The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

This fall, the Columbia County Health System will celebrate its 50th birthday. Legally known as "Columbia County Hospital District #2," its humble beginnings were driven by residents who understood the value of health care and were determined to improve their rural communities, including Starbuck. Columbia County has a strong history supporting health care.

Dayton Hospital began in 1909. The hospital was at the home adjacent to the Baptist Church, known today as Community Bible Church, across the street from the Post Office on Second Street. In 1919, Dayton Hospital moved to a site on East Washington Street. Renamed Brining Memorial Hospital, the facility moved again to 221 E. Washington, current site of Blue Mountain counseling. The former Brining Memorial Hospital was later converted to a nursing home. It was closed in 1990.

In 1960, Columbia County Commissioners, Ross Brown, Paul Talbott and Gary Prater signed a resolution to move forward with a public hospital district. The County Auditor subsequently received adequate signatures from Columbia County residents to vote for (1) the formation of a Hospital District and (2) nominating petitions for Hospital District Commissioners. The resolution was approved on October 3, 1960. A general election was held on November 8, 1960. The vote for a public hospital district in Columbia County was approved 1878 votes for and 159 votes against. Three hospital commissioners were voted in to lead the district; Kay Robison, Dr. Edward Harri and Ronald Ferguson. An architect was hired to design a new hospital.

In 1962, a bond issue successfully raised $500,000 for hospital construction. The Hospital Auxiliary canvassed the county in a door-to-door campaign supporting the new facility. In January 1963, Vern & Sons were awarded the contract to build the new hospital - for $575,960.96. Furnishings were extra. Hill Burton funds were used to complete the project; at a total cost of $750,000.00. Hill Burton Act provided federal funds to build hospitals in rural communities.

In November 1964, the new hospital opened its doors and was dedicated, "Dayton General Hospital."

By 1967, Dayton-born Leon Booker, an attorney and Standard Oil employee spent time in Mexico and Venezuela during his working years. Booker donated, through his attorney, $500,000 to build and equip an extended care facility known as Booker Convalescent Annex. Booker believed late in life, "He would live a life in peace and quiet with my neighbors and my Maker."

In May 1969, Mr. Booker donated a trust of $600,000 of securities to build a 40-bed reset home at a cost of $1 million. The trust was estimated to mature in at least ten years. In 1986, funds had accrued the interest and additional local property was acquired to build the Booker Rest Home Annex. Construction was completed on Booker Rest Home Annex in 1990.

By 1993, Waitsburg (the area covered by the Waitsburg School District in Walla Walla County) saw a transition of its primary care provider, Dr. Hevel, to retirement. The community recruited new physicians who wished to operate under a public hospital district, not a private practice. The Waitsburg Clinic was summarily purchased by Columbia County Hospital District and in 1995, Waitsburg annexed their clinic to the Columbia County Health District by a vote of the local people.

In 2004, the district adopted a name change to "Columbia County Health System," to include all services offered by the district. Columbia County Hospital Board of Commissioners has also increased their numbers from three to five Commissioners to strengthen community representation of medical needs in Columbia County and Waitsburg. In 2008, a modern, state-of-theart Waitsburg Clinic was completed, housing a medical support staff, nurse practitioners and a doctor serving clients in Waitsburg.

In 2009, the district passed a levy to bring electronic medical records to the System. Funding was matched by federal incentives to speed the transition and upgrade technology. In 2012, an overhaul was completed of the Emergency Department, creating three private examination rooms, family space and updated technology.

As the federal Affordable Care Act proceeds with implementation, changes are here for Critical Access hospitals (Columbia County Health System is a Critical Access hospital). Let's keep local health care for the next 50 years. You or a loved one may not have 35 minutes to spare in a medical emergency.