Salem Health Hospitals and Santiam Hospital in Stayton announced Jan. 19 they have signed an agreement to merge and will submit a formal request for approval to the Oregon Health Authority.
The hospitals said they anticipate the partnership would be made official by Sept. 30, if the OHA approves it.
Santiam Hospital, which opened in 1953, has 40 licensed hospital beds. The independent hospital also operates 12 clinics in Marion and Linn counties and has over 600 staff members…