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 (phases 1-3) and new medical office building on campus (phase 4)
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 for the hospital remodel/expansion through multiple 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 multiple 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 multiple phases of hospital remodel/expansion
Jan – Mar 2024: Large and small group work sessions with employees and architects began the week of Jan. 18. Department directors and delegates participated in a series of meetings:
- Meetings the week of Jan. 18 focused on flow concepts, current model of care and future model of care, patient family perspectives
- Meetings the week of Feb. 13 reviewed revised space program, revised flow ideas and specific room ideas
- Meetings the week of Mar. 25 reviewed standard room mock ups, major equipment considerations
February 2024
- Foundation Gala fundraiser for Expansion Project raises $151,000
- Bouten Construction voted as General Contractor as Construction Manager (GC/CM)
- Site visits to nearby facilities for information gathering.
May 2024: Updated schematic designs, guided by Functional Space Team (approximately 100 people).
Jun 2024: Remodel of former Columbia Bank begins
Jul 2024: Space & People Committee develops plans for short and long-term movements in preparation for construction
Aug 2024: Palouse Medical integration
Sept 2024: Revised schematic designs shared with all staff; includes renderings of exterior Emergency Department entrance
Oct 2024: Test samples the pad were drilled to assess to prepare for new construction
Nov 2024: Construction to expand ENT practice begins
Dec 2024: Patient Accounts teams move into former Columbia Bank bldg.
Jan 2025: Value engineering process (aligning budget with project wants and needs)
Feb 2025
- Budget/scope balance review process
- User group work sessions to refine design plans per department
May 2025: Commissioning review process
June 2025: Early Department of Health permitting process

Media

Expansion Update: January 2025

In this this message, Matt gives an update on three different areas, 1. Construction and Design Process 2. Emergency, Surgery and Outpatient expansion 3. Value Engineering Process.

Better Healthcare on the Palouse

Expansion of the current hospital will allow for expanded patient care space for you and your family.

Thank You Pullman!

In November 2022, the Pullman community voted to pass Proposition 1, the bond for an 80,000 square foot hospital expansion. Thank you so much Pullman for the support, we couldn't have done this without you!

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 moved in the Winter of 2024; this helped 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 2.5+ year project. The tentative date to break ground is fall 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
2024 Palouse ENT & Audiology remodel and expansion of clinic space