8A • COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • JULY 25, 2018
Riverbend ranked
among nation’s
most beautiful
hospitals
PeaceHealth
Sacred
Heart Medical Center at
RiverBend ranked sixth
in a national contest
to determine the most
beautiful hospitals in the
United States.
With 11,215 votes,
RiverBend placed sixth
among 68 finalists from
across the country. River-
Bend was the only finalist
in Oregon.
“The honor takes on
special meaning as Riv-
erBend approaches its
10th birthday on August
10,” said Marcy Marshall,
director of strategic com-
munications and engage-
ment for PeaceHealth
Oregon. “We’re so grate-
ful that more than 10
years ago this community
stepped forward to build
a regional medical center
that is beautiful inside
and out.
“RiverBend’s
setting
along the river, its design,
art and furnishings all
were chosen to provide
a comfortable, healing
environment for patients
and caregivers. But, of
course, the most beauti-
ful aspects of our hospital
are the people who work
in it and the patients they
serve.”
The annual contest is
sponsored by Soliant, an
Atlanta-based
special-
ty health care staffing
provider. The contest re-
ceived more than 250,000
total votes for the 68 fi-
nalists in 2018.
“Being named among
Soliant’s most beautiful
hospitals is a significant
achievement,”
Soliant
President David Alexan-
der said. “Each winner
joins a distinguished list
of outstanding hospitals
committed to delivering
first-class patient care in
environments that foster
healing.”
The voting period was
from June 1 to July 20.
This description of Riv-
erBend was taken from
PeaceHealth’s nomina-
tion letter:
“PeaceHealth Sacred
Heart Medical Center at
RiverBend in Springfield,
Ore., is gorgeous inside
and out. The 347-room
hospital on 181 scenic
acres along the McKenzie
River is warm and invit-
ing, and staff are friendly
and caring. RiverBend’s
lodge-like lobby, with a
towering stone fireplace,
comfortable seats and
grand piano, makes you
pinch yourself and ask,
‘Is this really a hospital?’
RiverBend was designed
by an architectural firm
better known for grand
hotels than medical cen-
ters. The design was in-
tended to create a tran-
quil, comfortable setting
for families and patients
managing health issues.
Art throughout the cam-
pus was carefully cho-
sen to reduce stress and
promote healing. Many
of RiverBend’s patient
rooms have views of the
river, woods and hills.
The campus has nearly
three miles of bike and
walking paths. Patients
at this regional medical
center truly have an op-
portunity to experience
the healing power of na-
ture.”
Watch for whales this weekend on coast
The Oregon Chapter of the
American Cetacean Society
(ACS) is hosting its Seventh
Annual Summer Whale Watch
Weekend on July 28 and 29, at
Boiler Bay State Park in Depoe
Bay.
ACS volunteer members and
Certified Naturalists will be on
hand from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
each day to help visitors watch
for whales and other wildlife,
as well as provide information
on whales, dolphins, porpoises
and their habitats.
This family friendly event is
free, open to the public, and
fun for all ages.
No worries about seasick-
ness, this is an eco-friendly
shore-based whale watch.
Observe whales in their natural
habitat without causing a dis-
turbance. Here are a few of the
things visitors can learn: What
is a cetacean? What are the dif-
ferences between a dolphin
and porpoise? what is baleen?
What whales, dolphins and
porpoises are found off the
Oregon Coast? What do they
eat (prey) and what eats them
(predators)? What are the
threats affecting them? What
can you do to help?
The most frequently
observed cetaceans along the
Oregon Coast are gray
whales. Learn about the
Pacific Coast Feeding Group
of gray whales and the myth
of resident whales.
Whales are facing many
threats and some
species and popula-
tions are on the
verge of extinction.
Learn how to make
a difference wherev-
er you live in the
world.
The American
Cetacean Society is
the oldest whale
conservation orga-
nization in the
world, founded in
1967. The mission
of this all volunteer
non-profit is to pro-
tect whales, dol-
phins, porpoises
and their habitats
through public edu-
cation,
research
grants and conser- The tail of a grey whale surfaces following a breach of the Oregon coast. (courtesy photo)
vation
actions.
Information on the
site: www.acsonline.org.
tact Joy Primrose, ACS Oregon lover4ever@yahoo.com or call
ACS can be found on the web-
For more information, con- Chapter President at marine_ 541-517-8754.
Post a picture of
your garden (vegetable, fruit or
fl ower garden) on our Facebook page
and earn the chance to
WIN A $200 GIFT CERTIFICATE
CONTEST RULES: Visit the Cottage
Grove Sentinel Facebook page at
https://www. facebook.com/pages/
Cottage-Grove-Sentinel/ and upload
a picture of your vegetable, fruit or
fl ower garden to the photo album
section of the page. In the comment
space, describe what makes you so
proud of your garden. The person who
receives the most “likes” by August
31, 2018 will win the $200 in gift
certifi cates valid at the participating
businesses. The name of the winner
will be posted on our Facebook page
on August 8, 2018. Participants must
be 18 years old or more. Previous
winners, employees of this newspaper
and participating businesses and their
immediate family members are not
eligible to participate in this contest.
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