Media Advisory: Oregon’s single largest hospital is still bursting at the seams five years after pandemic
Media Alert
WHAT: Media roundtable on the ongoing capacity crisis in Oregon.
Oregon Health & Science University and hospitals around the state continue to operate at extremely high capacity—100%-plus at OHSU Hospital and 85%-plus statewide— due to ongoing health care workforce challenges, rising costs of supplies and wages, and patients coming in with more complex needs due to delayed care. Experts agree the status quo is not only unsustainable, but also is significantly impacting the health and well-being of Oregonians. The roundtable of experts will discuss the severity of Oregon’s hospital capacity crisis, how capacity affects health care access and quality of care, and both the short and long-term solutions being explored by OHSU and hospitals around the state.
Media members outside the Portland area may join and ask questions via video conference. For a link to the video conference or to cover the event in person, please RSVP to Nicole Rideout, OHSU, at rideoutn@ohsu.edu or (971) 291-6945 by noon Tuesday, March 11 Parking will be provided for media who RSVP in advance.
WHO: Panelists include:
- Stephanie Gilliam, M.N., RN, OHSU, Director – Mission Control
- Mary Tanski, M.D., OHSU, Chair – Department of Emergency Medicine
- Claudia Aime, D.N.P., RN, OHSU, Chief Nursing Officer – Adult Inpatient, Emergency & Trauma Services
- Carl Eriksson, M.D., OHSU, Pediatric Critical Care Physician – Doernbecher Children's Hospital
- Steve Vets, D.O., Santiam Hospital, Chief Medical Officer
- Matthias Merkel, M.D., Ph.D., OHSU, Senior Associate Chief Medical Officer – Capacity Management and Patient Flow
- Atif Zaman, M.D., OHSU, Associate Dean – School of Medicine
WHEN: 11 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, March 12.
WHERE: OHSU Auditorium, 3286 SW Research Drive, Portland, Oregon 97239. RSVP for location details. Parking will be available for confirmed attendees.
DETAILS: A moderated discussion is scheduled for 50 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for questions from media members. Panelists also will be available for individual interviews afterward. A video conference link will be available for media members outside the Portland area. For a link to the video conference or to cover the event in person, please RSVP to Nicole Rideout, OHSU, at rideoutn@ohsu.edu or (971) 291-6945, by noon on Tuesday, March 11
Contact
Nicole Rideout, rideoutn@ohsu.edu, (971) 291-6945
About OHSU
Oregon Health & Science University is Oregon's academic health center and is nationally distinguished as a research university dedicated solely to advancing health sciences. This singular purpose allows us to focus on discoveries that prevent and cure disease, on education that prepares physicians, dentists, nurses and other health professionals for the evolving health care environment, and on patient care that incorporates the latest advances. Based in Portland, we are one of Oregon’s largest employers, operate the top-ranked adult and children’s hospitals in the state, and secure competitive research funding of more than $596 million. As a public organization, we also provide services for the most vulnerable Oregonians and outreach to improve health in communities across the state.