Nursing Agency in Portland, OR Provides Staffing for Oregon Hospitals Impacted by Flu Season

Portland, Ore. – Express Healthcare Professionals, a leading agency for nursing careers in Portland, OR, is standing by as a staffing source as local hospitals face the worst flu season in Oregon history. With more than 1,000 patients hospitalized the past year alone, healthcare providers now find themselves short-staffed in the face of this epidemic.

Express Healthcare Professionals Owner Julie Tate said, "The impact of the flu is seen in the extreme demand for per diem clinical staff in the Portland Metro area since the first of the year at our local hospital systems."

Influenza, more commonly referred to as “the flu,” is one of the most common and, if left untreated, potentially deadly viral infections in America. According to CDC's frequently asked questions, "Flu season occurs every year, often increasing in October and November, and can peak between December and March which can last as late as May."

This puts the healthcare industry at a higher demand for per diem clinical staff. Last year, only 466 flu patients were hospitalized. As of late January, however, a total of 1,030 flu patients have been hospitalized.

With many hospitals in Oregon at max capacity, staffing agencies like Express are quickly rising to meet the need. "We’re hiring and placing staff on assignments at a rate we haven’t seen in over a decade," Tate said.

According to a news article published by OregonLive, approximately 85 percent of those hospitalized in Portland were ages 51 and older. Fortunately, reports indicate that no children have died in the state from the flu. The nursing agency in Portland, OR, strongly urges citizens of Oregon to see their healthcare providers for preventing or treating flu symptoms.

For more information regarding Express Healthcare Professionals in Portland, OR, visit www.expresshealthcarenw.com or call (503) 272-6386.