Walla Walla General Hospital
Encyclopedia
Walla Walla General Hospital is a 72-bed acute-care hospital located at the base of the Blue Mountains serving approximately 70,000 residents of Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon.
The first female physician, Dr. Runck, joined staff in 1910 and within the next few years extensive improvements were made to the “department devoted to women’s medicated baths.” The building was expanded three times in 12 years and by the early 1920s the sanitarium had grown to a three-story building.
In 1925, a group of local physicians opened a rival hospital. Built at the cost of $200,000, it contained the latest in medical equipment and facilities. However, the Great Depression
caused the rival hospital to go bankrupt and it was auctioned in a sheriff’s sale in 1931, and was purchased by the Walla Walla Sanitarium for $75,000.
The 1940s saw a boom in census after the lean years of the Great Depression
. In the hospital’s 1943 annual report, the manager stated that bed capacity was 53, with an average of 49.6 patients per day. In 1950, the community was challenged to raise one-third of the proposed $385,000 needed for expansion. A new west wing was added in 1956, and in the 1960s, the hospital was remodeled and technologically updated.
In the early 1970s, another renovation was necessary. The needs of the institution, now known as Walla Walla General Hospital (WWGH), were presented to the community and they pledged one-third of the needed $750,000. The hospital board also decided to relocate entirely than build onto the original building. During the process, WWGH joined Adventist Health
on December 9, 1973. On September 18, 1975, groundbreaking ceremonies were held at WWGH’s current location. Two years later, on July 10, 1977, the grand opening of the new facility was held.
In June 2001 a surprise FDA inspection found problems with the technical controls in the hospital's autologous blood bank
and further problems were found in December 2002, but a followup in April 2003 verified that all the problems had been corrected.
May 1, 2004—Inspection Monitor--"Adventist Health Walla Walla General Hospital shows complete recovery"
Feb. 6 1967—Ellensburg Daily Record--"Adventists in Northwest since 1862"
, a health care organization headquartered in Roseville, California. Adventist Health
represents regional delivery networks spanning California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. The networks comprise 85 distinct business units including 20 acute care facilities—controlled, managed or leased—with more than 3,000 beds, 17,000 employees, numerous clinics and outpatient facilities, medical foundations and 18 home health agencies.
History
In 1899, Isaac and Maggie Dunlap returned to the Walla Walla Valley after completing studies at the Battle Creek Sanitarium located in Michigan. They opened treatment rooms in the basement of the administration building at Walla Walla College. During the first year, some 3,000 patients were treated. In 1903, they built a structure that doubled as their home and a sanitarium and in 1906, they purchased the old College Place public schoolhouse. This structure was moved to the Walla Walla College campus, hoisted up and a new first floor was built underneath it. It was dedicated on June 3, 1907.The first female physician, Dr. Runck, joined staff in 1910 and within the next few years extensive improvements were made to the “department devoted to women’s medicated baths.” The building was expanded three times in 12 years and by the early 1920s the sanitarium had grown to a three-story building.
In 1925, a group of local physicians opened a rival hospital. Built at the cost of $200,000, it contained the latest in medical equipment and facilities. However, the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
caused the rival hospital to go bankrupt and it was auctioned in a sheriff’s sale in 1931, and was purchased by the Walla Walla Sanitarium for $75,000.
The 1940s saw a boom in census after the lean years of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. In the hospital’s 1943 annual report, the manager stated that bed capacity was 53, with an average of 49.6 patients per day. In 1950, the community was challenged to raise one-third of the proposed $385,000 needed for expansion. A new west wing was added in 1956, and in the 1960s, the hospital was remodeled and technologically updated.
In the early 1970s, another renovation was necessary. The needs of the institution, now known as Walla Walla General Hospital (WWGH), were presented to the community and they pledged one-third of the needed $750,000. The hospital board also decided to relocate entirely than build onto the original building. During the process, WWGH joined Adventist Health
Adventist Health
Adventist HealthTypeOperates health care facilities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and WashingtonFounded1980HeadquartersRoseville, CAAffiliationSeventh-day Adventist ChurchEmployees17,500Mission Statement...
on December 9, 1973. On September 18, 1975, groundbreaking ceremonies were held at WWGH’s current location. Two years later, on July 10, 1977, the grand opening of the new facility was held.
In June 2001 a surprise FDA inspection found problems with the technical controls in the hospital's autologous blood bank
Blood bank
A blood bank is a cache or bank of blood or blood components, gathered as a result of blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in blood transfusion. The term "blood bank" typically refers to a division of a hospital laboratory where the storage of blood product occurs and where proper...
and further problems were found in December 2002, but a followup in April 2003 verified that all the problems had been corrected.
In the news
Jan. 26 2007—Portland Business Journal--"Knittel appointed leader of Walla Walla General Hospital"May 1, 2004—Inspection Monitor--"Adventist Health Walla Walla General Hospital shows complete recovery"
Feb. 6 1967—Ellensburg Daily Record--"Adventists in Northwest since 1862"
Affiliation
Walla Walla General Hospital is part of Adventist HealthAdventist Health
Adventist HealthTypeOperates health care facilities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and WashingtonFounded1980HeadquartersRoseville, CAAffiliationSeventh-day Adventist ChurchEmployees17,500Mission Statement...
, a health care organization headquartered in Roseville, California. Adventist Health
Adventist Health
Adventist HealthTypeOperates health care facilities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and WashingtonFounded1980HeadquartersRoseville, CAAffiliationSeventh-day Adventist ChurchEmployees17,500Mission Statement...
represents regional delivery networks spanning California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. The networks comprise 85 distinct business units including 20 acute care facilities—controlled, managed or leased—with more than 3,000 beds, 17,000 employees, numerous clinics and outpatient facilities, medical foundations and 18 home health agencies.