To the editor:
As I wrap up my first week as chief executive officer of Samaritan Health Services, I want to take a moment to speak directly and plainly. There’s been a lot of talk this week — some of it based on incomplete information.
So let me be clear about what’s happening, why it matters and how we’re moving forward.
Health care in Oregon is in a tough spot. According to the Hospital Association of Oregon, half the health systems in our state are operating at a loss. That’s not sustainable. Reimbursement from government payers is shrinking, even as more people rely on those programs. At the same time, the health challenges our patients face are more complex than ever.
Costs are rising — driven by inflation, staffing shortages and new regulations. It’s a simple but brutal equation — expenses are up, and revenue is down.
All across our industry, we’re being asked to do more with less — see more patients, provide more services, stretch farther. And while those of us in health care will always do our best to serve, no system or caregiver can keep stretching indefinitely without strain.
Samaritan is not immune. We’ve stepped up time and again to meet growing needs — expanding access, adding services, recruiting specialists, and stepping in when other community providers have needed support. And we’ve been open about the financial pressure we’re under.
But what hasn’t changed is why we’re here: to serve. As a nonprofit rooted in this region for more than a century, our mission is simple and unwavering: Building healthier communities together.
That work continues — and in many ways, it’s just beginning. Across our system, teams of clinicians and leaders are asking hard questions and thinking boldly about what a strong, sustainable Samaritan should look like in the future.
This isn’t about quick fixes or sudden changes. No decisions have been made, and no changes to services are being implemented. In addition, no timeframe has been set to develop a plan or implement changes. The ideas we’re exploring still need to be tested, shared, improved, and aligned with what our community needs — not just this summer, but for the long term.
This is a pivotal moment. Health care is changing. If we want Samaritan to be here for the next 100 years, we must adapt. And we can’t do that alone.
To our legislators: We need your partnership to ensure fair reimbursement and investment in the systems that keep our communities healthy.
To the media: Help us tell the full and accurate story of what health care in Oregon is really facing.
To our community: Stand with us. Your support allows us to keep showing up when you need us most.
And to our employees: You are the heart of Samaritan. We are committed to supporting you, so you can keep doing the work you were called to do.
Building healthier communities is not a slogan — it’s a shared responsibility. Let’s move forward together.
— Marty Cahill/Samaritan Health Services
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