New emergency room opens in Eugene – Daily Emerald

Since PeaceHealth’s emergency room closed in December 2023, Eugene has been without an emergency room for nearly a year – but that could soon be the case
change. During a citywide health forum on Sept. 26, David Butler, CEO of McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, announced plans for a new 12-
An emergency room with a bed satellite is being built in Eugene.

At the forum, Butler responded to an audience member’s question about the possibility of a new hospital or emergency room in Eugene. Butler said McKenzie-Willamette’s plan has already been approved by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek.

“We actually met with the governor of Oregon and got the green light to apply for a certificate of need,” Butler said. “We conducted extensive due diligence in the Eugene area and found a local investor and developer willing to assist us in developing this plan.”

Butler declined to reveal the exact location of the facility, but said a site has been selected.

“I don’t want to tell you about it — maybe you’ll go and buy it — but it’s very accessible,” Butler said. “About 25,000 cars pass there every day and we are close to signing a contract that would allow us to move into the design and architecture phase.”

PeaceHealth’s emergency department was a central location for students and residents to access emergency services. Since the closure, some people have been diverted to the nearby emergency room on East 13th Avenue.

However, emergency care is intended for non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries and is not a substitute for emergency medical services. For those in need of immediate or life-saving medical care, the closest emergency room is McKenzie-Willamette in Springfield, approximately 4.5 miles from the University of Oregon campus and across the Willamette River.

One student affected by the closure was UO junior Lily Thompson, who was struck by a pickup truck while crossing Franklin Boulevard last spring.

“I remember being on the phone with my parents, freaking out, trying to find an emergency room to Uber to, but since there wasn’t one in town, I ended up in the emergency room,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s experience is not unique. Senior Henos Kissate was skateboarding down 18th Avenue last fall when he fell and knocked out several teeth.

“It was definitely very uncomfortable,” Kissate said. “When the firefighters came, they just gave me some Tylenol. I had to wait until the next day and pay for an Uber to get to where I could get help. I ended up having to see a dentist and an oral surgeon. I would have felt much better if I could have gone to the nearby emergency room straight away.”

Butler said the timeline for construction of the new emergency room is approximately two to two and a half years. The satellite facility would operate under McKenzie-Willamette’s existing license and could potentially expand beyond the initial 12 beds.