Health
Oregon’s vaccine mandate is likely to cause longer waits for health care
Health care workers in Oregon, who were among the first to be vaccinated against Covid-19, have some of the highest vaccination rates ahead of the mandate taking effect Monday. Dentists are out in front: 98% are inoculated. Medical doctors, psychologists and physical therapists all have rates above 90%. But chiropractors are near the bottom: Only […]
State approves 60-bed psychiatric hospital in Wilsonville – with caveats
The Portland-area could get another psychiatric hospital. The Oregon Health Authority on Friday announced its thumbs up to the proposal but it scaled it down and attached conditions. It said nearly half the beds at the new Wilsonville hospital must be reserved for mentally ill people who pose a danger to themselves and who are […]
Many adult foster homes likely to opt for religious exemptions to Covid-19 vaccine
UPDATED: This story has been updated with outbreak data After the state announced a vaccine mandate affecting thousands, dozens of owners of adult foster homes caring for seniors and people with disabilities warned that they would be forced out of business. They told officials at the state Department of Human Services Department in emails obtained […]
Overwhelming majority of Kaiser Permanente union members vote to strike
An overwhelming majority of nurses, physician assistants, lab specialists and others have voted to strike at Kaiser Permanente. Nine out of 10 Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals participated in the days-long vote, with 96% endorsing a walkout. Shane Burley, spokesman for the union, called the endorsement unprecedented. “I’ve never seen a strike authorization […]
Judge rejects Oregon state troopers’ Covid vaccine mandate lawsuit
Oregon state troopers who refuse to get vaccinated for Covid failed in their initial attempt to block an Oct. 18 vaccination deadline after a state judge ruled against them late Thursday. Nearly three dozen troopers, along with the Oregon Fraternal Order of Police and a union representing Klamath County firefighters, sued Gov. Kate Brown over […]
Oregon nursing group, resigned to mandate, wants ‘bold’ action to address staffing shortages
With the Covid-19 vaccine mandate looming, the Oregon Nurses Association stepped into the fray on Thursday, calling on the state to take “bold” action to give relief to nurses strained by exhausting shifts relief and to train a new corps. In a news conference, association officials called on hospitals to allow nurses to take true […]
Oregon Health Authority advises employers to be flexible in enforcing Oct. 18 vaccine mandate
The Oregon Health Authority has advised the state and employers of health care staff, educators and others facing the Oct. 18 vaccine mandate not to fire employees over the deadline. “Everybody doesn’t need to turn into a pumpkin on the 18th,” said Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority. “But they can’t be in […]
Dr. Dean Sidelinger: Big-picture team player in Oregon public health
At 50, there’s a lot that Dr. Dean Sidelinger could brag about. He earned a doctor of medicine degree from a highly ranked university and added a master’s in education. As a pediatrician, he trained younger physicians and helped shape medical curricula. Then he went into public health. For nearly 15 years as a health […]
Oregon safety officials field avalanche of mask-related complaints
In one month, Oregonians filed nearly 3,000 complaints against employers alleging violations of Gov. Kate Brown’s latest indoor mask mandate, but less than 1% has faced inspection. Oregon Occupational Safety & Health, which investigates workplace violations, is scrambling to keep up with an avalanche of complaints related to COVID-19. The new mandate went into effect […]
Rural counties on their own if COVID-19 vaccine mandate causes staff shortages
SALEM – Rural counties that fear first responders will quit in bulk ahead of a mid-October vaccine mandate need to come up with their own solutions instead of relying on the state, according to state officials. Several rural counties have already declared emergencies based on their conclusion that firefighters, paramedics, teachers and health care workers […]