Samaritan Health Services and Santiam Hospital & Clinics have announced plans to pursue formal affiliation. As nonprofit, community-based health systems with similar missions, visions, values and cultures, both organizations share a commitment to keeping services local. Joining together through affiliation would strengthen both organizations through increased access to health care, improving health equity and enhancing services provided to communities throughout the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon coast.
The two organizations have signed a definitive agreement to affiliate and are seeking approval from the Oregon Health Authority. The OHA’s Health Care Market Oversight program will review the affiliation request and members of the public can submit comments on the OHA’s Health Care Market Oversight program webpage.
Doug Boysen, President & CEO
Maggie Hudson, President/CEO
Samaritan Health Services and Santiam Hospital & Clinics have signed a definitive agreement to affiliate and are seeking approval from the Oregon Health Authority. The OHA’s Health Care Market Oversight program will review the affiliation request.
The affiliation process could take up to a year or more. Samaritan and Santiam are aiming to affiliate by summer 2025.
With thorough research into health care organizations, leadership identified that Samaritan and Santiam are well matched in their health care services, vision, mission and cultural alignment.
The decision to explore affiliation was made together, by both Samaritan and Santiam leaders and boards of directors. Both boards support this next step in the process unanimously.
In the near term, some employees may be asked to contribute data or support for next steps. Samaritan and Santiam are committed to maintaining local governance and leadership and retaining existing staff and clinicians. The affiliation process will not impact how either organization serves the community or provides patient care.
There should be no change to patient care as a result of the affiliation process. The missions of Samaritan and Santiam both center on providing health care for our communities, and that remains our priority. Once the affiliation process is complete, we aim to share resources, expertise and best practices for the good of our patients, and to improve access to care.
There should be no change to service for members of Samaritan Health Plans as a result of this affiliation process.
Our alignment extends to local philanthropy as well as clinical care. Donors can support local services through the Santiam Hospital & Clinics Foundation or any of the five Samaritan hospital foundations.
The OHA review process includes a period of public comment which allows members of the community to share their thoughts. Information on how to submit a public comment can be found on the OHA’s Health Care Market Oversight program webpage.
Leaders at both Samaritan Health Services and Santiam Hospital & Clinics are committed to providing updated information as it becomes available throughout the affiliation process. These updates may include emails, meetings and employee forums for internal audiences or public announcements, community town halls and updates on our webpages for the community.
There will be no affiliation-related changes to Santiam or Samaritan contracts with insurers for the 2025 plan year. After the affiliation is complete, patients will be notified in advance of the open enrollment period if there are any changes to health insurance contracts.
Yes, Santiam medical clinics will remain open to serve patients.
This affiliation will enable Samaritan Health Services and Santiam Hospital & Clinics to strengthen services across the region for our communities. Bringing together expertise from both systems, sharing resources and best practices will enhance operations and services.
Samaritan Health Services’ current focus is on pursuing affiliation with Santiam Hospital & Clinics.
Yes, upon affiliation and integration, medical records from all Samaritan-affiliated facilities, including Santiam Hospital & Clinics, will be within the Epic electronic medical record and accessible throughout the system.
