An oversight by the Walla Walla City Council leaves the fate of the Walla Walla General Hospital conversion project completely to the Washington State Department of Health, the Union Bulletin reports. All organizations are based in Walla Walla, Wash.
Here's what you should know:
1. Walla Walla-based Providence St. Mary is seeking a CON to purchase and repurpose Walla Walla General Hospital into a outpatient facility featuring an ASC and urgent care services, among others.
2. The council delayed drafting a letter of approval to Providence St. Mary's Medical Center at an early January meeting. However, the council seems to have "overlooked" a crucial detail: Providence St. Mary wasn't the only organization seeking state approval for same-day surgery services in Walla Walla.
3. Walla Walla (Wash.) Clinic also was pursuing state approval to expand services at its existing surgery center.
4. Walla Walla Clinic opened in 2000 and performs 2,400 surgeries annually. The center is seeking a certificate of need to allow community surgeons to use the facility. Center administration estimates the center could accommodate up to 1,000 more surgeries if approved.
5. Walla Walla Clinic announced its plan in August 2017, while Providence St. Mary announced its plan in December 2017. Because the centers will be replicating services, the state health department will ultimately decide which organization will receive the CON. The Union Bulletin doesn't expect both organizations will be granted CONs.
6. Walla Walla Clinic's project has an estimated expenditure of $175,000 to St. Mary's $3.7 million.