OHSU successfully completes its first spine surgery without the use of general anesthesia. Anesthesiologist Kevin Blane, M.D., says: “General anesthesia is probably more anesthesia than you need for an incision that you can cover with a Band-Aid. These modern surgical techniques really have advanced that much.” Neurosurgeon Josiah Orina, M.D., agrees: "A lot has changed over the past 20 years. Technology has improved, and we can accomplish the same surgical goals through smaller incisions. In the past, a surgery like this required bigger incisions, more muscle dissection, and more down time. That’s all changed for the better.”

A study co-led by Emma Chase and Vijayshree Yadav, M.D., finds a low-fat diet may cut fatigue in individuals with multiple sclerosis; Yadav says: "Fatigue is very disabling for these patients. There is no U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for fatigue, but we know that fatigue greatly affects their quality of life.”

Jane Zhu, M.D., comments on the factors that go into the business decision of contracts for anesthesiologists, noting: “The reasons for this contracting change are unclear to the public.”

In response to The Lund Report questions about the presence of private equity or other large corporations in Oregon’s health care systems, following Providence's decision to cut ties with an Oregon provider-owned company, Jane Zhu, M.D., says there are a lot of factors that go into a business decision on contracting, including local market contexts, costs and management decisions, noting: “The reasons for this contracting change are unclear to the public."

A prisoner being evaluated in the OHSU Emergency Department, under the supervision of Multnomah County deputies, escaped custody after climbing through a bathroom ceiling tile.

A prisoner being evaluated in the OHSU Emergency Department, under the supervision of Multnomah County deputies, escaped custody after climbing through a bathroom ceiling tile.

OHSU successfully completes its first spine surgery without the use of general anesthesia. Anesthesiologist Kevin Blane, M.D., says: “General anesthesia is probably more anesthesia than you need for an incision that you can cover with a Band-Aid. These modern surgical techniques really have advanced that much.” Neurosurgeon Josiah Orina, M.D., agrees: "A lot has changed over the past 20 years. Technology has improved, and we can accomplish the same surgical goals through smaller incisions. In the past, a surgery like this required bigger incisions, more muscle dissection, and more down time. That’s all changed for the better.”

Jane Zhu, M.D., comments on the factors that go into the business decision of contracts for anesthesiologists, noting: “The reasons for this contracting change are unclear to the public.”

Three students at Hockinson High School in Washington state organize the school’s Giving Tree toy drive, with donations going to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

The Portland Business Journal publishes a year-end round-up, titled "Oregon's biggest health care stories of 2023, including OHSU-Legacy merger ... ."