Oregon Health Authority is bringing in about 112 nurses and respiratory therapists to meet requests from children's hospitals, the government agency confirmed to Becker's.
OHA spokesperson Jonathan Modie said the 86 registered nurses and 26 respiratory therapists will meet requests from Oregon Health & Science University Doernbecher Children's Hospital and Legacy Randall Children's Hospital, both in Portland.
OHA is filling the requests via a contract with AMN Healthcare, a clinician staffing vendor. According to the OHA, the contract began in 2020 and allowed the state to order clinicians amid COVID-19 delta and omicron surges.
Recent requests from children's hospitals come as the "tridemic" of flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus continues.
Although the contract with AMN Healthcare ends Dec. 31, the state is extending it, and AMN Healthcare is in touch with each facility and is working out requirements and potential start dates, Mr. Modie said.
He added that the state will pay for hours worked and fully documented; $4.65 million is the starting number for this staffing for Doernbecher and Legacy Randall children's hospitals.
OHA expects the nurses and respiratory therapists to start arriving next week, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported Dec. 2.
They will likely work 36 or 48 hours per week, for at least four weeks, although Mr. Modie noted this may vary depending on facility scheduling and needs.
As of Dec. 6, the two children's hospitals were the only facilities that had requested staff.