Walla Walla General Hospital

Overview

Walla Walla General Hospital was a non-profit, acute-care hospital located in Walla Walla, Washington, serving approximately 70,000 residents of Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon. It operated as part of the Adventist Health system until its closure in 2017.

History

Founded in 1899 by Isaac and Maggie Dunlap after their studies at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, the hospital began as treatment rooms in the basement of the administration building at Walla Walla College. Initially treating some 3,000 patients in its first year, the facility expanded significantly over the decades. By the early 1920s, it had grown into a three-story sanitarium. Following the Great Depression, a local group of physicians opened a rival hospital, which eventually went bankrupt and was purchased by the Walla Walla Sanitarium in 1931.

In the 1940s, the hospital experienced a surge in census, and by 1950, the community contributed to its expansion efforts. In the 1960s and 1970s, the hospital underwent further renovations and technological updates. In 1973, Walla Walla General Hospital joined Adventist Health, and it relocated to its final site in 1977.

Closure

On July 24, 2017, Walla Walla General Hospital officially closed its doors due to mounting financial challenges and uncertain regulatory environments. Adventist Health had previously attempted to transfer the hospital's services to Providence Health & Services but faced unexpected regulatory hurdles. Despite significant investments exceeding $68 million in recent years, the hospital could not achieve financial sustainability. Following its closure, Providence St. Mary Medical Center became the sole acute care provider in the area, absorbing a significant increase in healthcare demand.

Legacy

Walla Walla General Hospital played a critical role in the healthcare landscape of Walla Walla, serving as one of three federally-designated Rural Healthcare Clinics in Walla Walla County. Its closure reflects broader challenges faced by rural hospitals nationwide, often resulting in "medical deserts" that strain local healthcare systems. The hospital's legacy includes over a century of service and the contributions of its physicians and staff to the community.