By Sequoia Nix
As PeaceHealth prepares to transition emergency department physician staffing at its Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend next summer, hospital leadership says the move is part of a broader investment in emergency services. Inside the emergency department, however, one longtime nurse says the announcement has brought mounting uncertainty and frustration among staff.
“The overwhelming uncertainty has taken a toll on everyone involved,” said a registered nurse in the RiverBend emergency department who requested anonymity due to concern about professional repercussions.
The nurse, who has worked in the department for more than nine years, said she has seen many changes over the past decade. This transition feels different.
RiverBend is the primary hospital for emergency care in Lane County and is the main Emergency Department servicing Lane Community College students. Many students rely on emergency services during acute health crises, particularly those without established primary care providers.
In November, PeaceHealth issued a request for proposals for emergency physician services at RiverBend, Cottage Grove Community Medical Center and Peace Harbor Medical Center in Florence. After what it described as a comprehensive assessment led by Oregon-based clinical and administrative leaders, the health system selected ApolloMD as its new emergency medicine partner.
“We anticipate this new partnership will begin in the summer of 2026,” said Jim Murez, communications manager for PeaceHealth in response for a comment from The Torch. “PeaceHealth and ApolloMD are committed to having a fully staffed and high-quality group of physicians in place before the transition takes place with no gap in care.”
Murez said the transition is part of PeaceHealth’s investment in its emergency departments, including a planned renovation of the RiverBend ER intended to expand access and reduce wait times. He also noted that ApolloMD is a physician-owned, clinician-led organization.
However, inside the department, staff are grappling with what that transition could mean in practice. The nurse described a noticeable shift in morale following the announcement that ApolloMD will replace Eugene Emergency Physicians, the local group that has staffed RiverBend’s emergency department for decades.
“There’s sadness. There’s frustration. There are a lot of unanswered questions,”
According to the nurse, staff across roles — including nurses, technicians and physicians — are concerned about how potential physician turnover could affect workflow and patient care.
“A significant turnover will likely lead to longer wait times in the lobby and disrupt the established flow of care,” she said. “That directly affects our ability to provide timely assistance, especially to critically ill patients.”
RiverBend serves as the region’s primary trauma center, a role that expanded after the closure of PeaceHealth’s University District emergency department in Eugene. The nurse said the department has experienced strain at times, particularly as patients struggle to access primary care providers.
She also described limited communication about transition planning.
“The only communication we received was a one-time visit from the Apollo group,” she said. “Many questions were deferred, which left staff feeling unsettled.”
The staffing transition has drawn attention beyond the emergency department. In a news release Monday, the Oregon Nurses Association Riverbend nurses held a vote of no confidence in Peacehealth leadership. With 98% of participating nurses reporting they had no confidence in chief hospital executive Dr. Jim McGovern and chief medical officer Dr. Kim Ruscher. The vote took place between Feb. 23 and March 1, according to the union.
While PeaceHealth maintains there will be no disruption in services, some staff inside the department say the emotional and operational impact of the transition is already being felt.
“This isn’t just about a contract,” the nurse said. “It’s about maintaining the environment we’ve built here — one that understands this community.”
ApolloMD did not respond to requests for comment by publication deadline. The Oregon Nurses Association also did not respond.
