Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center

04/23/2026

Shane Ashton, MRI technologist, has been named Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center’s April Rising Star! 👏💙 Known for his calm presence, professionalism and extraordinary compassion, Shane goes above and beyond to make patients feel comfortable and respected during stressful imaging procedures. His thoughtful, patient-centered care has earned praise from both colleagues and patients alike. Thank you, Shane, for making such a meaningful difference every day! 🏥✨

04/18/2026

🎉 We’re proud to share exciting news from Good Sam's Samaritan Endoscopy Center has been named one of the nation’s top-rated ambulatory surgery centers for colonoscopy and endoscopy by U.S. News & World Report. 🌟 This recognition places Samaritan among the best in the country — and one of only three centers in Oregon to earn the 2026 distinction.
💙 For our patients and caregivers, this honor reflects years of teamwork, high standards and pride in the care we deliver every day. As Dr. Gregory Schwartz, medical director of GSRMC Gastroenterology, shared, this recognition gives patients confidence they are in expert hands from start to finish. Thank you to our incredible team whose commitment and collaboration made this possible! 👏

04/11/2026

Emily Balser, MD, truly loves what she does — and it shows ❤️👩‍⚕️. Recently named the April Rising Star employee of the month, Dr. Balser serves as physician and medical director of Good Samaritan’s Family Medicine Ninth Street Clinic. In just over three years, she has become a trusted and steady presence for patients and colleagues alike. One patient shared, “She helped me through what turned out to be the scariest health crisis of my life. Dr. Balser is a superstar.” 🌟 Another praised her thoughtful approach, noting, “She is thorough and leaves no stone unturned. She is caring and compassionate… I feel supported and confident in her care.” 💙🤝
Drawn to medicine for its balance of science, service, and artistry 🧠✨, Dr. Balser credits teamwork as essential to providing excellent care. “You’re never really alone — your team is your family,” she says. Outside the clinic, she unwinds with walks alongside her husband and their two dogs, Murphy and Max 🐕🐕, and enjoys experimenting in the garden — where, as she puts it, “only the strongest plants survive” 🌱😄.

03/31/2026

𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧.

Samaritan Health Services has reached an agreement with Health Net to keep Samaritan providers and services 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤.
We know recent communication about a potential May 15 change has caused confusion. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫, and you can continue to access care with Samaritan as usual.

Thank you for your patience. We remain committed to caring for our communities and ensuring access to the providers you trust.

If you have questions about your specific coverage, please contact your health plan directly.

03/30/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AwN5qXzns/

🩺It’s National Doctors’ Day – a time to say a special thank you to physicians everywhere for the vital role they play in fostering health and healing.

⭐Every day throughout our region, physicians provide life-affirming and life-saving care. Some also help train the next generation of physicians through our Medical Education program. Others generously volunteer their time in local free clinics, on medical missions throughout the world or in other community leadership roles.

🗒️Take a moment to share a personal note of gratitude for a doctor you appreciate. Your message will be delivered directly to them. You may also choose to honor them with a contribution to a Samaritan Foundation, which will be reinvested in local health care.

Share a note at https://samhealth.org/patient-visitors/honor-a-samaritan-employee/nominate-a-shining-star/.

03/24/2026

We’re excited to celebrate our March ⭐ Rising Star, Sam Maxon! Since the beginning, Sam has helped lead the Rising Star program — so she was completely surprised when the award was presented early… and to her! 👏💙 Her persistence in helping a houseless patient connect with care made all the difference, proving once again how deeply she lives our mission of compassion.
From coordinating executive projects to problem‑solving whatever each day brings, Sam is known for going above and beyond. 🌟 Born at Good Sam and now a vital part of our administration team, she brings heart, dedication and a spirit of service to everything she does. Outside of work, you’ll find her running marathons, exploring the world 🌍📸 and embracing new cultures. Congratulations, Sam — thank you for making our community stronger! 💐💙

03/20/2026

Thank you to the more than 50 community members — including District 16 Rep. Sarah Finger McDonald and Albany Mayor Alex Johnson — who toured SamCare Mobile Medicine’s new prenatal and postpartum clinic at Monarch on 4th! 🙌 Your questions and support made the open house truly energizing, and we’re grateful to Samaritan's Emily Yeast and Bryan Stephens for leading thoughtful tours and conversations.
We’re excited to launch weekly services starting Monday, April 6, offering walk‑in prenatal care, postpartum support, parenting resources and peer support every Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 🌼👶 With a certified nurse midwife, traditional health worker, behavioral health team and Samaritan clinicians onboard, we’re ready to support families across Benton and Linn counties — and several have already signed up for opening day! 💙🤝

03/17/2026

Samaritan Mental Health has been nominated for Best of the Willamette Valley and voting is now open! ✅

03/06/2026

👏 A big shout‑out to the Good Sam OR staff for their outstanding work in improving patient safety! Thanks to your focus on air quality and infection prevention, the hospital is now the first in Oregon to receive the IRIS Healthcare Air Quality Seal. 🌬️🏅
Your innovation, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to excellence keep our patients safer every day. We’re so proud of you! 💙✨

02/27/2026

Good Sam nurse Carissa Burdon's quick thinking and clinical expertise made all the difference when a pre-op patient suddenly declined. Her sharp assessment, clear communication and dedication to patient safety earned high praise from multiple nominators who called her attention to detail “Super Star status.” 💫
With 13 years at Samaritan, including more than a decade in the Emergency Department, Carissa now shines in the Short Stay Unit preparing patients for surgery and recovery. Outside of work, she brings the same passion to her farm-grown hobbies, from gardening to beekeeping and preserving her harvest. 🌱🐝 Help us celebrate Carissa for her outstanding commitment to exceptional care! ❤️🙌

02/07/2026

One of our clinicians captured this morning’s beautiful sunrise from the 4th floor! 🌅