Hospitals

COURTESY OF SANTIAM HOSPITAL

Samaritan-Santiam breakup leaves questions in wake

Merger filings with state highlighted the precarious position of small and medium-sized hospital systems

Jun 10, 2025
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Shereef Elnahal | COURTESY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

OHSU board considers former VA official Shereef Elnahal for top job

It's unclear when the board will make a decision after a second finalist dropped out Wednesday. Elnahal on Thursday said his selection would be “the professional honor of my life.”

Jun 5, 2025

Jim Diegel, former head of St. Charles Health System, tapped as temp for state hospital superintendent

An experienced hospital operations strategist, Diegel is tasked to turn around a long-troubled institution that is a lynchpin of both the state’s behavioral health and criminal justice systems

May 28, 2025
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Samaritan protester birth center closure

Residents and health care professionals rally in Corvallis May 21 to protest the possible closure of two birth centers by Samaritan Health Services. | OREGON NURSES ASSOCIATION

Nurses, U.S. lawmakers urge Samaritan not to close maternity services in Lebanon and Lincoln City

Samaritan Health Services is considering closing a birthing center in Lebanon and maternity ward in Lincoln City over rising costs and sagging revenue

May 21, 2025
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Morrow County Health District ambulances in northeastern Oregon. | COURTESY MORROW COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT

Paramedic sues Morrow County Health District for $1.5 million over her firing

Samantha Ward was helping a colleague with alleged harassment when a union official allegedly alerted management to an earlier lawsuit she'd filed— leading to her termination, the federal lawsuit claims

May 6, 2025
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Western State Forensic Hospital rendering

A rendering of the Western State Forensic Hospital in Lakewood, Wash. | HOK ARCHITECTURE

Construction proceeds on 350-bed Washington state psychiatric hospital

The Western State Forensic Hospital is intended to help reduce wait times for mental health evaluations and treatment

May 6, 2025

Oregon Health & Science University at night. | OHSU/CHRISTINE TORRES HICKS

OHSU, Legacy Health scrap contentious proposed merger

The hospital systems cited an ‘evolving operating environment.’ Supporters said Oregon Health & Science University's purchase of Legacy would improve care, while critics said the deal would boost costs for consumers and businesses.

May 5, 2025
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Large red building, the Oregon State Hospital

Oregon State Hospital in Salem. | BEN BOTKIN/THE LUND REPORT

Updated: Oregon State Hospital's new 30-day safety plan provides broad strokes but few details

The three-page plan focuses on assessing patients risks, increasing staffing to operate more like a 24/7 hospital, and providing clearer direction and empowerment to staff

Apr 30, 2025
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OHSU's main campus in Portland in September, 2024. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

OHSU leaders mum on how red ink could affect proposed purchase of Legacy

Oregon Health & Science University leaders won't say whether recent bad budget news has prompted any second-guessing of their proposal to take over Legacy Health. But they painted a troubling picture at a board meeting last week.

Apr 29, 2025
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Nurses at Legacy Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. | LYNNE TERRY/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon bill would mandate health care employers prevent, report workplace violence

The bill would fund prevention work in hospitals across the state, include union representatives in safety committees, increase training minimums and mandate health care providers track and report violent incidents to the state.

Apr 15, 2025