What I missed in yesterday’s news that Oregon finally was restricting restaurants, bars, and gatherings was that our four largest health care providers are banding together to coordinate care and resources during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Providence Health Systems, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health and Oregon Health and Sciences University are all part of the new coalition. Among other things, the new unified operation proposes to bolster existing frontline staffers by providing childcare for current workers, and by activating recent retirees, reserves and potential candidates now working outside of hospitals.
The health care systems plan to jointly manage their inventory of beds and scarce resources such as ventilators, masks and other personal protection equipment.
As testing kits remain in short supply, the hospital leaders said they will align their criteria for testing. They will also coordinate and collaborate to eliminate non-essential surgeries and procedures to preserve bed capacity and equipment, including masks, gowns and gloves.