PeaceHealth’s inpatient rehabilitation unit at University District will relocate to RiverBend on Dec. 15

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – PeaceHealth announced today that its inpatient rehabilitation unit at University District in Eugene will relocate to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield on Dec. 15.

PeaceHealth is taking this step after announcing in August the start of a comprehensive process to close the underutilized University District hospital.  

After the closure of the emergency department at University District at 7 a.m. on Dec. 1, the inpatient rehabilitation unit will be the only service remaining at the hospital until the unit moves to RiverBend on Dec. 15. Following the unit’s relocation to RiverBend, the hospital tower at University District will close.

 All PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics on the west side of Hilyard Street and the outpatient rehabilitation clinic, plus the inpatient behavioral health unit on the corner of Alder Street and 11th Avenue, will remain open and serving patients.

Oregon Rehabilitation Center, PeaceHealth’s inpatient rehabilitation unit, serves adults recovering from such conditions as stroke, neurological disease, or brain or spinal cord injuries. The center will operate temporarily at RiverBend until the state-of-the-art, 50-bed rehabilitation hospital PeaceHealth is developing with Lifepoint opens in 2026.

“PeaceHealth is deeply committed to Lane County and we remain focused on providing safe, high- quality and compassionate care for all in the region,” said Dr. Jim McGovern, interim chief executive for PeaceHealth Oregon network. “We are proud of our Oregon Rehabilitation Center caregivers who make such a difference in the lives of our patients who are recovering from illness or injury. We celebrate their recent national recognition and look forward to continuing to provide excellent care at the center’s new location at RiverBend.”

Oregon Rehabilitation Center was recently named one of the best on the West Coast.

Many current University District caregivers have already accepted new positions at other PeaceHealth locations. PeaceHealth’s goal is to provide opportunities for as many staff as possible to continue to work with the organization.

PeaceHealth has served this area for nearly 100 years and remains strongly committed to Lane County.

About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a medical group practice with more than 1,100 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.