Washington State Hospital to Expand Community Healthcare Accessibility
By Fay Harvey
PROSSER, Wash. — Prosser Memorial Health (PMH), a healthcare provider serving the state of Washington, is opening a new $125 million hospital in the coming months after ground was broken in 2022. The new facility will sit on a 33-acre campus, leaving PMH with room to expand services and capabilities.
PMH’s continued dedication to healthcare has earned the healthcare provider a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, making PMH the only critical-access hospital to earn the honor.
Within the past five years, PMH has experienced growth of patient demand by 20% annually across its service offerings, including dermatology, cardiology, orthopedics, joint care, general surgery, gastroenterology, women’s health, behavioral health and emergency care. In alignment with PMH’s commitment to providing community-centered care, the new 88,000-square-foot hospital will prioritize the community’s health and wellbeing, ensuring people have access to quality care close to home.
The new facility includes 25 private patient rooms, with four devoted to intensive care. An expanded emergency department will hold 14 beds, and two centers for trauma and an expanded wound and infusion center as well as a cardio rehabilitation room will also be added. PMH’s surgical capabilities will be expanded, with five new operating rooms in the project plans that are equipped with advanced technology and enhanced imaging capabilities. The gastroenterology department will remain in the existing PMH facility to accommodate rising patient needs. A full-service cafeteria is also being added that will offer various, convenient dining options for visitors, patients and staff members.
The existing 24/7, 25-bed facility hospital on Memorial Street is a current go-to in the community for emergencies, births and routine health, according to the Tri-City Herald, and has been for 75 years since opening in 1947.
But after decades of use, the current hospital facilities are dated and not fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. PMH leaders determined that constructing a new facility was a more cost-effective approach than renovating the existing structure and would allow the hospital to continue growing and adding new service lines and providers. In 2017, PMH purchased the land for the new facility and officials plan to either sell the existing grounds and facility or raze it and return it to a residentially zoned area, according to the PMH project website.
Bouten Construction of Richland, Wash., is serving as the project’s general contractor and anticipates a February opening. PMH has planned public open houses on Jan. 11 and Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving the community a first look at its future home for health.