MEDIA ADVISORY: Save Rogue Regional Hospital Community Town Hall In Medford Oct. 1 (Photo) - 09/30/26
MEDIA ADVISORY
Save Rogue Regional Hospital Community Town Hall
Thursday, Oct. 1
6:30 p.m.
OEA Building
2495 S Pacific Hwy
Medford, OR 97501
WHAT: Nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals, patients, elected officials, and community leaders are coming together for a public town hall to discuss changes in Southern Oregon healthcare, what’s going on at Asante, what’s happening inside Rogue Regional hospital, and what our community can do about it. The event will feature presentations, a panel discussion featuring nurses, doctors, and community leaders, and a question and answer section.
Media members are encouraged to attend. RSVPs are required for all participants.
WHEN: Thursday, October 1 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Local nurses and panelists will be available for media interviews after the event.
WHERE: OEA Building. 2495 S Pacific Hwy. Medford, OR 97501
WHO: ONA nurses and staff from Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center along with local doctors, elected officials and community supporters.
WHY: In recent years, executives at Asante–Southern Oregon’s largest healthcare system–have:
- Closed maternity and inpatient services at Ashland’s only hospital
- Closed multiple outpatient clinics
- Closed a Southern Oregon surgery center it partially owned
- Laid off hundreds of local caregivers including NICU doctors
- Outsourced doctors and healthcare workers
- Accrued more than $1.5 million in fines for violating Oregon’s hospital safe staffing law
- Failed to meet its community benefit obligations under Oregon law
- Refused to recognize or bargain with union healthcare professionals
- Spent untold amounts on anti-union consultants in possible violation of federal law
These decisions are negatively impacting our community and can contribute to longer waits, rising costs, staffing shortages, and fewer healthcare options for Southern Oregonians.
Local nurses and healthcare professionals have led the charge to stop Asante’s cuts and closures, protect safe patient care and restore transparency and accountability to Southern Oregonians’ healthcare. Thursday’s town hall is an important step to continue shining a light on Asante’s cuts, closures and changes, and empower community members to have a voice in their healthcare.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents nearly 1,200 frontline registered nurses and 250 healthcare professionals–including local radiologic technologists, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), respiratory therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants and surgical technicians–at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
Nurses at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center are working to reach a fair contract with Asante that improves staffing and patient safety, offers fair wage opportunities, and gives local frontline healthcare providers a meaningful voice in their community’s healthcare.
Healthcare professionals are also attempting to reach a fair contract with Asante. Unfortunately, Asante executives have repeatedly refused to recognize and bargain with these healthcare professionals despite a federal order to do so.
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