Bay Area Hospital

12/22/2025

Why would anyone walk in winter? There are more reasons than just getting outdoors once in a while. Here are three reasons:

1 - Activate your immune system. Studies have shown that walking outside in winter can also wake up your immune system and, at the same time, decrease inflammation. Just what your body needs to fight off those pesky winter colds!
2 - Maintain your weight. While many people tend to gain weight in winter, staying active with regular walks can help you stay strong and ready for spring activities.
3 - Spend time walking with friends and family through wooded forests and enjoy nature together for a natural boost to your mental health and sense of connection.

Did you know that walking for just two minutes after a meal can help regulate blood sugar, improve digestion, lower blood pressure, burn calories, and elevate your mood? Stay tuned in January for Part Two of this series.

Suggested hikes in December:
- Golden and Silver Falls.
- Beach walking! Bullard Beach, Bandon Beach. Any beach with a lot of distance to walk as far as you want.

12/19/2025

WINTER SOLSTICE ARRIVES ON SUNDAY. The term “solstice” comes from the Latin words sol (Sun) and sistere (to stand still) because, during the solstice, the angle between the Sun’s rays and the plane of the Earth’s equator (called declination) appears to stand still.

So what does that mean, exactly? Upon the winter solstice, the Sun appears at its lowest in the sky, and its noontime elevation seems to stay the same for several days before and after this day. The Sun’s gradual decrease in the sky reverses upon the winter solstice, marking what many cultures believe to be a “rebirth” of the Sun as the hours of daylight become longer.

12/18/2025

The Bay Area Hospital Wound and Hyperbaric Center is proud to provide wound care this season—and every season! At our center, we treat all wounds. Our approach to wound care is comprehensive, coordinating traditional and advanced therapies that aid and accelerate the healing process. Call our wound center today at 541-269-4180 to learn more or visit https://bit.ly/3WPbZnr

12/17/2025

As we enter flu season, the CDC anticipates a moderate level of severity and strongly recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccination. The flu vaccine can reduce your risk of illness by 40–60%, depending on the season. To help protect yourself and others:
1. Consult with your healthcare provider about the flu vaccine.
2. Receive your flu shot if you have not already done so.
3. Avoid close contact with individuals who are ill.
4. Practice proper respiratory hygiene by covering coughs.
5. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/2025-2026.html
Safeguard your health—get vaccinated.

12/16/2025

This holiday season, let's prioritize safety in gift-giving! Before you share a toy with a special child, take a moment to consider: Is it safe and age-appropriate? Let's protect our little ones and ensure a happy and healthy gift-giving experience.

Remember, December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month! Watch for certain toy dangers:
* toys with magnets
* electric toys should be UL Approved - make sure batteries are secured inside the toy
* cords, ribbons, and strings - a choking hazard for young kids
* any painted toy should be lead-free
* toys that have flying objects or shoot projectiles can be hazardous
* toys with sharp points and edges
* small parts like marbles, coins, or small items for a child under 5, can present a choking hazard.

12/15/2025

Staying healthy means having access to nutritious food. We're sharing a recent announcement from the Oregon Health Authority that offers valuable information for individuals struggling with food insecurity. If you need help accessing or paying for food, visit this link to learn more about free food events, community meal programs, and other resources. https://bit.ly/4qajKQP

12/13/2025

This morning we received a call to the hospital switchboard that there was a threat made to the Emergency Department. Immediately following, the ED was placed on lock down while the Coos Bay Police Department were called to assess the situation. The ED is open, there is no imminent threat, and operations have returned to normal. Thank you to the public for their patience while we managed the situation with local police.

12/12/2025

Fighting the blues on these darker days? This could be due to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - a depression type that strikes in shorter, less sunny stretches of fall and winter. But remember, you can light up your world! 💡 Sunlight-filled walks, therapy, and certain medications can help ward off the Winter blues. Explore more on SAD, its signs, and remedies here: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder

12/11/2025

Holiday sweaters are always a blast from the past! At Bay Area Hospital, our team went all out and showed off their most colorful, creative sweaters for the Ugliest Sweater competition. Take a peek at the festive fun and help us keep the holiday spirit alive!

12/10/2025

We're pleased to share with our community the highlights from last evening's Bay Area Hospital Board Meeting, December 9, 2025.
𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
• Board member, Brandon Saada, read a patient/family testimonial which praised hospital staff for outstanding care and compassion.
𝐂𝐄𝐎'𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭
• President and CEO, Gretchen Nichols, reported strong expense management offsetting soft volumes; focus continues to be on reducing temporary labor and recruiting key physicians.
• The hospital is exploring a clinically integrated network with other Oregon hospitals for shared services and contracting leverage.
• Work continues on the efforts with our Legislature, including a $10M Emergency Board request and ongoing outreach to state representatives.
• The hospital recently underwent a recertification Trauma Survey. Congratulations to our teams for the new 3-year accreditation with no deficiencies noted.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞
• November operating loss improved to ~$320K; expense reduction and revenue cycle improvement initiatives remain on track.

The next meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Thank you to everyone who participated and continues to support Bay Area Hospital’s mission.

12/09/2025

Did you know your hands can have anywhere between 100,000 to a few million germs at any given time? It's time to remind ourselves how much thorough and regular handwashing helps us stay healthy. Think of how many different things we touch during the course of an average day. Now imagine how many of those things were touched by other people's hands.

Wash your hands to prevent the spread of dangerous microbes and follow the 4 Principles of Hand Hygiene Awareness:
1. WASH your hands when they are dirty and BEFORE eating.
2. DO NOT cough into your hands.
3. DO NOT sneeze into your hands.
4. Above all, DO NOT put your fingers into your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label. Tips and information from the CDC are available here https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html

12/08/2025

Kids’ HOPE Center demonstrated exceptional creativity at this year’s Festival of Trees, presenting a Star Wars-themed display titled "I Spy... A Galaxy Far, Far, Away!" The team’s innovative tree design can be viewed here: Video: https://vimeo.com/1143174161?fl=ip&fe=ec

Their efforts were recognized with an impressive auction result of $2,900.00—the event’s third highest sale—during the auction held at Ko-Kwel Casino Resort on December 4, 2025. We are honored to support this annual initiative benefiting the Coos Bay - North Bend Rotary programs.

This is "Kid's HOPE Center Festival of Trees 2025" by Bay Area Hospital on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.