OHSU researchers have been working tirelessly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to better understand the virus, its impact on the community, and how to combat it. The university’s data scientists have played a significant role in providing weekly updates and projections for hospitalizations across the state, and have been working with other researchers on a nationwide effort to turn medical records from coronavirus patients into effective treatments and predictive analytical tools. Additionally, OHSU has been working to improve scientific understanding of the novel coronavirus and bring the pandemic under control through various initiatives such as easing licensing requirements to expedite promising new technologies and dramatically increasing the region’s ability to track virus variants. The university has also focused on addressing health disparities along racial and socioeconomic lines among those stricken by COVID-19, with researchers confirming the disproportionate impact of the virus on Black and Hispanic populations. Furthermore, OHSU has been providing free screening for COVID-19 among students in K-12 schools, forging connections with historically underserved communities, and racing to vaccinate as many Oregonians as possible.
OHSU COVID-19 Response: Latest Figures and Statistics
As of March 24, 2023, OHSU Hospital and OHSU Health Hillsboro Medical Center have reported a total of 18 infectious COVID-19 cases, with 7 fully vaccinated and 8 fully vaccinated with booster shots. Among those who are hospitalized, there are 4 who are not fully vaccinated, 7 fully vaccinated, and 1 who has been de-isolated. Three patients are currently in ICU, with 3 cases of unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated patients. One patient is on a ventilator, who is not fully vaccinated. Adventist Health Portland’s COVID-19 data is currently unavailable.
To clarify the vaccination status, OHSU considers individuals as “fully vaccinated” when they have received both doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine, and at least 14 days have passed since their final dose. Meanwhile, the CDC uses the term “up to date” for those who have received all doses in the primary series and all boosters recommended for them, when eligible.
Since February 28, 2020, OHSU has tested a total of 274,537 patients, with 29,931 COVID-19 cases detected. As of March 24, 2023, there are 15 COVID-19 patients in hospital and 135 patients who have tests pending, while 238 in-hospital deaths have been reported. There have been 6 new detected patient cases since March 23.
As for the OHSU community, they have administered a total of 470,608 vaccine doses through their vaccination sites, in addition to the 546,166 vaccine doses administered at the Oregon Convention Center vaccination site, which was managed jointly by OHSU, Legacy Health, Kaiser Permanente, and Providence Health & Services. For information about the community locations and eligibility, check out “Community COVID-19 vaccination sites” below.
To find COVID-19 vaccination options near you, go to https://govstatus.egov.com/find-covid-19-vaccine.
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is actively engaged in coordinating with state and local public health authorities and health systems across the Portland area to develop a regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic’s earliest days, OHSU has activated an emergency operations center and adapted response plans already in place from previous pandemics to prepare for a surge of patients with COVID-19 while proactively containing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and safeguarding its workforce.
As part of its commitment to deploying COVID-19 vaccines, OHSU has engaged its entire organization to vaccinate Oregonians. The university began by administering vaccines to difficult-to-reach community members and underserved communities, including organizing appointment-only vaccination clinics for children as young as 6 months old at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital after federal and state authorities recommended two COVID vaccines for children in June 2022. Individuals 12 years and older can schedule appointments for vaccinations at various OHSU Health pharmacies, while community-based vaccination events accept walk-ins for individuals 5 years and older.
OHSU’s online vaccination appointment reservation system and more information about its vaccine services are available on the OHSU COVID-19 Vaccines website. The mass-vaccination clinics at the Portland International Airport, Red Economy Parking Lot, and Oregon Convention Center have closed after delivering more than 800,000 vaccine doses. OHSU’s last day managing the Portland Expo Center location was on January 14, 2022. From January 19 to April 14, 2022, OHSU also ran an indoor vaccination clinic on its South Waterfront campus.
OHSU has also prepared to conduct COVID-19 testing for its patients. Since February 28, 2020, OHSU has tested a total of 274,537 patients, with 29,931 COVID-19 cases detected. As of March 24, 2023, there are 15 COVID-19 patients in hospital, 135 patients who have tests pending, and 238 in-hospital deaths have been reported. OHSU is still committed to containing the virus’s spread, including through the use of vaccines.
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is committed to providing access to COVID-19 testing and proper healthcare to all Oregonians, with a particular focus on people of color and other communities that have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, OHSU has offered low-barrier drive-through testing at various locations, accommodating as many as 700 people a day.
As of March 14, 2022, patients and community members can receive free COVID-19 testing at OHSU immediate care clinics located on its South Waterfront Campus and in Beaverton. Additionally, OHSU offers other COVID-19 testing options and resources that people can learn more about.
Patient Care
OHSU is following the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to allow critical healthcare staff to return to work six days, instead of ten days, after a COVID-19 infection under specific conditions. Staff who have experienced mild to moderate illness and are not immunocompromised, with improving symptoms and feeling well, can return to work wearing N-95 masks. This change enables OHSU to manage community healthcare needs and staffing challenges related to COVID-19.
OHSU has opened a Centralized Transportation Center that is available seven days a week, helping to schedule transportation for patients moving between buildings or being discharged from the hospital and clinics. The center enables OHSU to quickly make space for new patients during the surge in cases driven by the omicron variant.
During the summer of 2021, OHSU managed an unprecedented surge of critically ill patients from the delta variant. Frontline healthcare workers emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated, stating that this is a preventable illness.
OHSU has established a Long COVID-19 Program to provide comprehensive and coordinated care for people who are experiencing debilitating symptoms months after their infection. Additionally, OHSU has established steps to prepare patients who have recovered from COVID-19 for elective surgery following their illness, with a published protocol laying out a COVID-era path forward in American medicine.
OHSU is taking an active role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing a “mask on” policy for all patients, visitors, and staff inside the hospital. All employees who work in patient care areas receive masks provided by OHSU. To combat COVID-19, OHSU’s research community collaborated to launch an in-house COVID-19 testing lab on March 24, 2020. The lab’s capacity greatly expanded in October 2020. OHSU also received federal and state funding in June 2021 to expand the state’s ability to track COVID-19 variants across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
OHSU’s Telemedicine Program offers an opportunity for patients to consult with licensed clinicians through a telephone or video connection from their home, limiting barriers to healthcare access. In response to COVID-19, the service has expanded exponentially.
To support its workforce during the pandemic, OHSU has offered childcare accommodations, including a $7.5 million hardship stipend, and instituted a wellness program designed to support clinicians, employees, and students during the COVID-19 pandemic. OHSU also developed a training video to prepare its students and staff to give COVID-19 vaccines, now being used to train California paramedics and emergency medical technicians.
OHSU is promoting physical distancing within the university, requiring non-critical function employees to work remotely and minimizing the number of people gathered for in-person meetings through video and teleconferencing alternatives.
Research and development
There is no information in the article regarding research and development at OHSU.
OHSU’s COVID-19 Research and Projections
Data Projections
Since the onset of the pandemic, OHSU data scientist Peter Graven, Ph.D., has been modeling and providing weekly updates of projections for hospitalizations statewide. These projections help inform policymakers, and they were instrumental in the implementation of Oregon’s “Stay Home, Save Lives” efforts that reduced the spread of the virus.
Breakthrough Infections and Immunity
OHSU researchers have conducted several studies on COVID-19 immunity and vaccination. One laboratory study published in December 2021 suggests that breakthrough infections following vaccination may generate “super immunity” to COVID-19. Another study published in January 2022 showed equally robust immunity from infection followed by vaccination. In a study published in April 2021, OHSU researchers found that people previously infected with the virus benefit greatly from vaccination in protection against new variants. OHSU scientists co-authored a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in July 2021, linking age to immune response measured in blood serum.
Pregnancy and Immune Response
An OHSU study aims to better understand the immune system’s response to COVID-19 during and after pregnancy.
Multipronged Effort
OHSU scientists and physicians are engaged in a multipronged effort across the institution to improve scientific understanding of the novel coronavirus and bring the pandemic under control.
OHSU’s Contributions to the Fight Against COVID-19
OHSU, one of the nation’s leading health and research universities, has been at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19. The institution’s contributions have ranged from community measures to groundbreaking research that has helped to inform public policy and clinical practice.
Research and Development
OHSU’s data scientist Peter Graven, Ph.D., has been providing weekly updates on COVID-19 hospitalization projections since the pandemic’s onset in 2020. OHSU’s research efforts have also included an evidence review that concluded that facial coverings may help decrease the risk of spreading respiratory illnesses.
Community Measures
OHSU has taken various community measures to curb the spread of the virus. These include partnering with the local nonprofit Self Enhancement Inc. on a pilot study that combines wastewater monitoring with voluntary saliva-based testing of residents in four Portland neighborhoods. OHSU also offers free screening for COVID-19 among students in K-12 schools across three regions of the state.
Workforce Management
To help sustain its workforce during the pandemic, OHSU offered childcare accommodations, including a $7.5 million hardship stipend.
Vaccine Research
OHSU has conducted research on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccinations. One study suggests that people previously infected with the virus benefit more from protection against new variants if they’re vaccinated.
Collaborations
OHSU is collaborating with other universities and academic medical centers across the country to ease licensing requirements and expedite promising new technologies to diagnose, treat and prevent COVID-19. The institution is also leading a nationwide collaboration of clinicians, informaticians, and other biomedical researchers to turn data from hundreds of thousands of medical records from coronavirus patients into effective treatments and predictive analytical tools that could help lessen or end the pandemic.
OHSU is determined to continue its fight against the pandemic, and its efforts will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications in the battle against COVID-19.
OHSU Addresses Health Disparities During COVID-19
OHSU President Danny Jacobs, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, has joined national health care leaders in raising concerns about health disparities related to COVID-19 outcomes, specifically among minority and low-income communities. An evidence review conducted by OHSU researchers, published on Dec. 1, 2020, confirmed the disproportionate impact of the virus on Black and Hispanic populations.
Resources for COVID-19 Information
For the most up-to-date information on the COVID-19 response, please consult the following resources.
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