Adventist Health Portland Affiliates With OHSU

Adventist Health Portland and Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) formally announced an agreement this week to form an affiliation to better serve the metropolitan population of Portland, Ore. This relationship becomes effective Jan. 1, 2018.

Under the affiliation, both organizations will operate as a unified system of clinical services and share a financial bottom line for those services. Each, however, will retain its unique mission, existing hospital licenses, capital assets and employees.

The Gleaner talked with Joyce Newmyer, president of the Adventist Health Pacific Northwest Region, who offered some helpful information about this new collaboration.

GLEANER: This is a big change for Adventist Health Portland.

JOYCE NEWMYER: It is, and it isn’t. Our sacred mission and sacred calling to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ by living God’s love is not changing. Our culture as an Adventist hospital remains the same. What we are already known for will continue to define us. We’ll continue as an Adventist Health-owned entity, directing our unique mission and supporting our dedicated ministry team to provide hope and healing to our communities. But our ability to do much more on behalf of this mission, to reach the people of Portland and beyond, will be enhanced through a clinically integrated network of services. That means patients from Adventist Health Portland will have greater access to specialists and OHSU patients will have greater access to primary care inpatient services.

G: Following the recent closure of Walla Walla General Hospital, this new step might feel to some like Adventist Health is retreating from the Northwest. Why does this make sense for the Adventist Health mission in Portland?

JN: Well, first of all, we are not retreating from the Pacific Northwest. Our impact in the Northwest will in fact expand. I can understand why that may feel counterintuitive to those in the Walla Walla Valley. We are heartbroken that we could not find a lasting solution there for the staff and patients of Walla Walla General Hospital. The challenges of operating in that location were long-standing. Throughout the years good people made the best decisions they could with the information available at the time. It wasn’t enough. This new direction for the greater Portland area will help us avoid some of those same challenges in the light of a rapidly changing health care environment. This affiliation makes sense because it will enable us to expand our mission to more people. We’ll have access to resources and personnel we wouldn’t otherwise have. This agreement benefits both Adventist Health and OHSU. It is difficult, perhaps even impossible to effectively compete — and therefore carry out our mission — when the market is dominated by larger provider networks. This gives us both an ability to make real headway, to make a much greater impact in our communities.

G: So the Adventist Health mission in the Northwest is not in jeopardy?

JN: No, I believe our mission will have a greater opportunity than ever to touch more people. Our mission is not negotiable. It will not be watered down by any affiliation. It is who we are as people and as an organization. Our mission is simple: living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope. That was and is central to Jesus’ ministry, and, in my opinion, it will always be what defines our Adventist mission in health care.

G: Oregon Health Sciences University is not a faith-based organization. Do you see a problem with two dissimilar organizations working together in light of the spiritual mission of Adventist Health?

JN: I have found great respect from the leadership of OHSU for our faith-based mission and services, and we in turn respect the values they have exhibited throughout Oregon and beyond. We are both dedicated to healing and serving. Our Adventist Health team carries out mission in the name of our Lord, and I do not expect any roadblocks for our unique method of ministry. There are, in fact, many at OHSU who are people of faith, who greatly appreciate the added spiritual dimension this affiliation brings to the communities served by both entities.

G: Even though the Adventist Health corporate office has begun rolling out a new visual branding design for all of its hospitals, Adventist Health Portland has not.

JN: Correct. Some of our Portland area members will soon notice that our Portland-area facilities will adopt and display the OHSU flame logo along with the words “Adventist Health.” That is not an indication that we’ve been swallowed up by OHSU, but it is an obvious reflection of this new affiliation. We’re calling it a shared brand experience. Both organizations will be represented by the design. We will face our communities together — no one is going away.

G: In practical terms, what will stay the same and what will change at Adventist Health Portland?

JN: Well, beyond the noticeable difference in affiliation branding, much will carry on unchanged. Our mission and vision delivery will not change. Our staff will continue to be employed through Adventist Health and do their extraordinary lifesaving work as usual. Our leaders will continue to be active in mission at their own local Adventist churches. Our close working relationship with the Walla Walla University School of Nursing will remain unchanged. Our employees will continue to care for the mind, body and spirit of all who entrust us with their care. Our leaders will lead with the values we hold dear. But, speaking of leaders, David Russell, our Adventist Health Portland president, will now report to two leadership teams. He will report to me at the Adventist Health Pacific Northwest Region office and also to one of the OHSU executives. He will get to meet not only with our existing Adventist Health Portland governing board, but also with a combined board of managers who will oversee affiliate operations. Our administrative team will be fully accountable to both organizations.

G: There have been some significant changes recently in the employment picture at Adventist Health Portland. Are these related to the affiliation?

JN: No, most of these have come from a reorganization in how Adventist Health is accomplishing basic services. For instance, much of the accounting and payroll services has been moved to the corporate office in Roseville, Calif. Rather than duplicating those services throughout our 20 Adventist Health hospitals, they are now being centralized in one place — thus eliminating some redundancy across the system.

G: Is this affiliation in Portland the start of a trend for Adventist Health?

JN: I cannot predict the future, but there are indeed huge challenges in health care that are only increasing. In certain market situations, affiliate relationships can be an effective course. We believe it to be so here in Portland. More than 100 such agreements across the country were consummated just last year. The entire health delivery system across the nation is dramatically shifting. We have to ensure we are doing our part to be good stewards of the community’s resources to have a sustainable presence in Portland for years to come. Only time will tell if other Adventist Health entities will find this to be an effective answer to serving their communities.

G: So you can assure our Northwest members that this new affiliation will only enhance the Adventist Health mission?

JN: It is my personal commitment, and that of our Adventist Health Portland leadership team, that every decision we make going forward will be passed through the spiritual filter of our mission — living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope. This is not an area open to compromise. Our Adventist roots in healing ministry are solid, strong and unchanged. This new effort is all about expanding, not changing, our mission.

Read the official release on the new affiliation agreement issued jointly by Adventist Health and OHSU on Wednesday, Nov. 15.