August 26, 2021 3:45 a.m. 

CHI Mercy Medical Center is among health care facilities in areas hard-hit by COVID-19 hospitalizations, that are getting help from the State of Oregon.

On Wednesday, Governor Kate Brown said hospitals in southern and central Oregon will soon get a boost in nurses, paramedics, and other health professionals to help respond to the surge in COVID-19 admissions fueled by the Delta variant.

A release said the state has finalized a contract with medical staffing company, Jogan Health Solutions to deploy crisis teams – a total of up to 500 health care personnel – to locations most in need, as well as long-term care facilities statewide.  The state has also contracted with AMN Healthcare for at least 60 additional nurse and clinical positions. Specific positions are still being determined, as are the locations for their deployment. The release said the additional personnel will bolster medical staff capacity to help manage hospitalizations that have jumped more than 990 percent since July 9th.

Sarah Baumgartner, Communications Representative at Mercy, told News Radio 1240 KQEN that the hospital has asked for 41 total clinical staff. That includes 24 registered nurses, 4 medical techs, 5 certified nursing assistants and 8 respiratory therapists. Baumgartner said they are waiting for confirmation about what help will be provided.

Other facilities getting assistance will include Asante hospitals in Medford, Ashland and Grants Pass and well as Providence-Medford Medical Center. On the list for help in central Oregon, is the St. Charles Health System in Bend and Redmond.

OHA Director Patrick Allen said the crisis teams will be completely re-deployable so they can be moved to other hospitals and long-term care facilities, where the need is greatest.

Long-term care crisis teams – a total of 10 – will each be made up of three registered nurses and five certified nursing assistants, and will be sent to facilities around the state to build capacity so patients can be discharged.