Groundbreaking

On June 30th, Friends of the Birth Center joined PeaceHealth for the much anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the Nurse Midwifery Birth Center. Following are photos from the ceremony.

Construction is underway and in ten months’ time, approximately the time it takes to gestate a baby, Friends of the Birth Center looks forward to joining PeaceHealth, donors and community supporters for very special spring (Mother’s Day?) 2010 grand opening.

Birth Center farewell party

On June 21st, the Birth Center hosted a six-hour open house farewell party for families and friends.

With music by the Low Tide Drifters on the porch and dance from Luminessah, Birth Center staff, families and friends spanning its 28-year history in Eugene, visited and drifted through the house in which they welcomed children.

Special thanks to The Divine Cupcake, Capella Market and Liz Gibson for donating cupcakes, appetizers and gorgeous floral arrangements.

During construction of a new freestanding facility, nurse midwifery services are temporarily relocated to the second floor of the PeaceHealth Medical Group Downtown Eugene clinic.

If you were unable to attend or already miss the old Birth Center, here are some photos...

And, if you're already ready to stroll down memory lane, here are photos of the Birth Center as many of us will remember it for years to come..

Update on services and costs following June 10 Q&A meeting

On June 22, PeaceHealth CEO Mel Pyne responded to concerns raised at the June 10 Q&A meeting about services during the interim construction period of the new Birth Center. Mr. Pyne made the following points.

Interim Services
Hospital leadership is working with Birth Center midwives to ensure an optimal experience for mothers and families on the Labor and Delivery unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Costs
PeaceHealth Patient Financial Services department will provide one-on-one consultations to Birth Center mothers and families. For eligible families, there are resources available to mitigate the financial impact of the higher cost of a hospital birth. (Patient Financial Services can be reached at (541) 686-7191.)

Friends of the Birth Center appreciates the ongoing communication as we embark on the short-term interim period.