Oregon Lung Specialists to Join PeaceHealth Medical Group
SPRINGFIELD – In a significant move to enhance healthcare services in the Eugene/Springfield area, Oregon Lung Specialists became part of the PeaceHealth Medical Group on Dec. 2. The clinic is renamed PeaceHealth Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Chad Drive, while remaining at its current location at 3125 Chad Drive, Suite 100, Eugene. The new phone number will be 541-743-4700.
All six existing providers from Oregon Lung Specialists—Dr. Khuram Ameen, Dr. James Christon, Dr. Dennis Hopkinson, Dr. Karthik Mahadevan, Dr. Binaya Rimal, and Dr. Matthew Walter—will continue to provide care to their patients. Dr. Hira Irfan is set to join the team in January 2025. Additional clinical staff, including physician assistant Jason Olson and respiratory therapists Melissa Stephens, Kenneth Carter, and Samantha Wagner, will also be part of the new clinic.
Dr. Melissa Edwards, chief hospital executive of PeaceHealth Medical Group, expressed enthusiasm for the integration, highlighting the importance of retaining skilled physicians specializing in lung, respiratory, and sleep disorders for the community’s health needs. The clinic will provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for a variety of conditions, including asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
Oregon expands vaccine clinic program to enhance respiratory Illness prevention in long-term care facilities
December 12, 2024 – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has announced an expansion of its subsidized COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinic program, now available to all licensed long-term care facility residents and staff across the state. This initiative aims to ensure that those who might not have access to vaccines receive the necessary protection, particularly those at high risk of severe illness.
Originally focused on rural and sparsely populated regions where vaccine accessibility was limited, the program, managed by the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD), has broadened its scope to include all licensed long-term care facilities. This expansion is made possible through funding from the Oregon general fund, which highlighted declining vaccine rates in long-term care settings as a growing concern.
The program not only facilitates onsite clinics at long-term care facilities but also supports community pharmacies statewide that provide vaccination services. This is particularly crucial as communicable diseases like COVID-19 and the flu can spread quickly in congregate living environments, potentially resulting in staffing shortages.
“Our goal is to reduce barriers to vaccination for individuals living and working in long-term care facilities,” stated Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, Ph.D., Director of APD. “Preventing illness is fundamental to ensuring safety and well-being, especially as families gather indoors.”
So far, the APD has coordinated seven vaccine clinics with 24 additional clinics in the pipeline. Facility managers who are interested in hosting a vaccine clinic can reach out to APD at [email protected] for more information and to begin scheduling.
Ryan Frick, an epidemiologist with ODHS APD, emphasized the importance of the program: “We recognize that accessing vaccines can be particularly challenging in rural and frontier communities. By bringing vaccines directly to residents and staff, we eliminate the need for transportation and appointments, which is especially beneficial for those with mobility issues.”
The program will continue to operate until available funding runs out, aiming to make vaccinations as accessible as possible for those in long-term care facilities throughout Oregon.
State ends year with highest pertussis case count since 1950
As of Dec. 30, the Oregon Health Authority registered 1,105 cases of whooping cough for 2024, making it the highest number of pertussis cases reported in Oregon in a single year since 1950.
December rang in the most reported cases of whooping cough with 157 cases reported in 2024 versus only five in 2023.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, 315 of the over 1,000 confirmed cases of whooping cough were reported in Lane County.
Data from the epidemiologists in Oregon Public Health Division’s Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Section shows that 80% of the cases reported in 2024 are 18 years old or younger, and 50% are female.
Health officials remind everyone that vaccination is the best way to avoid the preventable disease. Paul Cieslak, M.D., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division, said people who are unvaccinated or those who are too young to be vaccinated face the highest risk of infection.
Children should receive the DTaP vaccine at 2, 4, 6 and 15 to 18 months old, and again at age 4 to kindergarten age. People 10 and older should receive a single dose of Tdap.
Help prevent blood shortages; give blood, platelets
The start of the new year is one of the most challenging times to collect blood products as the threat of severe winter weather builds and can often lead to widespread cancellations.
During National Blood Donor Month, the Red Cross celebrates those who generously roll up a sleeve to help save lives and urges those who are feeling well to make and keep donation appointments to help the blood supply stay on track throughout the winter.
Those who come to give Jan. 1-26, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a Super Bowl LIX giveaway. More info: RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
BLOOD DRIVES
Jan. 13: 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 255 Maxwell Road
Jan. 14: 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Venue 252, 252 Lawrence St.
Jan. 16: 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., St. Mary Catholic Church, 1062 Charnelton St.
Jan. 22: 12 p.m.–6 p.m., Valley River Center, 293 Valley River Center.
