COVID-19

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State health officials are racing to win federal approval of Oregon Health Plan changes before Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, shown at the Oregon Convention Center vaccination site, leaves office. | KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF/OPB

For Governor, The Pandemic And Health Care Stay In Forefront

Gov. Kate Brown gave her final State of the State address Thursday, with an eye toward pushing Oregon beyond COVID-19 and expanding the state’s health care workforce.

Feb 4, 2022
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PHOTO COURTESY OF DREAMSTIME/PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP

As Omicron Threatens To Overwhelm Oregon Hospitals, Officials Push Boosters

A projected surge from the omicron variant of COVID-19 represents “dire” news for Oregon hospitals, patients and health care workers.

Dec 17, 2021

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The Oregon Health Authority in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Oregon: Lawsuit Against Vaccine Requirement Is Based on ‘Internet Conspiracy Theories’ 

COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care and state employment is not coercion, state says in response to lawsuit filed in federal court.

Oct 18, 2021
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OREGON GOV. KATE BROWN HOLDS A FACE MASK./PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP

Health Care Workers, Others Sue Oregon In Federal Court To Halt Vaccine Mandate

A group of 42 people has sued Gov. Kate Brown and Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Oct 13, 2021
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St. Charles Health System in Bend. | COURTESY OF ST. CHARLES HEALTH

Oregon Hospitals Dig In For Long COVID-19 Surge

From equipment purchases to requests for extensions of temporary staff, signs abound of hospitals anticipating a drawn-out surge.

Sep 22, 2021
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Last year a state employee inadvertently released the vaccination status of some 40,000 Oregon state employees. Pictured is an Aviva Health temporary COVID-19 testing and vaccination site in Roseburg. | PHOTO COURTESY OF AVIVA HEALTH

Hospitals Create Temporary Clinics To Relieve Crowded Emergency Departments

As patients sick with COVID-19 overwhelm Oregon hospitals, tents are set up to create urgent care clinics for patients with lesser ailments.

Sep 6, 2021
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OHSU nurse practitioner Shelby Freed tests a patient for COVID. | BRADLEY W. PARKS/OPB

Influx Of Medical Workers Into Oregon Is Big But May Not Be Enough

Out-of-state medical staffing companies are providing about 800 crucial health care workers in the weeks ahead as hospitals are swamped with COVID-19 patients.

Aug 30, 2021
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Many COVID-19 patients at OHSU are in their 20s and 30s./Kristyna Wentz-Graff/OPB

OHSU Treats Some Of The Sickest COVID-19 Patients In The State

The hospital has four intensive care units, and they're all full. With more COVID19 patients on the way, managers are gearing up for "crisis standards of care" to stretch staff and set up new beds.

Aug 23, 2021

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COURTESY OF OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY

Vaccination Rates Of Medicaid Members Still Lag Behind

Oregon providers, Medicaid insurers make slow progress getting low-income, rural members to step up and get a shot against COVID-19.

Aug 23, 2021
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LATINOS WERE AMONG THE PATIENTS AT AN OHSU VACCINATION CLINIC IN HILLSBORO IN MAY, 2021./JOSH ANDERSEN/OHSU

Comparison Of CCO Vaccination Rates

Umpqua Health Alliance has the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rate among Oregon's coordinated care organizations at 30%.

Aug 23, 2021
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