The Feb. 3 COVID-19 forecast led by Peter Graven, Ph.D., indicates hospitalizations during the omicron-driven surge are peaking in Oregon: “The way Oregon handled omicron is almost as good as you’re going to see. Oregon pushed out booster shots, Oregonians modified their behavior early, before omicron fully arrived here, and we kept our masking rates relatively high compared with other states.”

Proceeds from a “Hip Hop Fighting Cancer” concert benefit the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.

OHSU contributed to a quality improvement project that minimizes and standardizes opioid prescriptions for pediatric patients after undergoing an appendectomy.

OHSU contributed to research that found several factors may play a role in the variability in the quality of care provided to U.S. nursing home residents with advanced dementia.

In a story about Oregon House Bill 4141, which would make assaulting someone in a hospital the crime of assault in the third degree, Desi McCue, R.N., M.B.A., recalls how patients sometimes attack health care workers: “For Oregon to take this seriously and show health care workers that they actually care what happens to us, it’s basically saying violence isn’t a part of your job and we know it’s not and we’re going to take this very seriously."

Brian Druker, M.D., describes how the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is contributing to President Biden’s efforts to cut cancer deaths in half within the next 25 years, saying: “We're just seeing this remarkable renaissance of technology that can be applied to the problems for early detection, for prevention and for treatment of advanced cancers. So, you put all of those together you accelerate progress; I think this is an achievable goal.”

Stephanie Halvorson, M.D., describes how hospitalists have contributed to OHSU’s pandemic response, including implementing acute care and surge plans, and participating in committees focused on PPE supplies, patient cohorting and COVID-19 testing pathways and protocols.

OHSU, Providence St. Vincent’s and Portland Public Schools are among institutions that have received rapid antigen COVID-19 tests from the Oregon Health Authority.

Avital O’Glasser, M.D., describes how the pandemic has forced hospitals to make the difficult decision to postpone some nonemergency procedures and says those who have had COVID-19 should wait about seven weeks afterward before undergoing a procedure, to avoid complications: “These are damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t conversations. It comes down to very nuanced risk-benefit discussions.”

While discussing his research that found those who experience breakthrough COVID-19 illness could have exceptional protection against future immunity, Fikadu Tafesse, Ph.D., says this finding is particularly important during the omicron-driven surge because: “There is so much virus in circulation in the community. There is a high chance we’ll all get a breakthrough infection."