The Lane County Medical Society’s mission is to support physician members as they practice medicine, including advocating for accessible health care and the overall health of the community.

Recently, the medical society’s Board of Trustees had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Eugene Emergency Physicians, sometimes called EEP, as well as PeaceHealth administration leaders in regards to the upcoming transfer of operations of the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend emergency department from EEP to ApolloMD, which is an Atlanta-based physician-owned company.

From these conversations, the board came away with the understanding that the RiverBend emergency department has been operating under increasing strain in recent years. The closure of the University District hospital, processes for boarding patients, increasing emergency department volumes and the ongoing behavioral health crisis have created complex challenges affecting patient flow and emergency department operations. 

EEP physicians described numerous efforts to adapt to these pressures, including  workflow changes, fast-track care models and ongoing engagement with hospital  leadership to address operational challenges while maintaining a high quality of care. 

Systemic stressors are affecting emergency departments nationwide and extend well  beyond the control of any individual physician group. Without broader foundational  adjustments, emergency room providers will continue to face challenges regardless of the management company in charge.

Lane County Medical Society has heard significant concern from members of the local medical staff and health care workforce regarding the potential impacts of major transitions in physician staffing, especially in regards to specialty care consults and quality of care. The broader community has also expressed significant concerns on the well-being of the area, not only from a health care perspective but also in terms of economic stability. 

We ask that PeaceHealth administration reconsider their decision. We would encourage PeaceHealth to work with EEP and a consultant or mediator in an attempt to improve overall emergency room and hospital processes before deciding to transition to a new company.

For more than 35 years, EEP, a locally owned and governed physician group, has provided emergency care to our community with notable physician stability and deep experience within the region’s health care system.

We also recognize that although we do not support the recent PeaceHealth administrative decision regarding the EEP contract, PeaceHealth has greatly contributed to health care in Lane County and the broader region for many years, playing a critical role in providing care and advancing the health of our community.

The Lane County Medical Society Board acknowledges the efforts from both organizations to ensure access to care. The board stands with, and remains committed to, supporting the physicians and health care professionals who serve this region, and to promoting health care systems where physician expertise and medical staff perspectives guide decisions that affect patient care and access to medicine.

The Lane County Medical Society Board of Trustees  

Bryan McVay, MD
Amandajo Sanders, DO
Rie Takahashi, MD
Judith Sabah, MD 
Miranda Lanning, MD
Nick Jones, MD 
Kanti Karki, MD
Carmina Angeles, MD 
Brian Hoyt, MD
Nanda Srinivasan, MD 
Skye Passmore, DO
Audrey Garrett, MD