As a leading medical provider in our community, the goal of Salem Health Medical Clinics (Salem Health’s primary care clinics) is to provide the best possible care to patients in a rapidly changing world. The pandemic has dramatically changed the way patients seek care, and how care is delivered. To ensure our clinics can continue to care for the community today and into the future, we have made some changes that will take effect immediately. Our primary care clinics will be prioritizing the virtual care program, resulting in two clinics merging and a restructure of supporting staff.

As the pandemic has forced more care to virtual settings, Salem Health has tested several different care models to meet new demands. The result is a model that will improve upon existing in-person visits and increase the number of virtual visits, streamlining care and freeing providers and medical assistants to spend more time with patients rather than administrative duties.

As a result, less physical space will be necessary. To adjust to this new reality, two clinics will officially close.

• Salem Health Medical Clinic – Independence will close and merge with Salem Health Medical Clinic – Monmouth.
• Salem Health Medical Clinic – 12th Street will close and merge with Salem Health Medical Clinic – Edgewater.

Meanwhile, Salem Health Medical Clinic – River Road South and Salem Health Medical Clinic – Dallas will remain as respiratory clinics only. Its providers will be relocated to nearby clinics and patients will be subsequently notified. Clinics that will remain open include Keizer, Boulder Creek, Skyline, Uglow Ave., Monmouth, Miller Ave., Edgewater and Woodburn. Providers will conduct virtual visits both from the office and from home. The space we do use will be maximized for patient safety and efficiency.

This new structure will require some staff to relocate. The restructure will also result in fewer supporting positions than the clinics have employees, and approximately 20 employees will not secure their jobs within the department. Our employees remain at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to making every effort to retain our current workforce. Those that find themselves without a position will have an option to enter the internal job placement program. They can be placed elsewhere in the organization or trained for other relatable positions.

About Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics. Salem Health offers exceptional care to people in and around Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley. It comprises hospitals in Salem and Dallas, a medical group of primary and specialty care providers, plus other affiliated services. Visit us at www.salemhealth.org; “Like” us on www.facebook.com/salemhealth; follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @salemhealth; and view us at www.youtube.com/salemhealth. 

Media contact: Salem Health 24-hour media relations line — 971-718-3157