Alex Paul
Steve Jasperson cut a large slab of chocolate cake and laid it on a plate for the wide-eyed youngster who came to the party with his parents.
The “party” was a send off Friday for Jasperson, who for the past seven years has been CEO of Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. By press time, the likable Jasperson was settling into his new job as CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis.
The leap, while large, isn’t cavernous, since Jasperson has worked for the Samaritan family of health care facilities since 1985. He came to the Willamette Valley from Merle West Hospital in Klamath Falls, but he’s a Midwesterner by birth, Northwest Iowa to be exact.
Friday, it was clear that Jasperson’s style cut across job lines at the hospital as staff from all sectors, from doctors to hourly staff members, dropped by to shake hands, eat a piece of cake and wish their old boss the best of luck in his new position. Long-time LCH staffer Becky Pape has taken over Jasperson’s post.
Jasperson’s new job allows him to end seven years of commuting from his home in Corvallis.
“I guess the biggest change over the last 19 years has been that technology continues to evolve at an accelerated pace,” Jasperson said, taking a moment away from his well-wishers. “Of course, financing is a major challenge as is the need for trained personnel.”
Jasperson said the hospital is taking the staffing issue in hand by developing its education center to train current and future employees in conjunction with Linn-Benton Community College.
Jasperson understands the need for higher education well. He obtained his undergraduate degree in political science from Drake University (DesMoines, Iowa) in 1973, a Masters Degree in business administration in 1976 from the University of North Dakota and another Masters Degree in hospital administration in 1981 from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
In addition to managing LCH, Jasperson has assisted Samaritan COO Larry Mullins as the family of hospitals has grown to include Lebanon, Corvallis, Albany, Lincoln City and Newport facilities.
“We also have long term care facilities, two dialysis sites, independent living communities,” Jasperson said. “We employ 130 physicians and 4,400 overall staff members.”
Jasperson said his years at Lebanon Community Hospital were “even more than I ever expected. There are so many nice, caring people here.”
Jasperson said his job is diverse, “I very seldom do the same thing two days in a row. There are lots of challenges and I’ve been exposed to a wide range of knowledge from so many people. Plus, it’s been a lot of fun.”
Jasperson and his wife Linda have two children, Matthew, 22, a student at Arizona State University and Anne, 17, a senior at Crescent High in Corvallis.
Good Samaritan hospital has 205 beds compared with Lebanon’s 49. It has 1,200 employees compared to Lebanon’s 600.
When he isn’t working at the office, Jasperson keeps his roots to the midwest by working in his yard, doing family things and golfing.
“I’m happy about the new job but I’m going with some trepidation,” Jasperson said. “I know the organization well, but I’m going to miss Lebanon a great deal. This hospital has the keys to a successful operation: 10 great employees 20 a group of concerned and highly qualified physicians 3) a board of directors that is really dedicated to the community and the hospital.”
At Lebanon, all persons involved are “always moving toward a common set of guiding principles.”