March 3, 2025
The Hospital Association of Oregon announced findings from a new economic impact study which found that hospitals in South Valley/Mid-Coast generate $4.7 billion in economic activity in Benton, Lane, Linn, and Lincoln counties and help create more than 23,700 jobs in the region.
The report highlights the vital role hospitals play in the regional economy and reinforces the need for their financial stability to protect patient care and access to health services.
“At Samaritan Health Services, our mission is building healthier communities together,” said President and CEO Doug Boysen. “In addition to the clinical services we provide each day, Samaritan is also a financial contributor to the health of the regional economy. In the tri-county region where we serve, on average we pay $1.84 million a day in salaries and benefits to the dedicated employees who make it possible for us to offer preventive and life-saving care.”
The report notes that Oregon’s community hospitals employ 11,380 workers in the South Valley/Mid-Coast region, with a payroll topping $1.3 billion. Additionally, through purchasing goods and services, hospitals help create a total of 23,780 jobs in the area with a payroll of $2 billion.
“In addition to being a major employer, we partner with other local suppliers and service vendors, funneling an additional $157,000 a day into the local economy,” said Boysen. “When hospitals and health systems cannot make ends meet, it’s not an isolated issue. It creates a ripple effect of strife not only in the economic fabric, but many aspects of individual and community well-being – financial, physical and mental health.”
“Oregon’s community hospitals are more than just places we turn to when we are sick or injured—they are pillars of our community,” said Becky Hultberg, president and CEO of the Hospital Association of Oregon. “In every area of our state, the local hospital is a foundational employer, offering jobs at every educational level and helping spur growth in the local economy.”
Statewide, Oregon’s community hospitals generate $32.4 billion in economic activity and help create 160,000 jobs. Hospitals directly employ nearly 70,000 people in positions ranging from nurses and doctors to respiratory therapists, environmental services, medical assistants, support staff, and more.
This report underscores the important role that hospitals play in Oregon communities, and it comes at a time when many hospitals are struggling. The latest data shows that more than half of Oregon’s community hospitals are consistently not able to cover the costs of providing care.
“We can’t have a strong Oregon without strong community hospitals,” said Hultberg. “It is important that we recognize the tremendous contributions they make in every corner or our state and take action to support community hospitals so they can continue to offer the services we all depend on.”
