Hermiston, Ore.-based Good Shepherd Medical Group acquired Gifford Medical Center, also in Hermiston, June 30.
As part of the agreement, three physicians and three nurse practioners will join the medical group, increasing GSMG's total number of primary care providers to 11, according to the Hermiston Herald.
The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Joseph Gifford, MD, said he witnessed several significant changes to the healthcare industry during his 15-year career at Gifford Medical Center, including the continued financial difficulties small, independent facilities like Gifford Medical Center face daily.
"There has been a lot more regulations placed on healthcare by the government to try and improve the delivery and accessibility of services," Dr. Gifford told the Hermiston Herald. "With these regulations come more costs, which have a trickle down effect to the patients. These costs are hard for private practitioners to absorb — even though they are implemented to improve quality, safety, efficiency and reduce health disparities."