Today the Department of Human Services issued a proposed order to approve our application to build a new 148-bed acute care hospital in Eugene.  In the proposed decision, DHS staff said  "...Approval of this project will result in an improvement in patients' reasonable access to services...It appears that a new hospital is the most cost effective solution, given the current shortfalls of the current facility and the cost of rehabilitating it while simultaneously trying to serve patients....Need for the requested beds has been established...Patients will retain the ability to choose between hospital providers."

McKenzie-Willamette must obtain all zoning and land use approvals necessary to operate the hospital at Delta Ridge, and must agree not to offer inpatient hospital services at the Springfield site once the new hospital is licensed.

In response to criticism from neighbors located immediately adjacent to the proposed site, Ms. Fussell said "...the applicant has addressed this issue in the materials that it has submitted...It is the role of local government to listen to the concerns raised by its citizens and to decide whether to enact the changes necessary to allow this hospital to be sited at this location."