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News Release

Oregon Nurses' Statement On Oregon Health Authority's Denial Of Request To Close Legacy Mount Hood Birthing Center - 03/29/23

Portland, Ore. - The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) issued the following statement upon the announcement from the Oregon Health Authority that state health officials denied a waiver application from Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center (LMHMC) to stop providing required maternity services.

Nurses have been saying that Legacy’s decision to close the birthing center was a mistake for months. Not only has the community in East Multnomah County relied on Legacy Mt. Hood for these services for generations, but the closure of the birthing center would add additional burdens to accessing health care for an already underserved population. The decision by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to deny Legacy’s request is not only the right thing to do, it also gives Legacy yet another opportunity to step up and do the right thing for the people of East Multnomah County.

The advocacy of nurses and other front line health care workers, along with legislative champions like Representatives Zach Hudson and Ricki Ruiz, and Senator Chris Gorsek, has raised significant awareness among the public of Legacy’s poor decision-making and their failure to act in the best interests of their community. Now, with their waiver request denied, nurses are clear: Legacy must reopen the birthing center as soon as possible and begin the difficult work of rebuilding trust between a health system that tried to put profit before patients and the dedicated staff, and community members, who rely on them.

Nurses and community members are grateful to OHA for their swift and decisive ruling to deny Legacy this request. 

The Oregon Nurses Association is also calling for support for House Bill 3592 which would require OHA to consider equity implications in maternity waiver processes.

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including more than 1,200 frontline nurses and allied health workers at multiple St. Charles Health facilities in Central and Eastern Oregon. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.

Oregon Nurses' Statement On Oregon Health Authority's Denial Of Request To Close Legacy Mount Hood Birthing Center - 03/29/23

Portland, Ore. - The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) issued the following statement upon the announcement from the Oregon Health Authority that state health officials denied a waiver application from Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center (LMHMC) to stop providing required maternity services.

Nurses have been saying that Legacy’s decision to close the birthing center was a mistake for months. Not only has the community in East Multnomah County relied on Legacy Mt. Hood for these services for generations, but the closure of the birthing center would add additional burdens to accessing health care for an already underserved population. The decision by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to deny Legacy’s request is not only the right thing to do, it also gives Legacy yet another opportunity to step up and do the right thing for the people of East Multnomah County.

The advocacy of nurses and other front line health care workers, along with legislative champions like Representatives Zach Hudson and Ricki Ruiz, and Senator Chris Gorsek, has raised significant awareness among the public of Legacy’s poor decision-making and their failure to act in the best interests of their community. Now, with their waiver request denied, nurses are clear: Legacy must reopen the birthing center as soon as possible and begin the difficult work of rebuilding trust between a health system that tried to put profit before patients and the dedicated staff, and community members, who rely on them.

Nurses and community members are grateful to OHA for their swift and decisive ruling to deny Legacy this request. 

The Oregon Nurses Association is also calling for support for House Bill 3592 which would require OHA to consider equity implications in maternity waiver processes.

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including more than 1,200 frontline nurses and allied health workers at multiple St. Charles Health facilities in Central and Eastern Oregon. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.