OHSU Board Gives Go Ahead To Expansion, Bringing More Beds, ORs

PORTLAND, OR — The Board of Directors at Oregon Health & Sciences University approved more than $600 million to expand the hospital's ability to care for patients. The funding, approved Friday, will allow OHSU to expand out on Marquam Hill.

The five-year project will break ground next spring and will add a total of 184 new inpatient beds. That will increase capacity by about one-third. There will be six more adult inpatient operating rooms, bringing the total to 31 from 25.

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"OHSU Hospital exists to enhance the health and well-being of Oregonians. Investing in our people, programs, and places allows us to improve the care provided to patients and the educational experiences available for learners, and bolsters our ability to make life-changing research discoveries," OHSU President Dr. Danny Jacobs said.

"The Hospital Expansion Project is an opportunity for OHSU to serve even more Oregon residents, and I am pleased that our board of directors supports this transformational effort that will benefit so many."

The board approved $650 million in funding for the inpatient hospital bed expansion, an additional 26,000 square feet for operating rooms, and signaled it will consider expanding and enhancing labor and delivery as well as intensive care services for infants later this fiscal year.

OHSU's board originally okayed an expansion in 2019 but plans were put on hold during the pandemic.

The board said that they will consider other expansions – including more intensive care services for infants – later this fiscal year.

Hospital officials say that the pandemic has made the expansion more urgent.