Sacred Heart At RiverBend

Caitlin H.

January 17, 2010 - 10:35 PM

At the UO we get one long weekend a term. In the fall, Thanksgiving: A wonderful holiday but a weekend entirely tied up and devoted to family, not to mention usually just before finals. In the spring, Memorial Day weekend: or a chance to catch up on studying just before dead week. But in the winter, we have MLK day off. In week 3 of the term. In my mind, it is the ideal three-day weekend to a college student, perfectly distanced from all midterm and final examination periods and not tied to family traditions. It's a chance to get away and do a little ‘college exploring.'

I'll admit I had high hopes for this long weekend. I had hoped to catch up on some reading and accomplish some scholastic-related tasks, but my heart was also calling me to take an extra few hours and paint, or go on an adventure somewhere. See the mountains, travel home, or spend time reconnecting with friends. I wanted to go for a long run somewhere. In my planner, it says that this weekend was supposed to be fun

This morning I made a trip to Urgent Care. This isn't the perfectly planned long weekend I had been dreaming of.

Granted, a wrench has been thrown in my plans and this has been far from the weekend I'd hoped for, I thought I'd take a few moments before the medication wears off to sing some praises for medical care in the Eugene area.

I should start by saying I'm only ill. I'd say with what but I don't know; although if I had to give it a name, evil might reside somewhere in the title. I've been fighting off feeling sick for a week now and with my complete unwillingness to slow down I think things have morphed from one disease to another until it finally got the better of me. On Saturday morning I thought I was still going to be able to make it through on my own if I just let myself rest a little. By Saturday afternoon I realized I needed to go talk to a health care professional.

In a normal situation where I needed medical assistance, I would just go see someone at the UO Health Center. But of course this was the weekend, and a holiday weekend, so things were closed. I needed to explore new options. I had heard pleasant things about the Urgent Care at the new Sacred Heart at RiverBend. While seeing the facility wasn't exactly on my list of top 50 things to do while at the UO, I decided now was the time.

The building was nice. Well, better than nice. It was clearly impressive from the outside and within. But when you're sick your eye isn't really primed to those sorts of details. I just wanted to see a doctor and then be on my way. The clinic had the process streamlined to perfection. I was beyond impressed. I think somehow I felt better just for being so well taken care of and so quickly. From the moment I walked in I was having my vitals taken within the first 10 minutes. I was called to see a doctor within 5, had seen the doctor within another 5, and had a test result within another 5 minutes. Then I had my prescription and was out the door.

I have been blessed I have never needed much medical attention while in college. Usually the comfort of knowing the University Health Center is available is enough support. But now knowing and experiencing what wonderful care the surrounding hospitals offer (there is another Sacred Heart hospital located a city block from the main campus), I feel so taken care of. I hope I don't miss out on more weekend adventures for being sick or needing to go to the hospital, but just knowing help is there, it is accessible, and that they are quality institutions sets a person at a peace of mind. It was easy to find help when I needed it, even in the middle of a holiday weekend. Some days I find myself loving Eugene for the strangest reasons. Maybe not so strange, but too often forgotten by a college student.