(Salem, Ore. – August 7, 2026) – After conducting a hearing to solicit input from the public, Attorney General Dan Rayfield approved without conditions the affiliation of Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics and Santiam Hospital & Clinics.

This comes less than two weeks after the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Health Care Market Oversight (HCMO) program approved the emergency exemption application for the partnership. Approval by the Attorney General is the final step in this regulatory process.

“The Attorney General’s approval is a pivotal step forward for Santiam Hospital and Clinics and the communities we serve,” said Maggie Hudson, President and CEO. “This affiliation strengthens our ability to invest in our people, our services, and our future while preserving local access to high-quality healthcare. Most importantly, it ensures we can continue fulfilling our mission of improving the health and well-being of the Santiam Canyon for generations to come.”

From here, we will finalize the few remaining closing steps. Once those are complete, our two organizations will start the work of integrating systems.

“We’re grateful that both OHA and the Attorney General recognize our shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” said Cheryl Nester Wolfe, MSN, RN, President and CEO of Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics. “Now we can focus on the important work ahead, bringing additional resources, investment, and operational support to the Canyon to help ensure patients continue to have access to high-quality care close to home.”

Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics

Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics, a nonprofit health system governed by a volunteer board of trustees, offers exceptional care to people in and around Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley. Salem Health’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of the people and communities they serve. It comprises hospitals in Salem and Dallas. Salem Hospital in Salem is Oregon’s largest hospital and a Level II Trauma Center. West Valley Hospital in Dallas is a 25-bed critical access hospital with a 24- hour emergency department. Salem Health also has a medical group of primary and specialty care providers, plus other affiliated services. Salem Health has more than 6,400 employees and a medical staff of more than 875 physicians and advanced practice providers.

Santiam Hospital & Clinics

Santiam Hospital & Clinics is a community-based nonprofit, acute-care 40-bed hospital, with an ER open 24/7 and owns and operates its ambulance program. Santiam’s mission is to provide quality healthcare to people who suffer from illness, injury or disability and to promote the general health and welfare of the community through education, support and medical service. The hospital is in the eastern region of Mid-Willamette Valley in Stayton, Oregon operating 13 medical clinics serving the Santiam Canyon in Marion and Linn counties. The hospital and clinics are governed by a volunteer board of directors. Santiam Hospital & Clinics serves more than 50,000 residents and employs more than 700 staff, including over 70 medical staff who are committed to excellence in community-based care.