July 10, 2026 (The Dalles, Oregon) — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has finalized Adventist Health Columbia Gorge’s change to be a Critical Access Hospital.
“Becoming a Critical Access Hospital is more than a designation. It’s a commitment to ensuring that high-quality healthcare remains close to home for the families, farmers, workers, and neighbors who make our rural community so special,” said Jayme Thompson, Adventist Health Columbia Gorge administrator. “This achievement belongs to all of us, and we’re grateful for the trust our community places in us every day.”
A Critical Access Hospital (CAH) is a special designation by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for small, rural hospitals that helps make it possible to provide essential healthcare services to underserved communities. CAHs receive cost-based reimbursement from the federal government, which allows them to focus on essential services and remain a lifeline for their communities.
About Adventist Health Columbia Gorge
Founded in 1901, Adventist Health Columbia Gorge has evolved into a premier network of healthcare serving The Dalles, Oregon, and communities throughout the greater Columbia Gorge. Part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit health system spanning the West Coast and Hawaii, we are transforming the healthcare experience with an innovative and whole-person focus on physical, mental, spiritual, and social healing to support community well-being.