Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is issuing a public health advisory today for unsafe levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters at Siletz Bay in Lincoln City. People should avoid direct contact with the water in this area until the advisory is lifted. Unsafe levels of fecal bacteria can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children, elderly and those with a compromised immune system should use extra caution as they are mo

Samaritan Health Services has received approval from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for its proposed affiliation with MultiCare Health System, marking the most significant milestone to date in the organizations’ affiliation process. The approval allows Samaritan and MultiCare to move forward with the remaining regulatory approvals, legal and administrative steps required to complete the transaction. OHA’s approval includes conditions designed to protect access to care and

Lincoln County's mobile crisis team is fundamentally transforming how the community responds to mental health emergencies by bringing crisis intervention services directly to people in their communities rather than limiting response to emergency departments and jails. The program represents a significant shift in crisis response philosophy in Oregon and locally in recent years, moving from a reactive, institution-based model to a proactive, community-centered approach that me