HOSPITAL CORNER

By Sean Russell

What’s in a name? What is a Health System? In 1960 we broke ground and built Dayton General Hospital, and for many years and still today, it served as the hub of healthcare in our community. But like all things, we grow, we adapt, and we change.

Today, we are formally known as Columbia County Health System, Columbia County Public Hospital District No. 1. Now you’re probably asking yourself, what exactly does that mean and how does it benefit my family and me? Fair question, and we’re going to try and unpack that for you right here and now.

Being a “Health System” means we’re more than just Dayton General Hospital. We are quite literally a team of healthcare providers and staff, working together to deliver healthcare services as a system to our community.

Under this “Health System,” umbrella are (in no particular order) the following: Critical Access Hospital, Emergency Department, Acute Care, Columbia Family Clinic, Waitsburg Clinic, Radiology, Medical Laboratory, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (this by itself has 20+ team members), Aging and Long-term Care/Home Health, Palliative Care, Respiratory Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Message Therapy, Acupuncture Therapy, Behavioral Health, Pharmacy, Wound Care and Hyperbaric, Orthopedics, Dermatology, and Booker Rest Home. We probably forgot one or two, but now you can see all the parts that make up your Columbia County Health System.

So, how is our being a health system beneficial to you and the community? In a big city, many of these departments or services mentioned above would be independent brick and mortar businesses, and not necessarily located in the same building or even on the same street as your PCP. Here at Columbia County Health System, everything is under one, well actually three, roofs. Now, when you see your PCP, and he or she schedules your lab work, X-rays, or prescribes physical therapy, it is a short walk next door and not a drive across town.

Recently, we partnered with industry-leading specialists, like Lewiston Orthopedics, with whom patients can now make appointments locally.

Every day, we continue to innovate new ways to bring you the very best healthcare available. In short, we’ve built a healthcare system around our community’s needs. We are more than just a county hospital; we are your Health System, and we pride ourselves in providing you with the progressive healthcare and hometown compassion you deserve.