Who We Are
Our mission is good health for our people, our patients, our communities and our world. Above all, we will do the right thing.
Good health for our people, our patients, our communities and our world — these are not just words. They are commitments that form the core of our mission, and we take them seriously. That mission matches a profound and serious footprint: Legacy Health is a locally owned, nonprofit, six-hospital health system that also includes a full-service children’s hospital, a 24-hour mental and behavioral health services center, and more than 70 primary care, specialty and urgent care clinics, 14,000 employees and nearly 3,000 health care providers. We provide comprehensive health care services across the Portland and Vancouver metro area and mid-Willamette Valley, and have the most five-star ratings for hospitals in the region. From rural areas to urban centers, we play a critical role in the lives of 2.5 million people.
As one of the largest employers in the area, people trust Legacy with their health and livelihoods. That is why Forbes named Legacy one of the best large employers in America in 2022. That vote of trust also demands that we leave a positive mark on our community beyond the hallways of our hospitals, clinics and labs. As a reflective and open-minded organization we value the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We acknowledge our country’s history of systemic racism and that it exists deeply in our society, our industry and within our organization. But we have done more than merely acknowledge and value these ideals. We’ve demonstrated a real commitment to change through concrete actions. We have also ensured that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives remain a single focus that will be integrated into every future system-wide strategy, as well as all of our operations and patient care across our system.
Download the Legacy Health profile.
We offer expert services to our patients across the Portland/Vancouver area and into the Willamette Valley, from wellness to urgent care to advanced surgery. We work with our patients to make sure they understand their care and that they have a voice in improving it.
Our efforts stretch beyond medical care –– we look for innovative ways outside of our hospitals and clinics to improve the health of all, and we partner with organizations in the communities to maximize our reach.
Whether it’s reducing our impact on the environment, researching new cures, changing the way we deliver care or volunteering across the globe, we do our part for a healthier planet.
Our History
Our roots in serving the community run deep. Good Samaritan Hospital was founded in 1875 by the Episcopal Church; Emanuel Hospital in 1912 by the Lutheran Church — each hospital began with a mission to care for the community. In 1989 they joined with Mount Hood Hospital (opened 1922) and Meridian Park Hospital (opened 1973) to form Legacy Health. Legacy added Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center in 2005, opened the new home for Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in 2012 and joined with Legacy Silverton Medical Center in 2016.
Our specialized services and partners boast a strong history while reflecting growth and change:
- Rehabilitation Institute of Oregon, founded 1948
- Devers Eye Institute, founded 1959
- Oregon Burn Center, opened 1973
- Legacy Laboratory Services, opened 1995
- Legacy Research Institute, founded 1997
- Legacy Medical Group, created 1999
- Legacy–GoHealth Urgent Care, formed 2015
- Unity Center for Behavioral Health (a collaboration with other health systems), created 2015
- PacificSource Health Plans formed a partnership with Legacy in 2016