Summit Health Oregon, the largest independent primary care and multispecialty, physician-led medical group in Central Oregon, is proud to announce a new and innovative partnership with Northwest Permanente.  Northwest Permanente is the largest independent medical group in Oregon and Southwest Washington, consisting of more than 1,300 physicians and clinicians, as well as sub-specialists in virtually every area of medical and surgical practice serving patients in Oregon and SW Washington.

The new partnership will help deliver high quality, value-based care to patients living and working in Central Oregon.  The collaborative agreement will utilize Summit Health’s 160+ providers offering primary care and specialty care for these patients while also providing urgent care services through Summit Health locations in Redmond, Old Mill, and the main Eastside clinic in Bend.

As Central Oregon’s largest primary and multispecialty care group, this innovative partnership will enhance Summit’s inpatient and skilled nursing programs and strengthen care coordination services to enhance the management of patients with complex disease.  Over time, the partnership will create new cutting-edge quality and patient centered best practice programs for all patients in Central Oregon.

“Today’s announcement is an extremely exciting moment for Summit Health in Central Oregon.  Over five years ago when Summit came to Oregon, the medical group adopted a singular focus on delivering the highest quality of care in the country while lowering the total cost of care for the community.  This new partnership with Northwest Permanente brings together two national leaders with shared values and similar practice models.  The opportunity to offer Northwest Permanente patients’ immediate access to Summit providers while sharing best practices with one of the highest performing medical groups in the country will create tremendous advancements in patient centered care in Central Oregon.” said Justin Sivill, Summit Health Chief Operating Officer.

“Northwest Permanente and Summit Health have a shared vision of providing exceptional healthcare that improves the quality of life for to the communities we serve,” said Dr. Micah Thorp, Vice President, Business Affairs, Northwest Permanente. “Our new partnership creates a regional model of cooperation and continuous improvement where medical groups in different regions can partner in providing services to patients, share best practices, and improve care for all patients across the region. This builds upon and enhances our existing relationship with Summit formed to care for patients who live in or travel through this vital region.”

“After a few short meetings, leadership from Summit Health and Northwest Permanente knew we shared the same values and a singular goal to create healthcare services that enhanced the lives of our patients and their families.  Both groups are national leaders in quality of care as well as pioneers at creating and expanding services in an outpatient setting to lower the total cost of care.” said Dr. Russ Massine, Summit Health Chief Physician Officer.