Week Eight Takeaways
Date: December 7, 2024
This week’s news was flooded with the immediate resignation of Dr. Brian Druker as CEO of OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute. In an interview with OPB, he described a lack of strategic focus and spiraling financial concerns at OHSU. Dr. Druker said, “we have lost sight of what is crucial and forgotten our mission.”
If that is the sentiment, then how can OHSU move forward an inspiring mission and vision for the combined health system?
As we have observed, financial performance continues to be a part of this transaction’s narrative. The perception that Legacy is failing financially is repeatedly referenced as to why the transaction is needed. However, given that OHSU is experiencing their own challenges which led to layoffs of nearly 500 jobs earlier this year, there is no clear understanding of how an acquisition of Legacy will improve financial performance, retain jobs, and control costs for patients.
Legacy’s current financial performance contradicts narrative from the HCMO application, which describes Legacy as “struggling” and states that efforts have not been strong enough to achieve financial stability. This week, Moody’s Ratings reaffirmed Legacy’s A1 revenue bond rating based on its good business fundamentals and strong balance sheet, which includes favorable liquidity and performance in measures like days cash on hand.
With all that has happened over the past several months, we are left with a few questions. Outside of what has been shared in HCMO application, what is the vision and benefit of this acquisition for our communities? Is this still the right decision for Oregonians and SW Washingtonians? If it is the right decision, is now the right time when things seem so unstable? Those questions would be best answered by the decision makers of both organizations, the boards, which we hope they will continue to evaluate.
We encourage you to reach out to your state representative and state senator to share your thoughts on this transaction. Information about your elected officials is located on our Get Involved page.
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