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COURTESY OF SAINT ALPHONSUS.

New temp nurses offer hope for Baker City birth center's future

Saint Alphonsus Medical Center-Baker City put new temp nurses to work helping with deliveries this week. Meanwhile, community members await word on longer-term federal help to avert the birth center's Aug. 26th closure, which could threaten lives.

Aug 3, 2023
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DANIEL AGRELO/PIXABAY

Data breach affects 1.7 million current and former Oregon Health Plan members

The May 30 breach happened through the state’s coordinated care organizations and included identifying and health record information

Aug 2, 2023

Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland. | M.O. STEVENS/WIKIMEDIA

Hospital doctors at Providence St. Vincent vote overwhelmingly to unionize

The union vote comes amid a wave of organizing by health care workers. Doctors are less likely to unionize, but that could be changing.

Aug 2, 2023
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Amidst national COVID uptick, Oregon hospitalizations remain mostly steady

Local wastewater shows virus transmission, but immunity is keeping Oregonians out of the hospital, health official says

Aug 2, 2023

Boise is the capital of Idaho. | PINPALS/PIXABAY

Washington, Oregon weigh in against Idaho law restricting out-of-state abortions

They joined nearly 20 other states this week in arguing against Idaho’s new law that makes it a crime to assist minors in seeking abortions outside the state

Aug 2, 2023

Oregon State Hospital in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

State hospital patients still held longer than court-ordered timelines, report finds

A landmark federal court order limiting how long certain patients can stay at the psychiatric facility has pressured local justice and health systems

Aug 2, 2023
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Leqembi, the first drug purporting to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, is likely to cost the U.S. health care system billions annually even as it remains out of reach for many of the low-income seniors most likely to suffer from dementia. | COURTESY EISAI CO.

The real costs of the new Alzheimer’s drug, most of which will fall to taxpayers

In addition to the company’s $26,500 annual price tag for the drug, the treatments it requires could cost U.S. taxpayers $82,500 per patient per year

Aug 2, 2023

VOLODYMYR HRYSHCHENKO/UNSPLASH

Indigenous language interpreters unite to fill gaps

Some states are beginning to pay more attention to access to interpreters of rare languages. In Oregon, lawmakers are funding a program to make it easier for interpreters of Indigenous languages to get certified.

Aug 2, 2023