How Sacred Heart realizes its vision of providing advanced medical care in a healing environment will have a profound effect on the health of the entire region. The issues that have been raised by some in the community about Sacred Heart’s move to a new site are real. But they are not the only issues that are important in the establishment of a new medical center. Sacred Heart is not just renewing its present facilities; it is establishing the basis for continuing future growth. If we have learned anything about the design of health care facilities over the years, it is that the only constant is change. And while growth may not be constant, it is inevitable.

To accommodate change and growth alone, the size of an unencumbered site that allows for flexibility and growth is the most important criterion. Major medical centers in this country have found that a 50 to 60 acre site allows for the flexibility required for this unknown future. For example, St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland moved to a new 40-acre site 30 years ago and established a strong master plan based on the principles of flexibility, expandability, adaptability and accessibility to the region, and it has been able to respond to changing industry conditions to continually provide the highest level of health care. But today even St. Vincent is approaching its limits to accommodate the explosive changes being brought on by advances in medical technology, research and concepts of care. No site approaching that size seems to be available in the downtown Eugene core without significant condemnation and disruption.

Sacred Heart is currently faced with the inability to accommodate even today’s medical technologies and changing medical services. In addition, there are many new categories of medical science that are just now emerging. These are not provided for today except on a trial or experimental basis in medical centers, and they will require as of yet undefined types of facilities for their implementation. For example, emerging practices include the use of robotics in surgery; the use of genetic genealogy, diagnostics, treatments and repairs to people with chronic diseases; the growing understanding of brain chemistry and its application in the mediation of emotion, behavior and immune response; and application of new materials such as artificial skin, blood and bone. The excellence of future health care in the Eugene-Springfield area should be able to accommodate these technologies as they emerge in a cost efficient manner.

Research has confirmed that hospitals designed for patient well-being promote healing. Such research has raised the expectations of the health care industry. Family-centered care, an approach that starts with the belief that emotional support is critical to healing, will also inform the planning of Sacred Heart’s renewal program. Fundamental to the success of this approach is flexibility of the site to accommodate often overlooked but basic amenities for patients and their families. Key elements of a healing environment for patients, family and providers are access to natural light, gardens, landscaped walkways, the sight and sound of water, and near views and vistas to nature. Numerous studies have established this fact. There is no substitute for a site that affords space to establish and maintain natural open space areas.

Clear and easy access to health care services is another important factor. In this case, the new site is convenient to the heart of the region’s primary arterials and will assure accessibility to everyone throughout the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area. Also, the proposed expansion of the public transit system will be able to take into account service to a new hospital site.

Sacred Heart’s commitment to Eugene remains steadfast. The people of Eugene will still access important ambulatory services that will be maintained at the existing [University District] campus. In this existing location, Sacred Heart’s renewal plans include renovating 600,000 square feet of space that will provide outpatient services, administrative and support functions for greater distribution of these services throughout the community. The existing campus will continue to support the neighborhood retail, housing, employment and transit by keeping 1400 employees at that site. Future redevelopment of the site allows for the addition of up to 400,000 square feet of medical and research facilities, expanded open space and the potential for collaboration with the University of Oregon.

The $300,000,000 first phase of the medical center will be a major investment in the community, while maintaining a commitment to the health of the downtown core. Sacred Heart is proactively addressing the delivery of health care in the 21^st century. While doing so, it is fully committed to the community goals of Eugene-Springfield and the surrounding region and views its mission as providing the highest quality health care possible to all its citizens. Flexibility to accommodate the explosive changes in health care delivery is critical. We believe Sacred Heart should do nothing less than secure a site that will ensure its vision is realized.

Larry Bruton is a design partner with Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, a 380-person architecture firm with offices in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Approximately one-third of the firm’s broad-based practice is in the design of health care facilities. Clients include such premier institutions as the National Institutes of Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.