McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center
Encyclopedia
McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center is an acute care
hospital located in Springfield
, Oregon
, United States
. Opened in 1955, it serves the Lane County
area. McKenzie-Willamette is investor-owned, and accredited by The Joint Commission. Licensed for 114 hospital beds, the facility was the only hospital in Springfield until the Sacred Heart facility at RiverBend
opened in August 2008.
became evident in 1948 when the river flooded, cutting off access to the existing Sacred Heart Medical Center
in neighboring Eugene
. A group of residents formed a board and raised funds. In May 1955, McKenzie-Willamette Hospital was established.
By early 2002, the medical center employed 1,150 people and was the second largest employer in the city. In 2002, the hospital sued rival area hospital operator PeaceHealth for antitrust claims, with a jury awarding McKenzie-Willamette $16.2 in damages. The decision was latter overturned and the two reach a settlement in August 2008.
In late 2002, McKenzie-Willamette Hospital began to have financial difficulty. They searched for a partner that could keep them from going bankrupt. On January 30, 2003, they announced a partnership with publicly traded Triad Hospitals
. After a state-mandated public review period, Oregon Attorney General
Hardy Myers
announced his approval for the joint venture
.
On October 1, 2003, McKenzie-Willamette Hospital partnered with Triad Hospitals in a joint venture. This reorganized the hospital from a non-profit organization
, into a for-profit, limited liability company
. Triad Hospitals has since been bought out by Community Health Systems
, Inc.
This idea was immediately met with community concern about the impact it would have on traffic and the local property values. Groups such as the North Delta Neighbors were formed to oppose the re-zoning and development of the Delta Ridge site.
After two years of working with the community, on January 11, 2008, McKenzie-Willamette announced that they were withdrawing consideration for the Delta Ridge site, and would look at their alternative sites to build a new hospital. The alternate sites include their existing campus in Springfield, a 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) site in Eugene, and a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) tract in Glenwood
.
on the roof of the hospital. it is identified by the FAA as Mc Will Hospital Heliport .
Acute care
Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery...
hospital located in Springfield
Springfield, Oregon
Springfield is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Located in the Southern Willamette Valley, it is within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Separated from Eugene to the west, mainly by Interstate 5, Springfield is the second-most populous city in the metropolitan area...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Opened in 1955, it serves the Lane County
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
area. McKenzie-Willamette is investor-owned, and accredited by The Joint Commission. Licensed for 114 hospital beds, the facility was the only hospital in Springfield until the Sacred Heart facility at RiverBend
Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend
Sacred Heart Medical Center RiverBend is a hospital in Springfield, Oregon, United States. It is one of two Sacred Heart facilities in the Eugene-Springfield area owned by PeaceHealth. The other facility, Sacred Heart Medical Center University District, is in Eugene. The new facility is home to a...
opened in August 2008.
History
The need for a new hospital on the Springfield side of the Willamette RiverWillamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
became evident in 1948 when the river flooded, cutting off access to the existing Sacred Heart Medical Center
Sacred Heart Medical Center University District
Sacred Heart Medical Center University District is a hospital in Eugene, Oregon. Originally called Sacred Heart Medical Center, its new name reflects its location near the University of Oregon. It is one of two Sacred Heart facilities in the Eugene-Springfield area owned by PeaceHealth...
in neighboring Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. A group of residents formed a board and raised funds. In May 1955, McKenzie-Willamette Hospital was established.
By early 2002, the medical center employed 1,150 people and was the second largest employer in the city. In 2002, the hospital sued rival area hospital operator PeaceHealth for antitrust claims, with a jury awarding McKenzie-Willamette $16.2 in damages. The decision was latter overturned and the two reach a settlement in August 2008.
In late 2002, McKenzie-Willamette Hospital began to have financial difficulty. They searched for a partner that could keep them from going bankrupt. On January 30, 2003, they announced a partnership with publicly traded Triad Hospitals
Triad Hospitals
Triad Hospitals was a hospital operator based in Plano, Texas. Originally a spinoff of Hospital Corporation of America, it was merged into Community Health Systems in 2007....
. After a state-mandated public review period, Oregon Attorney General
Oregon Attorney General
The Oregon Attorney General is a statutory office within the executive branch of the state of Oregon, and serves as the chief legal officer of the state, heading its Department of Justice with its six operating divisions. The Attorney General is chosen by statewide partisan election to serve a term...
Hardy Myers
Hardy Myers
Hardy Myers is a lawyer and Democratic politician who served three terms as attorney general of the state of Oregon, United States...
announced his approval for the joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
.
On October 1, 2003, McKenzie-Willamette Hospital partnered with Triad Hospitals in a joint venture. This reorganized the hospital from a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, into a for-profit, limited liability company
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
. Triad Hospitals has since been bought out by Community Health Systems
Community Health Systems
Community Health Systems Inc. is a Fortune 500 company based in Franklin, Tennessee. It is the largest non-urban provider of general hospital healthcare services in the United States in terms of number of acute care facilities. As of May 2009, it operates 120 hospitals in 28 states. After...
, Inc.
Proposed relocation
On November 16, 2005, McKenzie-Willamette announced that they had struck a deal to purchase 42 acres (169,968.1 m²) from River Ridge Golf Course, north of Eugene. They intended to build a new campus, and move from their existing facility in Springfield.This idea was immediately met with community concern about the impact it would have on traffic and the local property values. Groups such as the North Delta Neighbors were formed to oppose the re-zoning and development of the Delta Ridge site.
After two years of working with the community, on January 11, 2008, McKenzie-Willamette announced that they were withdrawing consideration for the Delta Ridge site, and would look at their alternative sites to build a new hospital. The alternate sites include their existing campus in Springfield, a 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) site in Eugene, and a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) tract in Glenwood
Glenwood, Lane County, Oregon
Glenwood, Lane County, Oregon is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Located between the cities of Springfield and Eugene, on the route of the former Pacific Highway, which is now named Franklin Boulevard...
.
Heliport
There is a 53 x 53 ft (16 x 16 m) heliportHeliport
A heliport is a small airport suitable only for use by helicopters. Heliports typically contain one or more helipads and may have limited facilities such as fuel, lighting, a windsock, or even hangars...
on the roof of the hospital. it is identified by the FAA as Mc Will Hospital Heliport .
External links
- McKenzie-Willamette Hospital finds for-profit backer - Portland Business Journal