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December 19, 2023
Media Contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov
Sacred Heart at RiverBend to continue psychiatric, other services in Eugene
OHA grants PeaceHealth waiver after Sacred Heart University District closure
PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has approved three satellite licenses and associated hospital licensing waivers that allow PeaceHealth to maintain psychiatric care and other services in Eugene, following the closure of the health system’s Sacred Heart Medical Center, University District.
OHA’s Health Care Regulation and Quality Improvement Section (HCRQI) granted PeaceHealth waiver requests last week. The new satellite licenses allow PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield to operate off-campus satellite sites at the University District facility and another location. These services were previously covered under the University District license.
The Eugene satellites will include an inpatient and outpatient behavioral health unit; physical, occupational and speech therapy services; and a senior health and wellness center.
“Granting these waiver requests was a critical step toward quickly ensuring continuity of important health care services in Eugene, including behavioral health, as PeaceHealth made a business decision to close services at Sacred Heart, University District hospital,” said OHA Interim Director Dave Baden.
A separate approval allows PeaceHealth to open an acute rehabilitation unit within its RiverBend hospital to replace the University District hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation facility. Separately, PeaceHealth and Lifepoint Rehabilitation have received a proposed approval for a Certificate of Need to build a freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facility by 2026.
Licensure for RiverBend’s behavioral health unit satellite was based on a waiver with strict conditions requiring PeaceHealth to:
- Apply for renewal of the waiver after one year. The waiver expires Dec. 14, 2024.
- Immediately report to HCRQI – within 24 hours of occurrence – any adverse events resulting in death or serious harm to satellite inpatients and patients presenting to the behavioral health unit.
- In its waiver renewal application, include previous year’s data on walk-in and EMS-transported patients, such as demographics; transport type; transfer type, location and reason; results of examinations; treatments; and final diagnosis.
- In its waiver renewal application, include an analysis of the population served by the hospital to determine whether the waiver justification and proposed alternatives continue to adequately address patient care needs.
In August, PeaceHealth announced plans to close its Sacred Heart, University District hospital (SHUD) facility and emergency department, and relocate its rehabilitation unit to Sacred Heart at RiverBend in Springfield. State officials were concerned that this closure would impact the availability of mental health treatment beds, and could lead to full closure of all behavioral health services in Eugene.
Gov. Tina Kotek directed OHA to take actions to preserve behavioral health capacity for the community and secure additional resources to support community care upon news of PeaceHealth’s decision to close Sacred Heart, University District’s services. In addition to preserving behavioral health capacity through these licenses, PeaceHealth has committed to operating an expanded-hours urgent care for no less than nine months, with patient navigator and mental health professional on-site.
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