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.

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

Thousands of health care workers at Providence hospitals and clinics in Oregon are planning to go on strike Jan. 10.

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.

Nurses strike outside Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Northeast Portland. Physicians at the hospital have agreed to strike Jan. 10 to protest work conditions. Union leader says they won’t abandon nurses by negotiating separately with the health care system.

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.

Providence has begun limiting admissions to its SW Portland hospital, St. Vincent Medical Center, ahead of what could be the largest health care strike in Oregon history. The big picture: Roughly 5,000 health care workers — including physicians,