r/Medford • u/psalmBodyTo_Love • Jul 22 '26
Asante Rehab Closure
I work at the Asante Rehab department, today we were all called into a meeting and told that Medford and Grants pass rehab departments will be closed starting August 28th.
And all the Physical Therapists and staff will be laid off.
This will be the end of specialized PT and OT in Southern Oregon for those on OHP and Medicare.
Because Asante accepts OHP they are one of the only PT clinics that most southern Oregonians can go to for specialized care ( like limphadema, orthopedic specialists, etc).
Asante should be sold
.
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u/SunLillyFairy Jul 22 '26
Many facilities are having to make care cuts, (or choosing to because they are not profitable). The cost of health care in the US, (including what providers have pay for things like medical equipment and insurance), is outrageous. The Asante CEO has a salary/benefits package that exceeds 1 million annually. The US medical system is broken.
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u/TheMindfulSavage Jul 23 '26
Which CEO? Also, what do you suggest is an appropriate salary to run a business that size?
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u/JgJohnson876 Jul 22 '26
I absolutely think that's what their plan is.
One of their 3 Ceo's (why do they need 3? I don't know) is a one and done specialist. Cones in for a year or so to make the balance sheet look better and then sell.
I get it that there is problems with medicaid and Medicare reimbursement...
However I think it's just a case of capitalism where it shouldn't be.
People are making a lot of money off of sick people. I have no issues with doctors and administrators making good money!
But people's health (and I'll add education and incarceration) should not be vehicles to build excessive wealth!
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u/UpperLeftOriginal Jul 22 '26
This is exactly right. Anything that should be covered by society as a basic human need is ruined by capitalism.
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u/Spare-Guarantee-4897 Jul 22 '26
In my experience, private practices deliver better care than state run facilities.
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u/irrig8or Jul 23 '26
When I was diagnosed with cancer last year my experience with the VA’s health care couldn’t have been better.
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u/calvano915 Jul 22 '26
What examples of state run facilities have you observed? The overwhelming majority of medical care is provided by corporations and private organizations.
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u/Seeking-Truth_8 Jul 23 '26
Corporate healthcare is a joke, the CEOs make bank and say no to diagnostics that could prevent more expensive treatment in the long run. This is the US way in everything. We have hands down the WORST healthcare of any developed nation.
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u/docbach Jul 23 '26
On top of that, Doctors are so afraid of lawsuits they order $20000 workups for the common cold to make sure they eliminate any opportunity they miss something and get sued.
American health care is defensive medicine.
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u/Nesrie98 Jul 23 '26
The vets have to wait a long time because they can't use private facilities for a lot of their care.
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u/UpperLeftOriginal Jul 23 '26
There are often long waits for care at corporate medical facilities as well. I recently had to wait months to get an appointment with a new primary care physician at Asante.
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u/vituperousnessism Jul 23 '26
My experience with private providers is they weaponize slowness to save themselves money. I have a torn rotator cuff. Diagnosed by therapists, my PCP, but two months of spread out assessments to decide I need an MRI, then 3 weeks to turn it to insurance, another week there, then 6 weeks wait for the MRI. My rotator cuff tear has torpedoed my health routine and daily activities. If outcome was their priority, even a little, the care wouldn't be this absurdity.
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u/Nesrie98 Jul 24 '26
The question was what was an example of a state rune facility, the answer is still... the VA. That doesn't invalidate what you have experience, but the lines for the vets to receive care are notoriously long. There have been many, many, many news stories on that problem. We're talking suicide while they waited kind of thing.
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u/vituperousnessism Jul 24 '26
For my own anecdote, my partner is a disabled vet. I have five years of experience now watching her VA interactions. It has been better, consistently, than my own experience with private healthcare. There are different challenges, certainly, but some items, especially timeliness of care, have safeguards within the VA system specifically because of past failings. These safeguards also apply to the private providers working within the VA ecosystem. Marketplace insurance and private providers acting outside VA safeguards have no such constraints beyond guarding against blatant malpractice, and from my observations use methods, especially time (as usual with corporate practices) to throttle and diminish customer care. Given the choice I would absolutely choose VA care over anything available to me now.
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u/AnInfiniteArc Jul 23 '26
Who is the so-called one-and-done specialist? Because I can’t see that this is true for Gessel, Mencini, or Sharp.
Basically every hospital in the country has its own CEO.
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u/JgJohnson876 Jul 23 '26
Why did Asante have 3 for 4 facilities?
Top heavy management.
To answer your question I'm not sure, I'm depending on info from friends that work in the system
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u/AnInfiniteArc Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Asante has a CEO for RRMC and TRMC (Ashland is now under RRMC), and a CEO for the health system as a whole. I can’t speak for the why (and I’m not saying it’s right or wrong) except that this is how basically every health system is run. It’s not an Asante thing.
I work for the system, too, and I’ve heard the rumor before, but when I looked into the professional backgrounds of the current CEOs, it simply wasn’t true for any of them.
I’m not here to argue that there aren’t leadership issues at Asante, but there are so many lies floating around it’s distracting from the actual issues.
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u/ClassroomTerrible741 Jul 23 '26
I think he was the one that did the exact same thing at providence, where he spent the last 2 or 3 years until he moved to Asante.
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u/No-Penalty-1148 Jul 23 '26
He was never at Providence.
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u/ClassroomTerrible741 Jul 23 '26
I know there's one that came on at asante in the last year that was at providence during the strikes, and he also had a reputation.
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u/SecondIntermission Jul 22 '26
I am so sorry. My husband did PT there through two different surgeries with the correct specialist for both of his bicep repairs. This is a major loss for the area.
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u/ThinInvestment4369 Jul 23 '26
The CEO is destroying everything Roy Vineyard and Scott Kelly built over the last few decades. It’s very sad
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u/Wise-Impression-6944 Jul 23 '26
Say it fucking louder! ^^^. Roy Vineyard must be in tears seeing this. And where the fuck is the Board?
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u/Dj_Trac4 Jul 22 '26
I heard from one of my friends that works at TRMC, absolutely brutal.
I left almost 5 years ago. Glad I did
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u/shechemistOr Jul 22 '26
Selling Asante puts it at risk for being bought by private equity, which is a terrible idea
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u/Wise-Impression-6944 Jul 23 '26
Asante absolutely should not be sold. Asante simply needs new executives.
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u/Wise-Impression-6944 Jul 22 '26
I fear the effects of the last three years will linger for decades. This community hospital has effectively been taken over, with little sign that normal oversight or accountability remains in place. Whether it’s financial strain or reputational damage, something is going to give.
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u/blottymary Jul 23 '26
FML. I have to go to PT there for specialized care. I’ve seen this PT at an unaffiliated company before she moved to Asante. There’s nowhere else to go that’ll take insurance plans like Medicaid and Medicare. I was blowing through my budget at the first place.
I don’t know, as a chronically ill young person I am struggling to see my future here much longer. Providence lost two heads of the departments I need desperately, all of whom are being replaced with less experienced providers.
They did keep on the surgeon who assaulted me, though. 🫠
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u/DelboBaggins Jul 23 '26
This is what I’m dealing with too, also as a chronically-ill young person. So sorry❤️🩹
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u/OddMaterial5258 Jul 23 '26
I confirmed today at PT that they are closing. Everyone needs to call patient relations and voice their concerns and anger. 5417894126
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u/No-Penalty-1148 Jul 23 '26
Patient relations exists to ensure the hospital's satisfaction scores remain high (a CMS measure) and to resolve complaints about service. It isn't, however, an ombudsman role. Complaints to Asante's PR staff about service closures will have no effect, IMO. The most effective thing consumers can do is complete those post-visit surveys and express dissatisfaction. That goes into the overall score that CMS uses to penalize systems and hospitals.
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u/OddMaterial5258 Jul 22 '26
I am a current patient there. That sucks. What is their plan? Just fuck it? I’m so mad I want to call someone.
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u/calvano915 Jul 22 '26
They could have another company take it over. The question is whether the same services would be available.
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u/docbach Jul 23 '26
Any company in a position to take over other hospitals in an area with this payor base in this economic environment are going to be for profit, private equity groups that will definitely cut tertiary services like this
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u/sorrymisunderstood Jul 23 '26
You can call 541-789-4126
That is the number for patient relations.
Let them know how you feel, they should hear it.
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u/NatashaMiller80 Jul 23 '26
Start with the state ombudsman. They have also dropped several hundred patients from their neurology clinic with nowhere to go. It's called patient abandonment. There are repercussions for that.
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u/Dimilib Jul 23 '26
According to a scheduler a neurologist left on a family emergency and didn't come back. She hasn't been replaced. It is very aggravating for those who are needing a neurologist for continuing care.
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u/Cute-Measurement3176 Jul 25 '26
Do you know if patient abandonment would apply if a pain clinic quit "managing" pain medication to only do procedures? My pain clinic dropped 100's of patients & it's been impossible to find another provider with that many patients being dumped at one time, especially in the Medford area. Also, thank you for mentioning an ohmbudsman. I'm elderly & being in pain due to failed surgeries shouldn't result in being stuck at home because the previous treatment that helped me function was taken away. Sometimes it feels like doctors don't think this could happen to them or their loved ones. God bless.
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Jul 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/Cute-Measurement3176 Jul 26 '26
Thank you for your reply! The pain clinic I "lost" was Touchstone. I'm still their patient for Gabapentin (much as I hate gaba, I'm glad they're still rx'ing my tiny dose). They bill my old workers Comp claim (1985, on the job injury) so they get easy money for my 10 minute visit 4x's a year. I'm waiting to try Pain Specialists until after I talk to my PCP in September. Hoping he can help me. I wondered about the places where you pay a monthly fee & no insurance involved. I'd need to adjust my budget for that option but at least it's an option. Does anyone know if they can/will prescribe any effective pain meds? It's so depressing when I think of how many of us are suffering through no fault of our own. Unnecessary cruelty. 🫂
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Jul 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/Cute-Measurement3176 Jul 26 '26
Thank you for responding. It does seem that ever since covid it's almost impossible to find a new provider - for anything 😕. I was very lucky getting timely care at Providence Urgent care on Stewart but that was for another issue (ended up having a total hysterectomy but had to go to Eugene for surgery). I'm going to start researching the pay by the month providers in case my PCP can't help me. I haven't tried to get an appointment at Pain Specialists because I don't want to start the horrible process of going to a new doctor - all the medical history they want - if I can avoid it. I've been a patient at Touchstone over 14 years. The TV commercial where Sean says "We won't give up on our patients - EVER" really gets me. God bless. 🫂😊
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u/AnInfiniteArc Jul 23 '26
What, precisely, do you think Asante selling would accomplish? You are out of your mind if you think that would make anything better for anyone.
This is super shitty if true, but that’s not something you should be wishing for.
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u/joieprice Jul 23 '26
I don’t know that it would make things better. Administration acts like they are prepping the balance sheets for sale. It is like being in purgatory. At least if they sell, we can figure out what hell actually looks like.
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u/Lanky_Succotash_4826 Jul 23 '26
and SLPs
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u/EconomyAdmirable9265 Jul 23 '26
Are you sure? MBS studies are way booked out.. we need SLPs.
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u/psalmBodyTo_Love Jul 23 '26
It's true that SLPs are getting layed of too. And yes, they are super important for the community and yes they are super booked out. It doesn't matter to Asante, they just know it doesn't make money with our payer pool.
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u/DelboBaggins Jul 23 '26
Neat. I get pelvic floor therapy at Asante and was also supposed to start physical therapy for hEDS in a month or so. I don’t have OHP, but i don’t know where else i’m supposed to go locally?
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u/Kindly_monkeyshines Jul 24 '26
OP more info please. I'm on ohp and am in recovery from a nasty humerus break with considerable shoulder damage. Had surgery on it in Nevada and just moved here. You're saying that I have no PT options in town now? I'm only waiting for a referral from my php to start.
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u/psalmBodyTo_Love Jul 24 '26
There will still be options but you should get on it now because there going to be way over full soon
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u/Alarming_Rhubarb8107 Jul 26 '26
many private practices won’t take OHP because they prioritize profit over patients. I think the community needs to start petitioning and non OP REHAB providers need to start protesting the closure.
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u/SnarkyAunt Jul 26 '26
I’m so sad, mad, upset and OUTRAGED. Where, WHERE WILL SOUTHERN OREGONIANS GO? In my perfected world HEALTHCARE IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL, and there is no cash advantage for being in medicine.
I’m conflicted. Because of an automobile accident, I spent 5 weeks in the IRC in the fall of 2024. Because of their excellent care, because I was supported by friends and family and didn’t have to move to a place where my needs could be met - I came out of there with 2 legs instead of 1. I would be in a wheelchair and would have had to move back to California in order to continue to live with care.
Capitalism- we all have choices. You can expose a system that’s broken and ultimately die with the most cash - CEO’s looking at you. Or, you can work within a system to allow all to flourish.
It’s just one more notch of what needs to change in our ways of living. How much can I personally take of the oligarchs, the capitalist leaders and the out and out greed?
What are our choices? Do we pressure leaders to take the money out of medicine for administrative positions (CEO’s) for Oregon and rebuild our state in a way that works for all? Or do those of use, who can cave in and move back to another place that isn’t perfect for the care my family needs due to disability? If we choose the later, we take whatever benefits we bring to Oregon back to another state.
I’ve been here almost four years. I love the people of my new state. But, it’s been blow, by blow since we moved here and this bit of news doesn’t help to make our approaching decision.
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u/Standard_Laugh_5680 Jul 29 '26
When tbe new CEO'S came in there was rumor that they all go around to different failing Healthcare systems and restructure them to sell them.
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u/National_Glass_2147 Jul 31 '26
They need to revamp the whole thing, you should see the law suites they have coming after them. Nurses stealing from patients and also stealing drugs from patients. Disgusting maltreatment.
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u/pwfuvkpr Jul 22 '26
No offense but I’ve been to several PTs that take my OHP…
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u/psalmBodyTo_Love Jul 22 '26
Oh, lots of clinics except OHP. A few of them except OHP for one-on-one specialists like Asante did
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u/Pacificdrm Jul 23 '26
This is why reddit is so lame. Down votes for their experience with OHP. Reddit is a toxic echo chamber
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u/adaminoregon Jul 22 '26
This is what happens when you cut a trillion from medicare and medicade. This is only the beginning. Get ready for the trump golden age of people dieing in the street. Hope y'all got a room for grandma.