THE DALLES, Ore. — Adventist Health is making significant investments in Adventist Health Columbia Gorge, bringing more than $35 million in improvements to strengthen patient safety, modernize critical infrastructure, and support the future of rural healthcare in the region. The work ranges from upgrades patients may never see, such as heating and cooling infrastructure, to new technology nurses and other caregivers will use every day.
“As a rural hospital, we simply could not make investments of this magnitude on our own, especially as we continue the important work of strengthening our financial position in the face of ever-increasing headwinds in healthcare,” said Jayme Thompson, Adventist Health Columbia Gorge administrator. “Being part of Adventist Health gives us access to resources, expertise, and investment that are making meaningful differences for our patients and our community. We are incredibly grateful to be part of a health system that recognizes the importance of strong rural hospitals and clinics and is willing to invest in their future.”
Investing in a sustainable future
Across Adventist Health Columbia Gorge, these investments are translating into safer, more modern systems for patients and caregivers.
A $2.5 million nurse call system that modernizes an essential connection between patients and their care teams throughout the hospital. In the Surgery Department, a new decontamination washer represents a significant advancement in the speed and safety of surgical instrument reprocessing.
A new central fetal monitoring system for the First Impressions Birthing Center allows nurses to monitor key information in real time and integrate that data directly into the new version of the Epic electronic health record. The technology gives care teams more immediate access to important patient information and supports patient safety.
By investing more than $800,000 in upgraded laboratory equipment, Adventist Health has given Columbia Gorge patients access to faster, more reliable care. The new technology also standardizes the laboratory with the rest of the Oregon State Network, allowing for more flexibility for staffing to meet increases in demand in The Dalles.
Adventist Health is also moving forward with energy-efficiency and infrastructure improvements that include LED lighting and a new chiller for the hospital’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The new chiller adds redundancy to the cooling system, providing an additional safeguard. The work is part of a broader Adventist Health energy initiative that addresses critical infrastructure, including facilities with equipment at risk of near-term failure or inefficient operation.
Investment is not limited to buildings and equipment. Adventist Health Columbia Gorge is also conducting an efficiency study, which wraps up in December 2026. The study uses real-world data to better understand workflows and services, identify opportunities for improvement, and help direct resources where they can best support sustainable, accessible healthcare throughout the Columbia Gorge.
Restoring vital facilities
Adventist Health has also supported the rapid repair and reopening of the Water’s Edge building following the December 2025 windstorm. The storm removed a section of the roof, causing structural and water damage.
Rather than delaying critical repairs while the federal disaster reimbursement process moves forward, Adventist Health has fronted the cost of immediate repair work and continues working to secure eligible funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Adventist Health Columbia Gorge has also benefited from Rural Health Transformation grant funding, which has helped make other important infrastructure work possible, including recent repaving of parking areas at Water’s Edge and near the Medical Office Building.
The breadth of these projects underscores the value of combining local priorities with the resources of a larger health system. “These investments allow us to address needs today while building a stronger foundation for tomorrow,” Thompson said. “We have made a lasting commitment to our community, and Adventist Health is helping us keep it by investing in the people, technology, and infrastructure that make high-quality rural healthcare possible.”
