Adventist Health Columbia Gorge in The Dalles, Ore., has officially transitioned to a critical access hospital after receiving final approval from CMS, a spokesperson for the health system confirmed to Becker’s.
CMS notified the hospital July 9 that its request for critical access hospital designation had been finalized, completing a multiyear effort to align the hospital’s regulatory designation with its operational needs.
“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,” Jayme Thompson, administrator of Adventist Health Columbia Gorge, said in a statement.
The designation follows plans announced in October to reduce the hospital’s licensed bed count from 49 to 25 to meet CMS requirements for critical access hospitals. At the time, Adventist Health said the hospital’s average daily census had been 17 patients over the previous decade, making 25 inpatient beds sufficient to meet community demand.
Hospital leaders also said the transition would not affect access to services, including cancer care, 24/7 maternity and emergency services, robotic orthopedic surgery, sports medicine and primary care. The health system also said it did not expect layoffs among the hospital’s more than 500 employees, according to The Goldendale Sentinel.
CMS’ critical access hospital designation is intended to preserve access to healthcare in rural communities by providing eligible hospitals with cost-based Medicare reimbursement.
Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health acquired the hospital in early 2023. The system operates 27 hospitals across the West Coast, including three in Oregon, according to its website.
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