Sky Lakes tells commissioners it will remain independent, outlines workforce, access and $492 million county economic impact

David Cobble, chief executive officer of Sky Lakes Medical Center, told the Klamath County Board of Commissioners that the independent hospital intends to remain independent and is pursuing a multi‑pronged strategy to improve local health outcomes, workforce pipelines and specialty access.

Cobble said the hospital’s mission and vision have been revised to emphasize community health beyond acute care. "We're not just Sky Lakes to wait for people to get sick and come in the hospital and then go home," Cobble said. He described Sky Lakes as a "catalyst for positive change" and listed programs the hospital supports, including the Everyone Swims program, an ADA‑accessible playground fund, Klamath Works workforce efforts and partnerships with Oregon Institute of Technology and Klamath Community College.

Cobble provided operational statistics and workforce context. He said Sky Lakes delivers about 700 babies annually, expects roughly 35,000 emergency department visits a year (about 100 per day), and expects more than 5,000 inpatient admissions and more than 98,000 outpatient/clinic visits annually. He said the hospital directly employs about 1,700 people and that an independent economic study prepared for the Oregon Health Care Association estimated Sky Lakes generates about $492 million in economic impact for Klamath County and supports more than 3,800 jobs in the region.

On access and workforce, Cobble said the community has roughly one primary‑care physician per 2,000 patients, compared with a state average of about 1,200 patients per primary‑care physician. "We have a huge challenge" recruiting specialty physicians, he said, noting long vacancies for urology and active recruitment for neurologists and other specialists.

Cobble described Sky Lakes’ transformation plan with six focus areas: primary care expansion, specialty care strategies, stewardship of community resources, quality patient experience, and community engagement. He said the hospital has been recruiting providers and expected six new physicians by fall and that in the last year the hospital added roughly a dozen physicians and several advanced‑practice providers.

On community partnerships, Cobble described Sky Lakes’ involvement with local high schools and career‑training programs. He said the hospital is expanding pay‑to‑learn and ambassador programs that provide students CNA/CMA credentials before graduation and pathways into Klamath Community College and other programs. He said the hospital is exploring housing and on‑campus mixed‑use development, and noted conversations with local developers about short‑term furnished apartments and downtown multifamily projects that could support traveling staff and students.

Commissioners raised the subject of jail medical services and possible contracting: Commissioner Mitch asked whether Sky Lakes could play a role if the county seeks medical coverage for the jail. Cobble said he would be open to conversations and could help with recruiting or contracting options. Cobble also said he would continue conversations with county commissioners on the medical‑school idea with Oregon Tech.

(Ending) Cobble asked commissioners to continue partnering on workforce development, housing solutions and education pipelines; commissioners offered assistance and interest in continued dialogue on a proposed medical‑school partnership and other community projects.