Summer Fall 2017

» A magazine for and about Oregon Community Hospitals. 6 The past few months have been some of the most challenging in my 25 years of health policy work. At both the federal and state levels, we are witnessing some of the most complex health care poli- tics I have ever seen. From the heated legislative session in Salem, which had numerous impacts on hospitals, to the unknowns that lie ahead with the Trump administration and the drive to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, every day brings a new challenge to the work we do together. Through the ups and downs of the political climate, hospitals continue to be the life blood of our communities. They generate jobs for one in 20 Oregonians, and despite our political challenges, the hospital community continues its health-focused, life-saving work 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. In the end, our talking points with politicians always come back to the live-saving care hospitals provide each and every day to anyone who walks through their doors. In this issue of Hospital Voice , you will read how vital Oregon small and rural hospitals are to all corners of our state as we highlight the success of our rural transformation programs on page 18. You’ll read how a new program aims to improve rural primary care access by establishing virtual clinics that provide extended primary care, urgent care service hours, and extend the reach of clinical services in rural Oregon. This groundbreaking program not only enables our hospitals to provide higher quality services, it also expands the type of services they can provide 24/7. Despite the waves of political uncertainty, I am incredibly proud of our community hospitals. We will continue to carry their stories and successes as we work with federal and state policymakers; urging them to take a thoughtful, responsible approach to legislation that affects coverage for our friends, family, and neighbors. Hospitals’ mission is clear—healing the sick—and we will never be swayed from our dedication to that mission, come what may. H Andy Davidson President & CEO Oregon Association of Hospitals & Health Systems To find out more about your community hospitals, please visit us online at www.oahhs.org.