Over the last year and a half, we have been battling against the COVID-19 virus and working tirelessly to provide quality care to all patients. Thankfully, a vaccine against the COVID-19 virus was developed and is our best tool in defense against the pandemic. As a result, on Aug. 19, 2021, Governor Kate Brown announced that the state of Oregon would require all health care workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on or before Oct. 18, 2021, or receive an approved medical or religious exemption.
Consistent with our commitment to provide high quality care to our patients and maintain the safety of the medical staff and hospital staff, over 99% of the medical staff have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We are very appreciative of the response of the medical staff in the COVID-19 vaccination effort and thank you for your commitment to patient care. Some of the current medical staff have made a personal choice not to get vaccinated and have received an approved medical or religious exemption. However, as we move forward and effective Nov. 1, 2021 the Salem Hospital and West Valley Hospital Medical Executive Committees require that all credentialed practitioners requesting initial appointment and/or privileges at any Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics location provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in accordance with the most current Oregon Health Authority requirements or CDC requirements if more restrictive.
Practitioners in the Telemedicine and Emeritus staff categories are exempted from this COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Requests for medical or religious exemptions will not be considered. If practitioners requesting initial appointment and/or privileges are not able to provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated their applications will be considered incomplete and will not be processed.
Thank you for helping to keep our shared patients and our collective staff healthier.
Leon Burrows, MD – Salem Hospital Medical Staff President
Marc Sunday, DO – Salem Hospital Medical Staff President Elect
Corey Goldberg, MD – West Valley Hospital Medical Staff President