The letter will allow both parties to look more closely at an affiliation together, with an end goal of Santiam Hospital and Clinics joining Samaritan Health Services, according to a May 22 Samaritan Health Services news release.
Should the parties join, the goal would be to strengthen local access to care services, improve health equity, and increase community provided services.
Both Santiam Hospitals and Clinics and Samaritan Health Services are dedicated to retaining existing employees and keeping local governance and leadership.
The parties plan to work toward a definitive agreement in the next few months. The merger could be subject to regulatory review.
Santiam Hospital and Clinics is a nonprofit organization that comprises an acute care hospital and 11 clinics. It has more than 600 employees, including 70 medical staff.
Samaritan Health is a nonprofit regional health system that features five community hospitals, over 100 physician clinics and multiple health insurance plans. It has 6,000 employees, including 620 physicians, according to the release
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.