Community Health Centers opens West 11th rapid-access clinic to reduce ER visits

Community Health Centers of Lane County opened a rapid-access clinic at 3321 W. 11th Ave., the former PeaceHealth Urgent Care site in west Eugene, to provide same-day, next-day and walk-in access for established, new and prospective CHCLC patients and cut unnecessary emergency room visits. The clinic began serving patients and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by county and clinic leaders on February 18, 2026.

CHCLC designed the West 11th site as a rapid-access primary and behavioral health hub rather than an urgent care center. Family nurse practitioner and associate medical director Briana Axline said the model responds to scheduling barriers: “Sometimes it's hard to even schedule an appointment and keep that appointment so having a rapid access clinic where they can walk in or call and get the same day or next day appointment really is meeting their needs and meeting them where they’re at so it's hugely important.” Axline added that the clinic links patients into CHCLC primary care clinics and care teams for follow-up: “Not only is it rapid access connecting and getting your needs met immediately but we also link into our primary care clinics and link to a care team for a follow up so people can get their health care maintenance needs met and whatever on going care they might need.”

Operational details released around the opening say four providers are staffing the West 11th location and that the site currently serves about 64 patients per day, roughly 320 patients per week. Eve Gray, Lane County Health & Human Services director, framed the clinic as part of a larger network now serving an estimated 30,000 patients: “When you look at the population that we serve in the community health centers, it is about 30,000 right now and growing. We are going to be the core health care resource for 10% of Lane County residents at least as we continue growing our clinic and our services.” Local coverage also identified the West 11th clinic as CHCLC’s seventh site.

The ribbon-cutting lineup at the West 11th parking lot included Suzanne Roelof, Eve Gray, Board of Commissioners Chair Laurie Trieger and Briana Axline. Trieger called the new clinic a “shining example” of county efforts to expand equitable access, and Gray emphasized timely care: “This clinic really is about ensuring our patients have access to the care they need, when they need it. Often times patients simply can’t wait for the next available appointment, and this clinic affords same day quality care.”

Reports note the clinic accepts patients covered by or eligible for the Oregon Health Plan and is explicitly designed to connect behavioral-health supports for people experiencing unstable housing. County and CHCLC materials say the facility aims to reduce barriers to care and lower overall emergency room and emergency-services utilization by giving residents a same-day access option tied to ongoing primary care.