Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City
Responding to Changes in Care for Seniors
Saint Alphonsus plans transition program for residents and
employees at long-term senior care center in Baker City
Baker City, OR — Due to the State of Oregon's emphasis on home and community based senior care and reduced care center volumes, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City is moving forward with plans to discontinue their care center nursing home services. The decision to discontinue long-term care was finalized on September 22nd, and based on discussions between members of Saint Alphonsus Health System, the Community Hospital Board, and the Oregon Department of Human Services' Aging and People with Disabilities Program.
"This was a difficult decision," said Ray Gibbons, CEO of Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City, "as appropriate senior care is vitally important. However, we have found through our regular community needs assessments that senior living preferences have changed. We're seeing a shift towards at-home and community-based care, rather than nursing home services. Our focus needs to shift along with these new preferences, in order to best serve the poor and vulnerable in our community. As we move forward, I am excited to work with the long- term care team in Baker City in developing a robust and much-needed rehabilitation program.
Since 2005, the number of residents the care center served has dropped by 75%, partially a result of the State of Oregon's Long-Term Care 3.0 Program, which emphasizes at-home and community based care for seniors and persons with disabilities. Changing preferences among family members and additional senior living choices have also been a trend in the Baker City area. After careful assessment of the unit's viability, Saint Alphonsus opted to discontinue the service, and use the space to serve other areas of hospital operations.
Saint Alphonsus plans to work closely with the fifteen current patients and their families to ensure appropriate and individualized transition plans. The Oregon Department of Human Services, Aging and People with Disabilities will also be involved in the transition process.
Saint Alphonsus will also work closely with all affected long-term senior care center employees to help find placement in other positions within Saint Alphonsus or other local organizations.
The deadline for Saint Alphonsus Medical Center's discontinuation of the care center in Baker City is 60 days after the letter of intent is filed with the State of Oregon.
About Saint Alphonsus Health System
As a faith-based Catholic ministry and not-for-profit health system, Saint Alphonsus Health System reinvests in the communities we serve, through charity care and other benefits. Our goal is to improve the health and well-being of people by emphasizing care that is patient-centered, physician-led, innovative and community-based. Saint Alphonsus Health System serves the people of southwestern Idaho, eastern Oregon and northern Nevada through these facilities: Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center - Boise, ID; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Nampa, ID; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Ontario, OR; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City, OR; and, Saint Alphonsus Medical Group with primary and specialty care providers at 58 clinic locations, all of which are members of the Saint Alphonsus Health Alliance, a network of over 1400 employed and independent providers. To find out more go to: www.saintalphonsus.org