Learn About Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay - Comprehensive Medical Services

Who We Are

As the Medical Center for Oregon’s South Coast, Bay Area Hospital offers a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The hospital’s inpatient and outpatient services include medical, surgical, pediatric, critical care, home health, outpatient and acute inpatient psychiatric, oncology, obstetrical, and other specialties.

We recently built the Prefontaine Cardiovascular Center, and a new Wound Care Center, offering hyperbaric therapy. In July of 2015, the hospital completed the Bay Area Cancer Center, making sure families throughout the region have access to cutting-edge cancer treatment and related services. We also administer the Kids’ HOPE Center, a one-stop service for abused children.

Physicians, nurses, and technologists are on duty 24-hours a day to meet the medical and emergency needs of South Coast residents and visitors. Our highly skilled staff is involved in a constant process of professional educational opportunities to keep abreast of the latest medical innovations.

Modern technology has made diagnosis and treatment easier. New and expanded medical services include laser treatments, MRI, CT, PET, mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, laparoscopy, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, varicose vein treatment, advanced radiation therapy, and robotic-assisted surgery.

Bay Area Hospital is committed to quality health care. Proof of this commitment is our accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Mission, Vision, and Values

Mission

We improve the health of our community every day.

Vision

Bay Area Hospital will be the model for regional health care excellence.

Organizational Values

Kindness: We honor and respect others with our words and actions.

Excellence: We are committed to superior service and quality care.

Teamwork: We drive success by our commitment to effectively work together.

Ownership: We take personal responsibility for all aspects of organizational success.

Innovation: We continually look for opportunities to improve our organization.

Leadership and Board of Directors

Bay Area Hospital Leadership

Brian Moore
President and CEO

Brian Moore is the President and CEO of Bay Area Hospital. He was selected by the Bay Area Hospital Board of Directors after a nationwide search and assumed leadership of the hospital on January 2, 2019. As a visionary leader, he comes to the South Coast with more than 20 years of hospital leadership experience, most recently serving as CEO at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado.

Since moving to the area, Moore has been hard at work getting acquainted with community leaders and working with the hospital board to determine goals for the organization.

“In these first 2 years, I’m really doing a lot of listening and developing relationships within the community,” Moore says. “There are so many great things going on here at Bay Area Hospital. It’s an exciting time to be leading the organization.”

Throughout Moore’s dynamic career, he has successfully positioned hospitals for growth and expansion, led organizations to improved hospital operations, and delivered strong, sustainable gains in performance and productivity. Revered as his proudest accomplishment, Moore played a leading role in starting several new hospital campuses in an underserved area of Colorado early in his career.

Moore believes building community partnerships is an important part of running a successful organization, and he looks forward to establishing those relationships on the Oregon Coast.

“Being involved with fellow business leaders and the broader civic community for me has been something that I’ve always enjoyed and been very active and visible in,” Moore says.
Jennifer Collins, MN-AL, RN
Chief Nursing Officer

Jennifer Collins brings over 20 years of healthcare experience to Bay Area Hospital. Jennifer has focused her career on nursing leadership with an emphasis on emotional intelligence, wellbeing, and resilience in the workplace. She earned her Master’s of Nursing in Administrative Leadership from the University of Washington, Bothell. She mentored BSN students and helped design the Administrative Leadership option while at the university. Most recently she served as the Director of Critical Care and Cardiovascular Service Line in Silverdale, Washington. Jennifer has continually improved processes to benefit both patients and nurses. She is noted for her work in shortening patient wait times, improving patient recovery after surgery, and fostering growth and leadership skills in nursing teams.
Lee Saltzgaber, MD
Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Saltzgaber is an experienced Certified Physician Executive, Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a Certified Professional in both Healthcare Quality as well as Patient Safety. He has a passion for team building and a 25-year history of success in leading physicians, healthcare professionals and support staff to improve the health and wellness of several communities and elevating morale across organizations.

Dr. Saltzgaber earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon and his Doctor of Medicine from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. He has residencies in Family Medicine, Aerospace Medicine, and Preventive Medicine. He also earned degrees in Master of Public Health, University of Texas, and Master of Medical Management, Marshall School of Business (USC).
Kelli Dion
Chief Quality Officer

Kelli Dion leads Bay Area Hospital’s Quality and Safety efforts which includes responsibility for Joint Commission Accreditation. She is an experienced health care professional with more than 20 years of patient care, Organizational Quality and Safety combined with management expertise. She has her Master’s Degree in Nursing and is a Certified Professional in both Patient Safety (CPPS) and Healthcare Quality (CPHQ).
Clay England
Chief Human Resources Officer

As a transformational leader, Clay has extensive experience in implementing innovative technological solutions, driving process improvements, and reengineering and reinventing the Human Resources function. His efforts have resulted in reduced turnover, higher employee engagement and improved overall organizational results for organizations throughout the United States and in Germany.
Patrick Varga
Chief Information & Innovation Officer

Patrick Varga has over 25 years of progressive healthcare experience and is an executive who is enthusiastic about the delivery of quality healthcare, particularly regarding patient safety, outcomes, and satisfaction. He strives to build strong relationships while fostering life-long learning opportunities and improving systems to make a lasting difference. His career experience includes positions in pharmacy, compliance, healthcare, patient safety, information technology, and leadership. He has served as Bay Area Hospital’s Chief Information Officer since 2017.
Mary Lou Tate
Chief Financial Officer

Mary Lou is a healthcare executive with a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of both operations and finance. She has a proven track record of financial savings and enhanced revenue growth. Mary Lou values collaboration and solution-oriented thinking. She is known for implementing innovative solutions that are workable and that positively affect employees. Mary Lou has over 19 years of experience as a healthcare executive. She has been the CFO at both rural and urban healthcare facilities, most recently she was the CFO at Campbell County Health in Gillette, Wyoming. She holds an undergraduate degree in Biology from Gonzaga University and a Master of Science in Accounting from Boise State University. She holds several certifications including HFMA’s CHFP, CRCR, and CSAR. She also holds a Lean Sigma Black Belt from the ASQ organization for proven ability in process improvement methods.

Bay Area Health District Board Members

Thomas F. McAndrew, M.D.
Board Chair

Dr. McAndrew serves as Bay Area Hospital's Board of Directors Chairman. He received his B.A. in Zoology in 1977 from Humbolt State University, Arcata, California. His Masters of Public Health was obtained from UCLA School of Public Health in 1980 with a special emphasis on nutrition and epidemiology. His Medical Degree was awarded from the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, in 1985. Dr. McAndrew is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. McAndrew and his wife, Deborah, have three grown sons. He enjoys sailing, music, live theater, and stained glass. Dr. McAndrew has been involved at Bay Area Hospital as a district board member since 2001.
Donna Rabin, M.D.
Secretary

Donna Rabin, M.D., is Bay Area Hospital's Board of Directors Secretary. She’s been a resident of Coos Bay for over 40 years and practiced medicine at North Bay Medical Center, retiring in late 2009. Donna treated all types of patients but has always had a particular interest in children with special needs. She received her medical degree from Rush Medical College. She was appointed to the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities and served on the council between 2007 and 2015. She was also on the Board of Directors for Bay Area Enterprise from 2010 – 2019 and was Chair from 2012 – 2019. Bay Area Enterprise is a non-profit corporation that provides assessment, training, and employment of people with disabilities. “I feel strongly that the hospital is in a position to collaborate with other community providers to help create a community where people can get the assistance they need to stay healthy.”
Barbara Taylor
Treasurer

Barbara Taylor serves as Bay Area Hospital's Board of Directors Treasurer. After graduating from San Jose State she moved to North Bend to join the CPA firm of Yergen & Meyer, which later merged into Moss Adams CPAs. After retiring as a partner in the firm, she has served as a BAH board member since 2011, BAH Finance Member since 2004, and Board member and Treasurer of Friends of Shore Acres. She is also a former board member of Coos History Museum and a former volunteer for AARP Tax Aides. “I find serving on the Board and Finance Committee to be very rewarding, and it allows me to use my experience as a former partner in a local CPA firm in giving back to my community.”
Troy Cribbins
Member At Large

Troy Cribbins is a Board Member at Large for Bay Area Hospital. He earned a Doctorate of Physical Therapy, and during his career has practiced in many settings including; inpatient, outpatient, skilled facilities, as well as, home health and is currently the Director of Physical Therapy at Pacific Home Health and Hospice. Troy has served on several different boards and in leadership roles, including the Boys and Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon. Cribbins stated, “As a practicing clinician who works in the homes of my patients, I have a front-row seat to some of the challenges that face our community in accessing health care services, and I would like to play a role in our hospital’s continued efforts to meet the health needs of our community.”
Carma Erickson-Hurt
Member At Large

Carma Erickson-Hurt is a Board Member at Large for Bay Area Hospital. Carma Erickson-Hurt is a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice), ACHPN (Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse) Clinical Nurse Specialist specializing in palliative care. Carma retired from the United States Navy in 2007, and she is currently adjunct online faculty at Grand Canyon University teaching nurses who are enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing program. She lectures and trains staff in palliative care concepts throughout the U.S and internationally. Carma has volunteered with Project HOPE on several national and international disasters and humanitarian missions and serves on their Colleagues in Global Health Board. Locally she has worked for South Coast Hospice and Southwestern Oregon Community College (SOCC). She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and a book chapter on nursing care for veterans. As a board member, she brings over 30 years of nursing experience in various settings and a passion for advocating for health care needs and access to care. Her military service and experience working with diverse populations in disasters and humanitarian settings have prepared her well to work within a team setting.
Brianna Hanson
Vice Chair

Brianna has worked in development for over 15 years including mining, with US, Foreign and Tribal entities, and commercial real estate. Brianna has global experience creating, marketing and branding specialty mineral product streams, building supply chains and motivating entrepreneurial activities within companies. While she was CEO of Oregon Resources Corporation, they received awards from DOGAMI for reclamation and from MSHA for regional excellence in safety. She has a Masters in Sustainability, Environmental Policy from Harvard University and a Masters in Business Science from the University of Texas, Austin. Brianna has served as a commissioner for the International Port of Coos Bay, Oregon, since 2013.
Legal Counsel
Megan Kronsteiner
Raphael El Youssef, MD
Chief of Staff

Dr. El Youssef is a General Surgeon who joined NBMC after spending 3 years in practice in Trinidad and Tobago following completion of his General Surgery residency. He was born in Trinidad and Tobago, which is where he completed his medical school training at the University of the West Indies in 1999. While at medical school, he was involved with the student government chairing the Entertainment Committee, eventually chairing the Student Council, and was honored as the Valedictorian at the University of the West Indies Graduation ceremonies in 1999. He completed his internship and worked as a house officer in the surgical specialties in Trinidad and Tobago until 2004 when he came to the US to enter surgical residency. Dr. El Youssef joined the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for an internship before moving to Portland where he would complete his surgical residency at Oregon Health Sciences University. During this time he completed a Masters of Clinical Research and was actively involved in the resident affairs of the program. His professional interests and goals revolve around student and resident education outcomes and surgical advocacy. Of particular interest is the issue of acute and general surgery coverage for rural areas and addressing the inclusion of this in the education and training of future general surgeons.

Board Meeting Notifications

Schedule of Upcoming Meetings:

Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Bay Area Hospital Board of Directors meeting
Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Bay Area Health District Board of Directors Finance Committee meeting
Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Bay Area Hospital Quality and Patient Safety Committee meeting

Meeting Details:

The Bay Area Health District’s Board of Directors will hold their regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in the Myrtle Conference room at Bay Area Hospital, 1775 Thompson Road, Coos Bay, Oregon, beginning at 6:05 p.m.

The regularly scheduled Board Education Session will be held on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in the Spruce/Fir Conference room at Bay Area Hospital, 1775 Thompson Road, Coos Bay, Oregon, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

If you would like to attend either meeting, please contact Denise Bowers, Executive Assistant, Administration Office of Bay Area Hospital, at 541.269.8135 or by email at denise.bowers@bayareahospital.org to make arrangements and/or get dialing access codes for the meeting. While the Oregon mask mandates have been lifted, masking supplies will be available if desired.

The Bay Area Health District’s Finance Committee and Bay Area Health District’s Board of Directors will hold their regularly scheduled joint meeting on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting via Bay Area Hospital’s account and in the Myrtle Conference room at Bay Area Hospital, 1775 Thompson Road, Coos Bay, Oregon beginning at 5:15 p.m.

If you would like to attend this meeting, please contact Shanna Sheaffer, Administrative Assistant, Administration Office of Bay Area Hospital at 541.269.8067 or by email at shanna.sheaffer@bayareahospital.org to make arrangements and/or get dialing access codes for the meeting.

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The Bay Area Health District’s Quality and Patient Safety Committee will hold a meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Bay Area Hospital will hold this meeting in person beginning at 4:15 p.m. in the Spruce/Fir Conference Room. The purpose of this meeting is to conduct regularly scheduled business related to quality and safety of patient care. Public attendance and input is welcome.

Our meeting rooms have specific guidelines in place to allow for social distancing. Because of this guidance, the number of attendees is limited, so please reserve your place by calling Bay Area Hospital Quality Division at 541.266.7923 and speak with Tina Warlick, Executive Assistant or by email at tina.warlick@bayareahospital.org.

Four Decades of Healing

Created and owned by local citizens, Bay Area Hospital has been the hub of South Coast healthcare for nearly five decades. It has endured and grown despite hard economic times, continually adding new technology and broadening its services.

The hospital remains strong through sound fiscal management, dedicated board members, professional employees, a highly qualified medical staff, caring volunteers, and the community’s continuing support. The hospital takes pride that no public taxes or bonds are required to support its $225 million operating budget.

A Slow Start

Local voters formed the Bay Area Health District in 1952, encompassing most of Coos County. But more than 20 years and two more elections would be needed before Bay Area Hospital opened its doors.

The health district’s Board of Directors voted in 1970 to build a new medical facility, replacing two older hospitals in North Bend and Coos Bay. Voters agreed, passing a $6.75 million bond levy.

Less than two years later, a group of citizens tried to stop the hospital construction. A special election was called for February 1972, and voters affirmed the construction plan. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in April of that year.

An estimated 8,000 visitors attended the hospital’s dedication ceremony in 1974. The completed 140-bed hospital opened its doors on May 19, 1974, admitting its first 54 patients from Memorial and McAuley hospitals. That same month, 27 physicians opened local practices.

Growth and Modernization

Demand for medical services quickly outgrew the initial facility. A series of expansions and improvements soon would begin:

1980

The first major expansion is a three-story north tower addition. The $4.8 million, 32-bed addition includes the laboratory, radiology, and loading dock.
1987
The original construction bonds are paid off 15 years early.
- A $1.4 million general facelift begins.
- Installation of the first mobile MRI on campus is completed.
1988

ICU expansion and remodeling is completed.
1990

The newly constructed Radiation Therapy Center begins treating cancer patients.
1991

Investment in new technologies includes an integrated computer system.
1997

A state-of-the-art CT scanner enhances medical imaging.
1998
The hospital begins offering mammography and stereotactic breast biopsy services.
- A $1 million angiography suite opens.
1999
A newly remodeled psychiatric services facility opens.
- New access roads are constructed.
- The hospital’s first website is unveiled.
2001
A $20 million investment yields more than 40,000 square feet of additional space, along with remodeling of another 23,000 square feet, and $6 million in technology upgrades. The latter include a $1.5 million linear accelerator for radiation therapy. Other new facilities include emergency, admitting, magnetic resonance imaging, maternity services, surgical suites, short stay, and laundry.
- The William M. Massey Memorial Garden is constructed, featuring a sculpture of three children playing in a fountain.
- The Sleep Center opens.
2002

Major remodeling projects are completed, including the cafeteria, conference rooms, orthopedic unit, and the second phase of the laboratory.
2005

The hospital adds outpatient psychiatric services.
2007

New facilities are completed for Rehabilitation Services and equipment storage.
2009

South Coast Radiology joins the Bay Area Hospital family. In 2010 it becomes the Women’s Imaging Center. The new center, at 2650 N. 17th St., is the largest outpatient imaging center on the southern Oregon coast.
2013
An expansion ushers in the “Hospital of the Future.” The new four-story wing offers all private rooms. Other improvements include a new Intensive Care Unit, and cardiovascular services including a cardiac catheterization lab.
- Acquisition of a surgical robot brings the hospital to the forefront of minimally invasive surgery.
- The hospital assumes leadership of the Child Abuse Intervention Center, renaming it the Kids’ Hope Center.
2014
The fourth floor of the new wing, initially left vacant, is completed to provide additional patient care space.
- The Prefontaine Cardiovascular Center is dedicated.
- A newly constructed Wound Care Center begins offering hyperbaric therapy.
2015

Bay Area Cancer Center opens its doors, bringing medical oncology and radiation oncology together under one roof.
2016

Bay Area Hospital earns its fifth straight Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for quality and patient safety.
2017

The new Joint Replacement Destination Center opens its doors, catering specifically to knee and hip replacement patients.
2018

The Outpatient Psychiatric Services Center was acquired by Dr. Robert Gerber in November 2018. The Inpatient Acute Psychiatric Unit completed a significant remodeling project in December of 2018.

Green Building

Caring for our planet while we care for you

Saving energy is a priority at Bay Area Hospital, for both environmental and economic reasons. Our 2013 expansion included “green” building features, which reduced per-square-foot energy costs nearly 20 percent compared with our previously constructed facilities.

We’ve been able to extend some of those features beyond the new area, incorporating energy-saving features throughout the building. We even have plans for electric car-charging stations.

Lighting

Electric lights are a large factor in any building’s energy footprint. Our new facility uses about 25 percent less electricity than the industry standard, thanks to automatic control systems and other features:

Lights in public areas automatically turn on and off on schedule.
Light levels in main patient corridors are reduced by 50 percent after hours.
Lights in many areas automatically turn off when rooms are vacant.
LEDs and high-efficiency fluorescent lighting save half the energy of standard compact fluorescents, and up to 90 percent compared with standard light bulbs. We’re installing LED lighting throughout the hospital.
Exterior lighting is designed to maximize light distribution with the fewest possible fixtures. Metal halide lamps further reduce energy use.

Motors

Electric motors in pumps, fans, and elevators are big energy users. Special features make motors in our new facility more efficient:

Variable frequency drives (VFDs) control motor speed and torque by varying the frequency and voltage of AC current. This can reduce a motor’s energy use by 30-50 percent.
“Soft start” controls reduce energy demand by bringing motors up to speed gradually. These devices are in use not only in the new area, but throughout the hospital.

Data Processing

Computers and servers are notorious energy hogs. “Green” features in our new facility reduce power use by these devices – and even recover the heat they generate:

Up-to-date processors and data storage devices deliver high performance with low energy use. And they automatically hibernate when they aren’t needed.
Energy-efficient workstations reduce power consumption to about 20 watts per machine – down from 300.
All computer servers generate heat. So a “heat recovery chiller” collects this otherwise wasted energy to help heat water. By piping chilled water through server towers, this feature is estimated to save more than $60,000 a year.

Central Command

Digital controls can reduce energy use by 30 percent or more, by integrating various building systems. Also, a “power quality monitoring system” can spot energy anomalies that could reduce electrical efficiency.

Mechanical Systems

Many mechanical features in the new section of Bay Area Hospital are designed to reduce energy consumption:

Fan systems react quickly to changes in air pressure and temperature.
Jumbo air ducts move high volumes at low speeds – saving energy by reducing resistance.
Two high-efficiency boilers, no bigger than old-style phone booths, provide radiant heat to warm the new area. Burning natural gas, these boilers typically run at 95 percent to 98 percent efficiency. (Older boilers commonly run at 75 percent to 79 percent.)
A dual-fuel backup boiler with a 15,000-gallon diesel reserve provides self-reliance in case our natural gas supply is disrupted.
Low-flow bathroom fixtures are 20 percent more efficient.

Partnering with Nature

The new building is designed to take advantage of natural light, with sunny windows lining exterior rooms and corridors. In some areas, glass dividers invite sunlight into interior rooms as well.

Some windows at Bay Area Hospital look out over “green roofs.” Nearly 5,000 square feet of roof is covered in 4½ inches of soil and planted with sedum. These elevated gardens insulate the areas below, exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen, and provide a pleasant view from the windows above.

Your Right to Know

Bay Area Hospital is committed to protecting your safety and giving you the highest possible quality of care. We are equally committed to transparency regarding our performance measurements on patient satisfaction, safety, and outcomes. We believe it is your right to know how we are working to improve the care we provide, and how we measure up against national quality benchmarks.

We participate in many programs aimed at tracking and improving the quality of hospital care, including the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Quality Core Measures. We regularly review patient outcomes and patient satisfaction scores.

To see how Bay Area Hospital compares with other hospitals and with national standards, follow these links to these independent sites where quality measurement data are collected and analyzed: