Primary-care doctors, physician associates and nurse practitioners at 24 Samaritan Health Services clinics in three Oregon counties voted 82–13 to join Northwest Medicine United. Approximately 120 clinicians were eligible to vote. The new bargaining unit will develop contract proposals addressing staffing, working conditions and the resources clinicians say they need to provide appropriate patient care.
Why It Matters
Medical professionals are collectively seeking a formal voice in decisions affecting both their working conditions and the delivery of community health care. The vote is particularly consequential because Samaritan is about to integrate with the much larger MultiCare system, making employee representation potentially important as organizational changes are implemented.