Home About Samaritan Our Organization Sustainable Health Care
Samaritan Health Services came together in 1997 because hospitals struggled to stay independent. The health care landscape was rapidly changing. Challenges included rising costs in labor, supplies and infrastructure, as well as inadequate payment for services.
From the beginning, Samaritan’s goal was to work together to serve the entire region.
Since then, the challenges in health care have increased, including stagnant payments from insurance payors – Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurers. These challenges have been compounded at times by record inflation and a rising regulatory burden. (For a comprehensive analysis, see Oregon Hospitals on the Brink, published by the Hospital Association of Oregon.) These financial pressures threaten Samaritan’s ability to sustainably deliver health care, now and into the future.
Samaritan remains committed to delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care across our service area. Our foundational mission of Building Healthier Communities Together is more vital than ever. We must remember the reasons Samaritan came together in the first place. We must truly operate as a system to ensure continued operational strength in the face of future adversity.
Reliable and sustainable health care is essential to a thriving community. It not only supports the health and well-being of all residents but also contributes to the economic stability of the region. We recognize the need to fundamentally rethink how we serve our three-county population of approximately 280,000 residents. This includes improving access to care, recruiting and retaining skilled staff and clinicians, and consistently providing high-quality care in a financially sustainable way.
We will do this together. Collaboration enables Samaritan to offer exceptional health care in our smaller communities. By working together, we will preserve a vibrant health care system for our region, and ensure service to our patients and community for generations to come.
Samaritans are working together to shape a sustainable and viable future for health care in our community.
The primary objectives of this initiative include:
Teams of clinicians, leaders, and analysts have adopted a system-wide perspective. They are encouraged to remain open-minded and adaptable, to embody Samaritan’s PRIDE values of Passion, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence, and to foster trust and transparency throughout this process. No decisions have been made regarding these services in our community as we explore how care is delivered today and how we might more effectively and sustainably deliver care in the future.
While this work is urgent, it is not on a specific timeline. We want to be purposeful and thoughtful as we evaluate proposals and actively seek out feedback from members of the community.
For questions, concerns, or suggestions, please contact us at [email protected].
