4 ways Providence is investing in Oregon’s health

Friday, July 7, 2023

Above: A community resource desk specialist helps a client at Providence Medical Group – Tanasbourne.

William Olson
Chief Executive
Providence Oregon

When I talk about Providence, one of my favorite things to share is the way we live our Mission by investing in services and programs that go beyond doctor visits and hospital stays to improve the health of our communities.

Today, I’m honored to share our annual report on the work of these community benefit programs in 2022. It includes inspiring stories, such as a look at how our community resource desks connect people with supportive services for food, housing, transportation, and other social needs that affect their health.

Last year, Providence ministries and affiliates invested $311 million in community benefit across Oregon. Targeted investments supported these and many other programs:  

Financial assistance to 56,404 patients in Oregon, helping reduce or eliminate their costs of care.  
Health-related Social Needs initiatives providing essential goods and services to more than 14,400 community members.  
Subsidized medical and behavior health care management for uninsured or underinsured low-income patients and children in Oregon.  
Supportive housing, recuperative care and respite care across the Portland Metro area, along with Yamhill, Clatsop, Jackson and Hood River counties, for those experiencing homelessness.

Providence’s community health team conducts regular needs assessments in communities around Oregon to determine which investments will go farthest to improve health and promote health equity. They also lead partnerships with many local organizations to ensure basic health needs are met, remove barriers to care, build community resilience and innovate for the future.

None of this would be possible without the dedication, professionalism and compassion of thousands of our Providence caregivers in Oregon. This report represents their efforts to continue our more than 165-year legacy of caring for those in need, with compassion and in partnership with those we serve.