Klamath County extends OHSU residency contract for three months to avoid clinic disruption

Klamath County commissioners voted unanimously July 16 to approve a three-month amendment to the county’s contract with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) so medical residents can continue scheduled clinic procedures.

The amendment, described by county staff as incorporating the prior contract with only the termination-date change, will keep Monday half-day resident clinics operating while the county and OHSU negotiate a new, longer-term agreement. The county’s public health director, Jennifer Littleton, told the board the existing contract had expired June 30 and that residents cannot work in the clinic without an active contract.

“Normally, I'm not on this meeting, so thank you so much for getting me in on very short notice,” Littleton said when explaining the need for a quick amendment. She said OHSU provided a three-month extension with no changes to terms to allow time for price discussions and to avoid cancelling scheduled clinic appointments.

Commissioners moved and seconded the amendment on the meeting floor; the board then voted "aye" and the chair also voted in the affirmative. The board’s action was presented as an amendment to the existing contract rather than as an exercise of an unexercised extension clause, meaning the amendment incorporates the prior contract text except for the amended termination date.

County counsel and contract staff clarified during the discussion that amending an expired contract in this manner is the appropriate administrative method and that the amendment would create an operative contract through the new termination date. Littleton thanked the board after the vote.

The county staff said the three-month amendment will carry the county through September while price and other terms are negotiated for the replacement agreement.