Inclement Weather

OHSU Alert Line, 503 494-9021

  Employee Information (O-Zone)

YOUR FIRST AND BEST RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION
When the weather forecaster is calling for ice or snow, call the OHSU Alert Line, 503 494-9021, for information regarding weather conditions that may affect operations at OHSU. This hot line will offer specific recorded messages for road conditions on OHSU's Marquam Hill and West campuses (option 1), and for patients (option 2), students (option 3) and employees (option 4).

PATIENT CARE SERVICES
OHSU Hospital, Doernbecher Children¹s Hospital and the Emergency Department always remain open and every effort is made to keep outpatient operations open also. Employees, especially those with direct patient care responsibilities, make every effort to report to work, no matter the weather. If extreme weather conditions present potentially unsafe situations, outpatient services may be altered, but the institution¹s 24-hour operations always remain open for business.

Some patients travel long distances to receive care at OHSU, often arriving in the Portland area the day before their hospital, clinic or lab appointments. For this reason, if safety issues make it necessary to alter outpatient services, employees must notify patients and be present at patient care sites to communicate with patients who were not contacted. During the winter months, patients should be reminded to call the OHSU Alert Line at 503 494-9021 for the latest weather-related information about OHSU.

OHSU ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH UNITS
If extreme weather conditions present potentially unsafe situations, the provost of the university may choose to delay or cancel classes, or alter office and research activities. If classes are canceled or delayed, residents and students who have patient care responsibilities must meet those obligations.

OHSU SCHOOL OF NURSING
The OHSU School of Nursing Weather Information Page contains a list of numbers for nursing students and OHSU employees at the regional campuses, as well as the guidelines and policies for Portland nursing students to follow during extreme weather conditions.

TRANSPORTATION TO MARQUAM HILL
In order to reduce the likelihood of accidents restricting access to health care services on Marquam Hill, the City of Portland has designated Sam Jackson Park Road above the water tower a snow zone. There are three levels of conditions that determine the driving requirements in a snow zone. Snow zone signs along the roadway will tell you what requirements are in effect.

Snow zone condition levels include:

Note: Having four-wheel drive does not meet the requirement for traction devices unless the vehicle also is equipped with studded or studless snow tires, or chains.

Drivers are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles and must install tire chains/cables if they are directed to do so by personnel monitoring the snow zone, or if they lose traction.

Drivers may chain up in the former Carrousel Restaurant parking lot, the park entrance lot or near the water pump station. Pull your vehicle completely off the road before stopping to put on chains. If you cannot complete your trip up Sam Jackson Park Road, pull off to the side of the road. If you cannot pull off to the side of the road, do NOT abandon your vehicle. Road crews will come to assist you.

YOUR SAFEST OPTION: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Don't get behind the wheel during a storm if you can avoid it! Public transportation may be a safer option for getting to OHSU's Marquam Hill Campus or community clinics.

To Marquam Hill Campus:
Six TriMet bus routes serve the Marquam Hill Campus: lines 8, 61, 64, 65, 66 and 68. In addition, C-Tran's route 190 provides express service from Vancouver. Some or all of these lines may implement snow routes during hazardous snow and ice conditions. During construction OHSU is operating a Campus Drive shuttle bus. A message will be added to the OHSU Alert Line (503 494-9021) if weather impacts shuttle operations.

To West Campus:
OHSU's West Campus is served by the MAX train to the Quatama/NW 25th Station and the 49S TriMet shuttle.

To OHSU's community clinics:
If you have an appointment at one of OHSU's community health centers, and you are concerned about road conditions in the area, call ahead. Our staff will be pleased to advise you about road conditions and public transportation that services the area.

Public transportation weather information lines: Both TriMet and C-Tran have weather information lines that provide information about altered routes or schedules.