When Asante Health System announced it would discontinue outpatient physical therapy services in Grants Pass and Medford effective Aug. 28, Southern Oregon residents had every reason to be concerned. Patients immediately began asking what would happen to their care, employees wondered about their futures, and community leaders faced questions about how the region would respond to another reduction in local health care services.
State Representative Dwayne Yunker had an opportunity to help answer those questions.
Instead, his response quickly turned to partisan politics.
Within hours of Asante’s announcement, Yunker issued a press release that devoted nearly all of its attention to criticizing Oregon Democrats, Governor Tina Kotek, the Oregon Nurses Association and state labor policies. His statement presented the clinic closures as evidence of broader political failures while offering no indication that he had spoken with Asante leadership, requested a meeting, or sought additional information about the operational reasons the health system provided for its decision.
The contrast between the two statements is difficult to overlook. Asante explained its decision through its own financial and operational assessment of the organization while outlining how it intended to transition patients and support affected employees. Representative Yunker’s response immediately shifted the conversation toward assigning political responsibility, placing the focus on broader partisan issues instead of examining the specific reasons the health system cited for closing the clinics.
Asante’s announcement focused on its own financial and operational assessment of the organization. The health system described the closures as part of an effort to better align services and resources while continuing to invest in other areas of patient care. Whether residents agree with that decision is a separate question, but it was the explanation provided by the organization responsible for making it.
Yunker’s response did not address those operational details. It instead reframed the announcement as a political indictment of state government.
Public officials have every right to debate public policy. That is part of representative government. They should question regulations, challenge legislation and advocate for different approaches when they believe state policies are harming communities.
But effective leadership also requires something more than assigning blame after a difficult announcement.
Leadership is measured by more than the willingness to criticize policies or assign responsibility after a difficult decision has been announced. It is demonstrated by a commitment to seek answers directly from those involved, encourage productive discussions among stakeholders and pursue practical solutions that place the needs of constituents ahead of political messaging. During moments of uncertainty, residents expect their elected officials to help bridge divides, not simply reinforce them.
When a major health care provider reduces services in a community, constituents deserve to know whether their elected representative has reached out to hospital executives, explored possible alternatives, contacted state health officials or begun discussions aimed at preserving access to care. They deserve to hear about efforts to bring people together before drawing political battle lines.
None of those efforts were evident in Yunker’s public response.
The release leaves the impression that the political narrative became the priority before the facts behind the decision were fully explored. That may satisfy partisan audiences already inclined to agree with his views, but it does little to reassure patients now wondering where they will receive rehabilitation services after August.
Southern Oregon deserves better than reflexive political messaging whenever a community challenge arises.
Residents expect elected officials to advocate forcefully for their districts, but advocacy is measured by more than criticism. It is measured by whether leaders convene conversations, pursue answers, demand accountability from all parties involved and search for practical solutions that benefit the people they represent.
The closure of these clinics is a significant issue for Josephine and Jackson counties. It affects patients recovering from surgeries, injuries and serious illnesses. Those residents are not looking for another round of partisan talking points. They are looking for leadership that asks difficult questions of everyone involved, including the health system making the decision, while working toward realistic solutions.
Political disagreement is inevitable. Political theater is optional.
When community health care is on the line, Southern Oregon deserves representatives who place problem-solving ahead of point-scoring. Regardless of party affiliation, that is the standard voters should expect from every elected official who serves them.