Up Front: Reliable information for your COVID-19 questions

Prevent the spread

• Please get fully vaccinated, including your booster, if you’re eligible. 
• Wash your hands often and give other people lots of space.
• Stay home when you are sick, even if it feels like a mild cold.
• If you are at higher risk or live in a high-risk area, wear a mask indoors and in public spaces.

If you get sick

Most people have mild or moderate symptoms and can recover at home.

• Get plenty of rest.
• Drink lots of fluids.
• Take over-the-counter medicines, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to reduce fever.
• Stay away from others in your home as much as possible. If you must be near others, wear a mask.
• Monitor your symptoms. If they get worse, call your primary care provider for advice.
• Please do not come to the hospital unless you have an emergency warning sign, such as:
  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to awaken or to stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face
  • Other severe symptoms

Find answers to questions about COVID-19 symptoms, treatments, testing and more.

Incisionless brain surgery for tremor is now possible

Using ultrasonic sound, the latest technology at OHSU offers life-changing relief to people with essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease. Sound waves pass through the skull without cutting.

This method, called focused ultrasound, has instant results.

A surgeon uses MRI to identify the tiny spot in the brain that needs to be changed to improve the tremor. Then, the surgeon uses converging beams of sound energy to create a lesion.

There is no blood loss, no pain and little risk of infection. Patients go home the same day or the next day.

“This is an exciting step forward,” says Ahmed Raslan, M.D., an OHSU neurosurgeon. “We’re taking a very complex surgery and making it easier on the patient to get great results with much less risk and fast recovery.”

OHSU is the only location in Oregon to offer this method for treating tremor.

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Ahmed Raslan, M.D., is part of a multidisciplinary team that provides care for tremor at the OHSU Brain Institute.
Send an evaluation request to focusedultrasound@ohsu.edu, or call 503-494-4314.

About one in two people have high blood pressure

Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.

“It’s far more common than people think, and it’s not well-controlled in most people,” says Dr. Nandita Gupta, a cardiologist and associate chief medical officer at Hillsboro Medical Center. “In the long term, high blood pressure can lead to heart failure.”

People of all races have about the same risk of developing high blood pressure as they age.

“However, people of color are about 30% less likely to have good control of it,” Gupta says.

Most people don’t have symptoms of high blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 and lower. Above 130/80 is considered hypertension.

“Know your numbers,” Gupta says. “If your blood pressure is high, discuss your options with your provider. Blood pressure can improve with a healthy diet and regular exercise, but you may also need other treatment.”

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Nandita C. Gupta, M.D., is part of a multidisciplinary team serving cardiovascular disease patients at Hillsboro Medical Center Cardiology Clinic and the OHSU Center for Women’s Health.
503-844-8280

Living with heart failure

When your heart isn’t pumping as well as it should be, you can become tired, have shortness of breath and other symptoms of heart failure. This is a chronic condition, but you can learn ways to adapt your lifestyle to help.

OHSU and the American Heart Association have created the Oregon Heart Failure Guide with videos and information for leading a healthier life with heart failure.

Early detection key for more treatment options

By catching cancer early, we give people the best chance of treatment and cure.

Every person is unique, so there can be different risk factors that affect when you should start screening for some cancers.

Talk to your provider about which screenings are right for you and the right age for you to begin regular screening.

We always encourage self-awareness. If you notice something that doesn’t seem right — a lump, new discomfort, a mole that is changing shape — don’t delay seeking advice from your provider. The way we find and treat cancer is changing all the time!

The best way to catch cancer early is to get screened on schedule.

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Johanna Warren, M.D.
Primary Care
OHSU Center for Women's Health
503-418-4500

OHSU Health Hospital at Home makes it possible for some patients to get individualized, hospital-level care delivered where they feel most comfortable: their own homes.

For more than 10 years, thousands of patients in the U.S. have found hospital at home to be a safe, tested and trusted option. OHSU Health’s Hospital at Home patients can expect the same level of compassionate care at home as they receive in our hospitals.

OHSU Health partner, Adventist Health Portland, began offering hospital at home in 2020. Located on Adventist Health Portland medical center campus, the virtual unit recently expanded across the OHSU Health system.

Patients say they enjoy having more control over their space, meals and activities at home. They also prefer being with their loved ones and pets and sleeping in their own beds.

Studies show this home-based model can reduce recovery time with fewer readmissions to the hospital.

How hospital at home works

Getting started: The care team screens hospital patients interested in hospital at home. If their needs are a fit, patients can leave the hospital when they’re stable. A care team visits their homes the same day to set up a virtual unit. They bring all the supplies patients may need. Then they provide all the medical care patients need, individualized for each patient.

Daily communication: Patients have daily video visits with a provider or nurse. They can also reach a team member 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hospital at home provides a tablet for video visits and a direct-line phone. Patients can always talk to their care team if needed.

All equipment: Hospital at home provides FDA-approved medical devices to monitor patients’ health. This allows the care team to check temperature, breathing and pulse regularly. The team brings any other equipment patients may need, like an oxygen machine.

Daily home visits: In addition to video and phone calls, care team members visit patients’ homes at least once a day or more as needed. The team can provide services such as IV fluids, labs, mobile imaging, medications or physical therapy.

Delivered meals: Patients have the option to have all their meals and snacks brought to their home.

Discharge: When patients are ready, the care team releases patients to their primary care providers with a full report.

What should you do if your child has a fever, cough, vomiting, rash, sore throat or head injury?

The OHSU Doernbecher MD 4KIDS mobile app makes it easy to manage your child’s health from the palm of your hand with Apple or Android devices. It’s available 24/7, so you can turn to the app at any time — nights, weekends, or when you’re working or traveling.

The app can help you decide whether to get emergency care, see a provider within 24 hours, or wait for office hours. With the app, you can:

• Find symptoms of common conditions, including colds, flu and COVID-19.
• Check medication dosage charts for your child.
• Get expert advice for common parenting concerns.
• Make an appointment with your child’s primary care provider.
• Log on to your family’s MyChart account to connect with your provider.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away if your child is having a medical emergency.

To download the free app, go to the Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).