Overwhelmed by COVID, Oregon hospitals postpone surgeries, cancer care

A few weeks ago, Callagan was driving to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland for a bone marrow transplant, a major procedure that requires intensive follow-up tests and monitoring for complications.

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But during the drive, Callagan got a call from his doctor.

“They’re like, ‘We were told this morning that we have to cancel the surgeries we had planned,'” he says.

Callagan’s surgery was postponed until further notice because the hospital was full. That’s the story at many hospitals in Oregon where they’ve been flooded with COVID-19 patients.

OHSU spokesperson Erik Robinson says the hospital, which is the state’s only academic medical center and serves patients from across the region, has had to postpone numerous surgeries and procedures in the wake of the delta surge. “Surgical postponements initially impacted patients who needed an overnight hospital stay, but more recently has impacted all outpatient surgeries and procedures,” Robinson wrote.

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