertsons deal

A proposed mega-merger that critics said would hurt pharmacy access may die after a federal judge in Portland and a state judge in Washington ruled against it

Dec 10, 2024
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Unity Center for Behavioral Health is in Northeast Portland.

Portland mental health advocates seek to join hospital lawsuit, raise pressure on state

The Mental Health Association of Portland wants a formal role in a case concerning a group of patients effectively shut out of the state psychiatric hospital and left with inadequate options

Dec 9, 2024
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Nurses and other health care workers along with their supporters took to the picket lines outside Providence Portland Medical Center in June 2023 as the state’s largest nurses union called a five-day strike. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon nurses union says largest health care worker strike in state history is on the table

Nearly 5,000 Providence nurses and other health care workers could strike as the union raises the stakes in negotiations with the hospital system

Dec 5, 2024
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The Oregon State Capitol in November 2024. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon Gov. Kotek seeks state hospital fixes, more mental health in budget asks

As the legislative session looms, Kotek unveiled a spending plan that aims to bring Oregon closer to its treatment bed goal, ease federal scrutiny of the state hospital and put the Oregon Health Plan on better footing

Dec 3, 2024
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