Published 08-04-08
Submitted by Green Buzz PR, LLC
SPRINGFIELD, OR. - August 5, 2008 - The opening of Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend has been celebrated for the many innovative and patient-friendly design elements incorporated into the new facility. But one of the largest hospital construction projects in the Pacific Northwest in the last decade is also notable for another important reason: its commitment to environmental stewardship principles in the design and building of the facility, making it one of the nation's Greenest hospitals.
Due to concerns surrounding infection control and other public health issues, new hospital construction projects are rightfully among the most heavily regulated building projects, presenting special challenges to designers wanting to incorporate modern Green building principles. But Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend was committed to incorporating environmental stewardship principles into the design of the facility from the onset of the project nearly 10 years ago, and the lead architects for the project, Anshen + Allen, came through with a design that incorporates Green principles throughout the property.
"After we selected RiverBend as the location for our new medical facility, our volunteer Governing Board quickly adopted a policy that underscored the importance of environmental stewardship in the design and building of the project," said Phil Farrington, Director of Land Use Planning and Development for PeaceHealth. "We are proud of what we have accomplished in this area, and will continue to look for additional ways to reduce our environmental impact while delivering exceptional health care."
Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend incorporates a number of Green features that maximize energy efficiency and greatly reduce the amount of chemicals typically used in a hospital facility. These steps include:
ABOUT SACRED HEART MEDICAL CENTER
Sacred Heart Medical Center is one of the largest hospitals between Portland and San Francisco and a regional referral center serving as a Level II trauma center for an 8 county region. Key services for the nonprofit hospital include the Oregon Heart & Vascular Institute, Neurosciences Institute with a Gamma Knife Center, Gerontology Institute, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and specialized surgical services. Sacred Heart Medical Center has two campuses: University District in Eugene, Oregon, and a new state-of-the-art second campus, Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, located in neighboring Springfield, Oregon, opening August 2008.
GreenBuzz PR is a full-service public relations and marketing communications firm committed to providing sustainable communications services to businesses, governments and non-profits, with a particular focus on the environmental and health care fields. Founded in 2007 by David Kaufer and Teresa Wippel, GreenBuzz PR is located just north of Seattle in Edmonds, Wash.
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