Think Out Loud

Rural Oregon hospitals struggle to keep up as coronavirus surges

By Tess Novotny (OPB)
Nov. 12, 2020 4:12 p.m.

Broadcast: Thursday, Nov. 12

As coronavirus cases surge across Oregon, hospitals are filling up. Health officials have said the state’s hospitals could hit capacity in December if cases continue to climb. Hospitals in rural areas are especially at risk as revenues plunge and employees are asked to work longer, harder hours. Dr. Lesley Ogden is the CEO of Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City and Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport. We check in with Ogden about how rural coastal hospitals are faring as cases rise.

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