Saint Alphonsus Medical Center-Baker City Expands Inpatient Care with Intermediate Level Services

New service allows more Baker County patients to stay local for advanced care

Saint Alphonsus Medical Center-Baker City has expanded its inpatient services to include the ability to care for select intermediate level (IMCU) patients. The expanded service officially launched on January 26, 2026, representing-level (IMCU) patients.

For rural communities like Baker City and the surrounding region, access to timely, higher-level care can mean the difference between staying close to home or being transferred long distances to larger urban hospitals. By offering intermediate level care locally, Saint Alphonsus is helping reduce the need for patient transfers while supporting continuity of care, family involvement, and improved health outcomes.

These services support patients who need closer monitoring, advanced nursing care, and specialized clinical attention — including cardiac patients requiring continuous intravenous cardiac medications, diabetic patients needing continuous intravenous insulin drips, and patients with serious health conditions who require heart rhythm monitoring and more frequent assessment by a Registered Nurse. In the past, many of these patients would have required transfer to hospitals outside the community.

“This expansion is especially meaningful for a rural community like ours,” said Tony Swart, Administrator, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City.

“When patients can receive care close to where they live, it reduces physical, emotional, and financial strain on both patients and their families.” The addition of this new service would not have been possible without the extensive work and dedication of Megan Boyle, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, and Jake Danes, Patient Care Services Nurse Manager.

“The leadership of Megan and Jake brought this vision to life and strengthens the health of our community by keeping care local when it is safe to do so,” Swart said.

Keeping patients close to home is particularly important in rural Eastern Oregon, where distances between hospitals can be significant, and weather can sometimes make travel challenging. Local access to intermediate level care helps ensure timely treatment while allowing patients to remain near their support systems — a key factor in recovery and healing.

Hospital leaders emphasized that services are being implemented thoughtfully to ensure patient safety while maintaining the high standards of care the community expects.

This milestone reflects the latest expansion of care at Saint Alphonsus Medical Center-Baker City. In January, the hospital announced the addition of $250,000 of new surgical equipment made possible through a generous donation from the Saint Alphonsus Foundation.

By expanding inpatient capabilities, Saint Alphonsus strengthens access to care, supports local families, and reinforces the hospital’s role as a trusted healthcare provider for Baker County and the surrounding region.

For more information about services available at Saint Alphonsus Medical Center- Baker City, visit saintalphonsus.org