Samaritan Breaks Ground on Future Treatment Center June 14, 0019 Samaritan Health Services will begin construction this month on its future facility to treat individuals with substance use disorder – a ceremonial groundbreaking was held at the build-site in Lebanon earlier this week. Samaritan Treatment & Recovery Services (STARS) will be a residential 16-bed treatment facility off Santiam Highway near Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. Construction is being financed by a philanthropic $4 million campaign led by Samaritan Foundations. To date, the Albany General Hospital Foundation, Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation and Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation have collectively raised nearly $3.5 million toward the project. “Through this project, we are saying loud and clear, ‘We can do better; we will do better,’” said Stacie Wyss-Schoenborn, board member with the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, at the groundbreaking. “We will come together as individuals and communities to lift up those who are struggling with their addiction and assist them with their recovery journey.” Services will be available to those 18 and older, including those who are pregnant or parenting, from throughout the state. Priority will be given to patients who live in Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties. Samaritan’s outpatient treatment and recovery services program will also move into the new facility when complete, to help provide necessary resources to treat substance use disorder across Oregon. According to recent federal reports, Oregon ranks fourth-highest in terms of substance use disorder across all U.S. states, but ranks 50th in access to treatment. “STARS will help serve as a solution for this epidemic,” said Marty Cahill, CEO of Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, at the groundbreaking. “The residential program will be medically monitored, clinically intensive and highly structured. We will have an excellent team overseeing and facilitating individual therapy, group counseling, family education and peer support.” “Treatment is the lowest-cost option,” Cahill continued. “With every dollar spent on treatment, we avoid $7 in incarceration costs and we save $4 in health care related expenses.” “This project brings an incredible building and highly trained personnel, but most of all, it brings hope to the community and families suffering from substance use disorder,” said Rick Hindmarsh, MD, medical director for the treatment services. Benton and Linn counties have contributed toward the project, as have numerous mid-Valley benefactors. Samaritan will support the ongoing cost of operating the facility. Learn more about outpatient services available through Samaritan Treatment & Recovery Services.
