Clinical CareCOVID-19

Nursing help is on the way

The Oregon Health Authority is sending 124 contract nurses, respiratory therapists and paramedics to Asante hospitals.
The addition of contract nurses provide relief for overworked staff at Asante hospitals.

As Asante hospitals continue to keep up with a crushing influx of COVID patients, there is a bright spot on the horizon. Thanks to help from the Oregon Health Authority, a “strike team” of 124 clinical contract staff arrive this weekend to support clinical operations.

The group includes 65 critical care nurses, 35 med/surg nurses, 15 respiratory therapists and nine EMT/paramedics from Jogan Health Solutions, a medical staffing company. The contract workers, funded by the OHA, will be apportioned to each of Asante’s hospitals for eight weeks as a bridge until longer-term temporary staffing becomes available.

“This is really exciting news because it allows us to safely care for the influx of patients and continue to respond to the surge,” said Amanda Kotler, vice president of Nursing for ARRMC and AACH.

Asante hospitals are planning to expand patient care into other parts of their facilities to accommodate the surge. ATRMC has created a 20-bed med/surg unit in the Asante Outpatient Center. ARRMC plans to put  critical care beds in the Cardiovascular Recovery Unit and med/surg beds in the Maternal Child Unit to accommodate patients with other conditions.

Tags: contract staff, covid-19, hospitals, nurses, OHA
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2 Comments. Leave new

  • Sandra Brooks
    August 27, 2021 4:13 pm

    Is there a housing need for these clinicians? I have a friend that is willing to rent out space in his home.

    Reply
    • Thanks Sandra. I am the housing coordinator and would welcome any housing connections in the area (we are staffing from Ashland to Grants Pass). Please have your friend contact ho*****@as****.org for more information. Greatly appreciated you!

      Reply

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