PROVIDENCE NEWBERG MEDICAL CENTER, OREGON’S
NEWEST HOSPITAL, BEGINS SERVING COMMUNITY

June 16, 2006

NEWBERG, Ore. - Oregon’s newest hospital welcomed its first patient just after 7 a.m., Friday, June 16. Raymond Brudnok of Newberg arrived in a Newberg Fire Department ambulance, with Providence Newberg Medical Center Administrator Larry Bowe sitting by his side. “I felt like number one riding in that ambulance with Larry,” said Brudnok. “It was a big deal to me.”

“It was important to me to ride with that first patient,” said Bowe. “I found it to be more moving than I expected. We came in the door of the new facility and saw all the staff here waiting for this first patient, I had to choke back a tear.”

Brudnok and four other patients were transferred from Providence Newberg Hospital to Providence Newberg Medical Center as the old facility closed and the new center opened. The five patients were settled into their new rooms by 8 a.m.

Brudnok was excited to be at the new facility, in a new bed, surrounded by cutting edge technology in the intensive care unit. “They are doing such a great job here,” said Brudnok. “This hospital has been a long time coming and we really need it here.”

Three medical teams assisted each patient in the move. A team at the old hospital prepared the patient for the move. A second team traveled with the patient. And, a third team welcomed the patient to the new center.

“This is a huge accomplishment for this staff and the people of Providence,” said Bowe. “To see all of this come together after all of our hard work is fabulous. And we can now offer the community this wonderful healing environment.”

The new medical center is located on Hwy 99W in north Newberg. This is the first medical center built from the ground up by Providence Health System in Oregon in 30 years. The 175,000 square foot facility includes a 40-bed hospital and medical office building. The medical center employees 310 people, and has a professional staff of 182 physicians.

The new center offers general medical care, surgical services, diagnostic imaging, obstetrics and gynecology care, pediatric services, a sleep disorders program and an emergency department.

In addition to being a regional, state-of-the-art medical center, Providence Newberg is receiving national recognition for its leadership in energy and environmental design. It is the only hospital in the nation using 100 percent renewable wind power, provided by Portland General Electric. In addition, Providence Newberg will be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, a national organization that encourages and supports construction of healthy, energy efficient buildings.

Some of the environmentally-friendly features of Providence Newberg include:
- 100 percent outdoor air circulating inside the building;
- 100 percent renewable/green power used in the facility;
- 75 percent construction waste recycled and/or salvaged;
- storm water runoff management;
- and green cleaning practices and products used by housekeeping.

Two weeks of opening events will conclude on Saturday, June 24, with a blessing ceremony performed by the Most Rev. John Vlazny, archbishop of Portland.

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Providence Newberg Medical Center is part of Providence Health System, which provides complete health care peace of mind through a network of hospitals, clinics, health plans and home services.