By Kristine Thomas
It’s one example of how the alignment between Silverton Health and Legacy Health will benefit its patients.
Legacy Silverton Medical Center President Sarah Fronza shared how a baby was recently born prematurely in Silverton. Although it was a successful delivery, the baby needed extra care. A call was made to Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, where the infant was taken.
“Our commitment is to take care of our patients in our community,” Fronza said. “The advantage is we now have partners who we can work with if our patients need additional care. This baby was best served at Randall Children’s Hospital.”
And that is one of the reasons the alignment between Silverton Health and Legacy Health took place – so both can have the resources and the staff to provide patients with the best possible medical care.
The name may have changed slightly, but the vision, mission and dedication to Silverton and surrounding communities will remain the same, she added.
On June 1, Silverton Health became Legacy Silverton Medical Center, the seventh of Legacy Health’s medical centers and the only one in Marion County. All of Silverton Health clinics and facilities and its employees are now part of Legacy Health.
“Silverton Health is its people,” Fronza said. “Our community will benefit from a strong partnership.”
Fronza met with Mike Newcomb, D.O. and Legacy’s chief operating officer. With Legacy since 2009, Newcomb has a long and varied career as a physician and administrator.
To say thank you and celebrate
the partnering with Legacy Health,
the Silverton Health Governing Board
decided to do something special for
the Silverton community.
They will be serving free strawberry
delight with biscuits, ice cream and
strawberries, as long as supplies last.
A tradition since 1951, the
Silverton Hills Strawberry Festival
is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 19 –
Father’s Day – at Coolidge-McClaine City Park.
Bring a picnic and enjoy free music,
visit the crafts fair or purchase a
meal from the Wooden Nickel.
503-873-5615 for information
Newcomb and Fronza spent June 1 meeting with employees at Legacy Silverton and June 2 at the Woodburn clinic. At both locations, they were met by employees who are excited for the change.
Newcomb said sometimes when two health care organizations align, it takes some work to be on the same page. That isn’t the case with Legacy and Silverton Health, he said.
“We have the same culture,” he said. “Most affiliations do not go this smoothly. For us it has because we have been on the same page from the first meeting.”
One of the main reasons the transition has gone well, Fronza said, is because there is a cultural compatibility.
“There is an incredible synergy to come together and make things better for our patients.”
Legacy has pledged to invest $60 million into ongoing and growing programs and services for Silverton.
This month, Fronza said, Legacy Silverton will receive a Telebaby Resuscitation – providing a high-tech link between neonatal nurse practitioners at Randall Children’s Hospital and those at Silverton’s Birthing Center.
Fronza said this is just one example of how staff and clinics will be building bridges to provide better care for patients.
“We are keeping our patients at the center of what we do at all times,” Fronza said. “The goal will always be how do we best serve our community.”
