Since 1899, Walla Walla General Hospital has been providing whole-person care to the community. In 2010, WWGH had 1,449 admissions, 259 babies delivered, 10,000 emergency room visits, 40,599 outpatient visits and 5,889 home-health visits. In the 112 years since the hospital was founded, many things have changed, but the dedication to whole-person care has stayed the same.
WWGH Grows Out
Now several other things about the hospital are undergoing transformation. To better serve the community, WWGH has started a $15-million expansion to improve patient care, convenience and privacy. The first major renovation since the current building was finished in 1978 will include:
Total renovation of the front entrance to enhance patient flow;
Expanded emergency center, which will double in size to better serve patients;
Centralized registration and waiting areas for increased privacy and convenience;
Upgrades to physician offices;
Enlarged cafeteria highlighting healthy food options;
A new volunteer gift shop.
Groundbreaking took place on July 20, and the project is expected to last 18 months.
“We’re excited about these significant upgrades to Walla Walla General Hospital and what that means for health care in Walla Walla,” says Monty Knittel, WWGH president and CEO. “Our services continue to expand, and it’s time for our facility to match the quality of service and patient satisfaction we provide on a daily basis.”
More Services for the Community
The building isn’t the only thing the community can get excited about. WWGH has also recently partnered with the Northwest Cardiovascular Institute, based in Portland, Oregon, to enhance cardiac care in the Walla Walla Valley.
Through this partnership, Brad Titus, M.D., will be located on the WWGH campus. Titus’s arrival coincides with the opening of the hospital’s new state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab. The high-tech lab, which opened in July, provides rapid, accurate diagnostic tools to help determine the best course of care for a patient with cardiac symptoms.
“This is just one part of our cardiac service line,” says Stan Ledington, WWGH Imaging, Cardiology and Rehab Services administrative director. “It starts with educating at-risk individuals about heart health. We know that through this program we can enhance the health of the community.”
For more information about the hospital expansion or the new cath lab, visit WWGH's website at www.wwgh.com.
The architectural rendering of Walla Walla General Hospital's expansions shows a larger entrance for better patient flow.
Adventist Health executives break ground for the hospital's expansions.
The new cath lab helps provide state-of-the-art diagnostic care to cardiac patients.
