Oregon officials review SHS’ plan to purchase small hospital

Oregon health officials are reviewing Samaritan Health Services’ plan to purchase a small hospital and clinic group east of Salem.

Samaritan, a Corvallis-based nonprofit health network, announced its intent to purchase Santiam Hospital and Clinics, a nonprofit health system based in Stayton, in late May. The two submitted their definitive merger plans last month to state health officials for regulatory review.

Samaritan — which operates five hospitals and more than 80 clinics and care facilities in the Willamette Valley and Oregon coast — is a major health provider in Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties. Santiam operates one of the few remaining independent, acute-care hospitals in the state and six rural clinics that serve patients in Linn and Marion counties. Oregon Live