The first baby born in 2023 at a Samaritan Health Services hospital arrived in Lincoln City at 12:58 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1, followed a few hours later by the first baby of the year in Newport.

Among the germs making the seasonal rounds is the respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV. Cases of RSV are increasing nationwide and are likely to rise in Oregon.

Samaritan Health Services has earned the 2023 Military Friendly Employer designation, a designation it is proud to have received every year since 2017.

Cristina Tamayo, a registered nurse at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, has received the Oregon Outstanding Nurse Preceptor Award, joining an elite group of just 14 nurses across the state to be honored this year by the Oregon Center for Nursing.

Now that COVID-19 guidelines have relaxed in most public places and many people are leaving special measures like physical distancing and wearing face masks behind, the flu is expected to make a big comeback. 

Starting Monday, May 4, Samaritan Health Services will require all patients and visitors to wear a face mask or face covering when they visit any Samaritan hospital, clinic or other facility. Simple cloth coverings, such as bandannas or scarves, may be used.

Oregon Health Authority confirms there was no radiation found at the Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital demolition site and radiation protection officials believe it came from residential trash located elsewhere.

Samaritan Health Services has obtained sufficient quantities of testing supplies and personal protective equipment to expand COVID-19 testing in Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties, and is now providing testing for all patients with symptoms of coronavirus, with a clinician’s order.

On April 15, Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital was notified that there may be radioactive material at the demolition site of the old hospital, prompting a Code Orange to be called at the new hospital and some other buildings on campus.

The other day, I reached out to Lesley Ogden, MD, CEO of both Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City and Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport, to get some insight on the Covid-19 situation on the central Oregon coast, and what this may mean for society and healthcare in the future.