SALEM, Ore. — This story comes courtesy of the Portland Business Journal, a KGW news partner. Click here for the full story.
An independent cardiology practice filed a $15 million antitrust and defamation lawsuit on Wednesday against Salem Health, alleging the system has “resorted to intimidation tactics, false information and anticompetitive conduct in its effort to take over the market.”
Oregon Heart Center (OHC) contends Salem Health is trying to force it into become part of the hospital or run it out of business.
“OHC has been forced to file this lawsuit to stop Salem Health’s ongoing campaign of exclusion and intimidation that has caused and will continue to cause serious harm to both OHC and the Salem health care community, if left unchecked,” says the complaint, filed in Marion County Circuit Court. “In short, Salem Health has chosen intimidation and coercion over competition on the merits.”
A Salem Health spokeswoman said the system was "only made aware of the litigation (last week) and does not have a comment at this time."
Salem Health operates the only hospital in Salem, with 500 staffed beds and one of the busiest emergency rooms on the West Coast. The system has “amassed an ever-growing roster of doctors, clinics and specialties,” but is trying to force independent cardiologists into its fold or push them out, the lawsuit says.
“The reason for these actions is simple — less competition and increased profits for Salem Health,” according to the complaint, which also names Salem Health CEO Cheryl Wolfe as a defendant.
