The largest health care strike in Oregon history began early Friday at Providence across the state, as roughly 5,000 frontline health professionals walked off the job. The strike — which includes mostly nurses and 150 doctors and advanced practitioners in addition to thousands of nurses — spans Providence’s eight hospitals in the state.

Area hospitals including Oregon Health & Science University have been planning how to handle transfers during the strike, according to Sara Hottman, a university spokesperson. OHSU is home to the Oregon Medical Coordination Center and is also tabbed by the state to help coordinate during surges in hospital bed demand.

Oregon’s Providence hospitals and nearly 5,000 of its workers have yet to agree on terms to bump wages and address staffing shortages. That means the largest health care strike in the state’s history will begin Friday morning.

Providence Health & Services in Oregon has asked federal mediators to revisit negotiations with doctors and other advanced clinical providers set to go on strike next week.

With up to 70 doctors intending to strike at St. Vincent alone, the hospital plans to cap new patient admissions. Even with bringing in outside physicians, it expects doctors will be able to accommodate only 250 to 275 patients. Flashback: In summer 2023, Providence nurses went on a five-day strike, which ended without a secured contract.

Thousands of nurses are expected to walk out along with dozens of doctors, all members of the Oregon Nurses Association.

Just days after 5,000 Providence nurses and doctors announced plans to strike, the health care organization says it wants to return to mediation with doctors and other advanced practitioners who are planning to walk out.

Nearly 5,000 doctors and nurses at several Providence hospitals and clinics are set to hit the picket lines Friday in what could be the largest health care work

With concern growing over hospital care as a Friday strike looms at Providence Hospitals, representatives from the Oregon Nurses Association held a press conference to update the public on their preparations.