Expansion

Pullman Regional, Patient Care Expansion

In 2004, a new, state-of-the-art 25-bed hospital was constructed on Bishop Boulevard. Over the past 20 years, our community has grown, technology has advanced and trends in healthcare have evolved.

Additionally, Pullman Regional Hospital has expanded our healthcare services to include clinics such as primary care, general surgery, cardiology and urology. We are the third largest employer in our community with more than 600 employees. As our community grows, so does the need for healthcare. Since 2004, our work has grown from 7,000 emergency visits to 14,500. Our surgical cases have grown by 35%, and we’ve added a dozen clinics.

It’s time to grow so your patient experience is simplified, convenient and premier. We need to evolve care delivery, expand access to meet demand and build upon our comprehensive healthcare campus.

In 2022, our community approved a $27.5 million bond to expand patient care in partnership with Pullman Regional Hospital:

$45-50 million, 5+ year phased project
Includes remodel and expansion of the hospital and new medical office building on campus
Funded through $27.5M bond, hospital operations and financing and philanthropy

Project Timeline

November 8, 2022: Pullman voters passed Proposition 1
June 7, 2023: Design West & SRG Partners voted as architect firm
November 2023
- Individual/department space and workflow assessments for all employees in all departments and clinics
- Planning/design involving more than 100 stakeholders (including employees, nurses, physicians, medical planning experts, healthcare workflow experts, patients and community members)
- Recommended design (option 4) for the hospital remodel/expansion through 5 phases, centered around patient experience and access through flexible patient care spaces to accommodate growth in outpatient visits and surges in emergency visits
December 2023
- Pullman community/hospital receives A1 Moody’s rating and bond is sold at 30-year term
- Board of Commissioners approves the recommended design for the hospital remodel/expansion through 5-phases
- Planning and considerations for new medical office building
- Application to use General Contractor as Construction Manager (GC/CM) process was approved by the State of Washington
- Fundraising campaign planning
January 2024
- Planning and preparation for 5 phases of hospital remodel/expansion
February 2024
- Foundation Gala fundraiser for Expansion Project raises $151,000
- Bouten Construction voted as General Contractor as Construction Manager (GC/CM)

Hospital Remodel & Expansion

5-phase approach to minimize disruption of a fully functional hospital during construction:

Phase 1 - New construction for Emergency Department expansion, Surgery expansion, BirthPlace security and technology upgrades, renovation of nurses’ stations in Medical/Surgical unit and relocation of services in preparation for Phase 2
Phase 2 - Renovation for fifth operating room and Procedure Prep/Recovery and Outpatient Care Unit
Phase 3 - Renovation of Emergency Department (includes designated space for behavioral health patients needing advanced care), expansion of post-surgery recovery unit or PACU and endoscopy procedure rooms, renovation of Emergency and Outpatient Care Unit
Phase 4 - Renovation of Imaging Department to relocate CT adjacent to trauma rooms
Phase 5 - Renovation of Outpatient Care Unit

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an outpatient care unit and how does it benefit patients?

Our hospital remodel includes a same-day or outpatient "universal room" concept that allows for quicker rooming of a patient, where services come to the patient with more flexibility to accommodate surges for emergency patients, post-procedure recovery, and observation patients.

This model has a positive impact on our 25-bed critical access hospital status by retaining inpatient, or overnight beds for overnight patients, by providing flexible spaces for same-day services.

How does this project improve access and decrease traveling?

Our plan includes increased surgical capacity and room to recruit additional surgical specialties so patients can have more surgical options locally. Additionally, it includes increased emergency patient capacity and provides additional access to flex space, as well as specialized behavioral health patient rooms in a secure and safe area.

Why remodel instead of adding more square footage?

Our goal in choosing a hospital remodel/expansion design is to improve the patient experience, increase efficiency and reduce wait times.

Addressing internal efficiencies and moving related patient care activities closer, reduces the number of time a patient moves; each patient move increases risk for errors. Our process started with our staff assessing workflow, patient movement and considerations for the evolution of patient care – technology, increases in outpatient visits and additions of service lines over the past 20 years.

Our remodel includes a same-day or outpatient "universal room" concept that allows for quicker rooming of a patient, where services come to the patient with more flexibility to accommodate surges for emergency patients, post-procedure recovery, and observation patients.

When are clinics moving to the hospital campus?

Starting in August 2024, planning and considerations for the new medical office building will begin.

What is moving to the former Columbia Bank building?

The hospital acquired the former Columbia/Umpqua bank building (a hospital-adjacent property) in September of 2023.

Patient Financial Services, Health Information Management (medical records), and patient Referral teams are slated to move in the Fall of 2024; this will help reduce rented spaces for offsite administrative functions.

How long will the project take?

The hospital expansion/remodel project and new medical office building project is a 5+ year project. The tentative date to break ground is spring 2025.

When will Pullman homeowners be taxed on the bond?

Pullman homeowners in the taxing district (Pullman City) will be taxed for the hospital’s bond in 2024.

Facilities Remodel History

In the past 18 years, there have been more than 18 remodels, one minor addition, and each year, services are relocated off the main campus to make more room for patient care. We've done as much as we can in our existing space, it's now time to expand.

2014 Summit Therapy and Health Services remodel
2015 remodel imaging department for 3D mammography
2016 remodel of emergency department
Multiple periods of replacing flooring
2016 expanded surgical capacity
2017 and 2021 Expanded parking
2018 replaced roof
2018 Relocate and upgrade pharmacy
2018 remodeled IT and maintenance spaces
2018 expanded same day services capacity (only expansion that added space to the facility – 10,000 sq. ft.)
2018 planning efforts identified the need to develop a master facilities plan
2019 remodel at Pullman Family Medicine
2020 Expanded Inland Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Center of Excellence space
2021 remodel Palouse Pediatrics
2021 relocated administrative offices to Corporate Pointe on Bishop Blvd.
2022 Created collaborative care clinic space for cardiology, sleep medicine, and psychiatry and behavioral health
2022 completed new Family Medicine Residency Center space
2022 expanded PT services to satellite space on Stadium Way

Pullman Regional, Patient Care Expansion

In 2004, a new, state-of-the-art 25-bed hospital was constructed on Bishop Boulevard. Over the past 20 years, our community has grown, technology has advanced and trends in healthcare have evolved.

It’s time to grow so your patient experience is simplified, convenient and premier. We need to evolve care delivery, expand access to meet demand and build upon our comprehensive healthcare campus.

Project Timeline

Hospital Remodel & Expansion

Media

Thank You Pullman!

Better Healthcare on the Palouse

Frequently Asked Questions

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