Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center (Willamette Falls) is a not-for-profit acute care hospital operated by Providence Health & Services in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. Established in 1954 as Doctors' Hospital, the hospital moved to its current location in 1961 and has 143 licensed beds at its facility. Willamette Falls also operates several medical offices and clinics outside of Oregon City in other parts of Clackamas County. Previously known as Willamette Falls Hospital, the hospital merged with Providence in 2009.
History Hutchinson General Hospital was started in 1918 in Oregon City by Ida Hutchinson as a maternity hospital.McCarthy, Dennis. "After 53 years on job, it might be time to retire", The Oregonian, September 13, 2007, Metro Southwest Neighbors p. 21. In 1954, Hutchinson was purchased by eight doctors who turned the hospital into a non-profit facility and changed the name to Doctors' Hospital.Our History. Willamette Falls Hospital. Retrieved on May 13, 2009.Schmidt, Brad. “Hospital builds on its 50 years”, The Oregonian, October 28, 2004, South Zoner p. 1. They then worked to raise capital to build a new hospital, culminating in the opening of Willamette Falls Community Hospital in 1961. In 1985, the hospital opened an immediate care clinic as well as hospice care. They built an off-site medical office building in Clackamas in 1988.“Hospital to add medical facility in Clackamas”, The Oregonian, May 15, 1988, p. E9. Willamette Falls added a new birthing center in 1990McCarthy, Linda. “Birthplace opens at Oregon City hospital”, The Oregonian, January 19, 1990, p. E2.Brinkley, Pam. “Storks hover, awaiting OK to touch down at birthplace”, The Oregonian, October 9, 1989, p. B2. and a medical building in 1995. A health education center opened in 2000, along with a $10 million renovation to the surgical department.
A second medical building was added in 2002, followed by a redesign of the main entrance in 2005. The hospital was sued in 2004 by the Arc of Oregon over claims the hospital refused to treat some patients with mental disabilities.Tsao, Emily. “Federal suit filed against hospital”, The Oregonian, October 26, 2004, p. B2. In May 2005, the hospital announced plans to build a $7 million medical center in neighboring Canby,Moody, Robin. “Willamette Falls Hospital to build medical complex in Canby”, Portland Business Journal, May 2, 2005.Kadera, Jim. “Hospitals ramping up to serve growth”, The Oregonian, November 24, 2005.Mayes, Steve. “Willamette Falls plans medical center for Canby”, The Oregonian, May 26, 2005, South Zoner p. 1. with construction beginning in June 2006 on the center that would include an urgent care clinic and imaging.Medical center under construction in Canby”, Portland Business Journal, June 26, 2006. The hospital opened a new emergency department in January 2006 that expanded the emergency department to 19 beds at a cost of $20 million.“Hospital revamps emergency department”, Portland Business Journal, December 30, 2005. The clinic opened in June 2007.Thomas, Kristine. “Health center will bring after-hours care closer”, The Oregonian, June 28, 2007, Metro South Neighbors p. 16. The hospital reported an operating loss for the third consecutive year in 2007.Moody, Robin J. “Hospitals struggle, but most still make money”, Portland Business Journal, August 17, 2007.
In November 2008, the hospital announced plans for the next 20 years that included an expansion that would nearly double the size of the facility.Miner, Colin. “Hospital expands its vision for the future”, The Oregonian, November 13, 2008, Metro South Neighbors. Later that month, the hospital looked to merge with Providence Health & Services.“Providence to acquire Willamette Hospital”, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 20, 2008, p. B2.Miner, Colin. “Promising prognosis Willamette Falls Hospital, Providence talk merger”, The Oregonian, November 19, 2008. The two organizations signed an agreement to make the merge happen in May 2009, with a planned completion to occur before the end of 2009.Miner, Colin. “Willamette Falls Hospital joins Providence”, The Oregonian, May 8, 2009."Willamette Falls Hospital joins Providence", Portland Business Journal, May 8, 2009. After the Oregon Attorney General approved the merger, the hospital joined Providence on October 1, 2009, and was renamed as Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center.
Details The 143 licensed hospital bed center is accredited by The Joint Commission and employs over 750 people, with over 300 doctors with privileges.Hospitals Directory: Willamette Falls Hospital. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved on May 12, 2009. Services at the facility include general surgical and medical, ICU, an emergency department, birthing center, hospice, obstetrics, child and adolescent psychiatry, MRI and CT imaging, and oncology among others.Facts At A Glance. Willamette Falls Hospital. Retrieved on May 13, 2009. In addition to the main hospital, the group operates a medical clinic in Canby and an immediate care center in Oregon City. The hospital is a not for-profit organization managed by a 15-person board of directors.
In 2006, the hospital had a net loss of $48,000 on gross patient revenues of $138 million with $1.5 million in charity care.Hospital Financial and Community Benefit Reporting: Financial Data, 2006. Oregon Health Policy and Research. Retrieved on May 13, 2009. In 2007, the center staffed 91 hospital beds and had 137,325 outpatient visits, as well as 27,432 emergency department visits.Nemer, Jerry. Databank 2007. Oregon Health Policy and Research. Retrieved May 13, 2009. That year there were 1,447 surgeries and 1,115 babies born at the hospital.
See also List of hospitals in Oregon
References
External links Willamette Falls Hospital – BetterBricks