|
|
|
|
|
| |
THOUSANDS HELPED CELEBRATE
PROVIDENCE HOOD RIVER’S
GRAND OPENING DAY
 |
|
March 9, 2009
HOOD RIVER, Ore. – Last week a new era in health care was launched in the Columbia River Gorge when 2,500 visitors came to help celebrate Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital’s grand opening. The 72,000-square-foot expansion and modernization project will help Providence Hood River better serve the growing health care needs of Gorge patients and families.
Grand opening visitors enjoyed a sneak peek inside the state-of-the-art facility that opens for patient care on March 16. They experienced the warm glow of daylight that filters in through the new two-story lobby, as well as a gallery of healing art created by student artists.
Among the special guests were children from schools in three Gorge counties -- representing the communities of Hood River, Ore., The Dalles, Ore., and White Salmon, Wash. -- who saw their “healing art” unveiled to the public for the first time. Community-based art plays a major role in the new building, which contains 14 gallery areas filled with art projects that were created by 700 Gorge area student artists.
Guests danced to the accompaniment of music provided by a group of physicians; enjoyed Mexican folk dancers; got some hands-on surgical practice in the hospital’s new outpatient surgery center; participated in kids’ activities, examined MRIs, X-rays and sonograms in the new Diagnostic Imaging Center; and enjoyed lullabies played by a harpist in the new Family Birth Center.
There was a line up of pregnant moms and new moms throughout the day, touring eight spacious new labor, delivery and postpartum rooms inside the birth center.
The new building showcases the latest in health care advances and technology, including features not found in many small community hospitals. The facility offers an advanced new family birth center, expanded surgery center, diagnostic imaging center and infusion (oncology and blood disorder) services.
“This is an exciting day, and we were overwhelmed with the number of people from a variety of Gorge communities who helped us celebrate today’s event,” said Providence Hood River Chief Executive Ty Erickson. “This is our biggest hospital advancement in 77 years, and it’s a major milestone in our history of service to Columbia Gorge communities. This hospital is, and always will be, a community hospital, first and foremost. That, along with our new state-of-the-art facility, means we’re ready to take health care in the Gorge to a whole new level.”
The grand opening events focused primarily on the new 36,000-square-foot addition, which is part of Providence Hood River’s 72,000-square-foot expansion and modernization project. The project is scheduled for completion later this year.
The last 77 years has brought significant growth to the Hood River Hospital campus, compared to the original building – which opened in 1932 and still stands today on May Street in Hood River.
In 2008, Providence Hood River served the communities of Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat and Skamania counties, as well as North Central Oregon, South Central Washington and other areas – for a total of 79,383 patient visits. Providence Hood River is dedicated to providing excellent, compassionate care to the communities it serves – with a strong Mission of caring for the poor and vulnerable.
For more information concerning the new expansion, see our Hospital Expansion Fact Sheet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
