September 1, 2026We are pleased to share that the affiliation between Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics and Santiam Hospital & Clinics has been completed, formalizing a partnership that will stabilize and strengthen healthcare and access for the communities both hospitals serve. You can read our press release here.
We are honored and grateful to be taking this significant step together to ensure the long-term availability of high-quality healthcare services close to home. Full integration will take several months, and we are committed to keeping our communities informed along the way.
Throughout this process, we heard from patients, employees, community members, local organizations, and partners across the region. We want you to know that your voices were heard. Your engagement, thoughtful questions, and shared perspectives informed this process and reflected the deep commitment our communities have to ensuring access to quality healthcare close to home.
The most important thing to know today is this: You can continue to access care just as you always have. Our top priority remains the same: supporting our clinicians and staff while providing the compassionate, high-quality care you know and deserve. We believe that healthcare begins close to home. For many individuals and families, their relationship with a trusted primary care provider is the cornerstone of their health and wellness journey, and maintaining access to those providers in our local communities remains a priority.
With the completion of our affiliation, we can move forward with confidence. This affiliation creates opportunities to strengthen services, enhance patient care, support and expand access to local primary care, improve access to specialty care, invest in technology and infrastructure, and support the long-term sustainability of local healthcare while preserving the relationships, values, and community focus that have always defined us. By joining Salem Health's broader network, local providers will have greater access to specialist expertise and resources, helping ensure patients can receive coordinated, high-quality care while continuing to receive much of that care close to home. This strengthens the connection between local primary care providers and specialty services, creating a more seamless experience for patients and families across the region.
Thank you for your trust, support, and belief in us throughout this process. Because of you, we are well positioned to begin this chapter with optimism and purpose. Together, we will build on Santiam’s legacy, embrace new opportunities and continue providing exceptional care close to home for generations to come.
We welcome your questions and feedback as we work together to build a stronger, more accessible and sustainable healthcare system for the heartland of Oregon. Answers to frequently asked questions are below.
Together in partnership,
Cheryl Nester Wolfe, MSN, RN
President and System CEO
Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics
Maggie Hudson, MBA
Site CEO
Santiam Hospital & Clinics
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