PULLMAN, WA – Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation has received a $550,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to support construction of Pullman Regional Hospital’s Patient Care Expansion Project. The grant will help the hospital reduce wait times, expand access to care and improve health outcomes for patients across the region.
The Murdock Trust grant is designated toward construction of the Patient Care Expansion Project, a multi-phase initiative designed to address growing demand for emergency, surgical and outpatient care. The project includes expansion of the Emergency Department, dedicated space for behavioral health emergency patients, a fifth operating room, expanded surgical capacity for endoscopy, central sterile and patient recovery, upgrades to BirthPlace technology and security, modernization of medical and surgical spaces, and improvements to registration and wayfinding.
“This investment recognizes something our community and patients experience – the need for premier local health care and better access to it,” said Matt Forge, CEO of Pullman Regional Hospital. “This project is about creating the space and capacity our clinicians need to provide our community with the absolute best care. The support of the Murdock Charitable Trust helps us move that vision forward while we continue serving our community throughout construction.”
The need for additional capacity has grown significantly since the hospital opened its current facility in 2004. Emergency Department visits increased from approximately 7,000 in 2004 to more than 15,000 in 2024, while surgical volumes have increased 35 percent. The hospital’s proposal identified constrained space and growing demand as key drivers for the expansion.
“Philanthropic support is essential to making this project possible, and this grant is an important investment in the future of healthcare for our region,” said Linda Infranco, Executive Director of the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation. “We are grateful to the Murdock Charitable Trust for recognizing the importance of expanding access to care in rural communities. Every gift to this project brings us closer to a facility that can better meet the needs of patients today and for generations to come.”
The Patient Care Expansion Project is designed to improve patient flow and access across several areas of the hospital. Projected outcomes include reduced Emergency Department wait times, fewer behavioral health transfers, increased surgical capacity, improved BirthPlace safety and the ability to accommodate additional outpatient visits. “This is about saying yes,” says Forge. “So when you call Pullman Regional, we say yes. Yes to access, yes to your healthcare, yes to our community.”
Pullman Regional Hospital’s Patient Care Expansion Project represents a significant investment in the region’s rural healthcare infrastructure. The project was developed through years of strategic planning and community
engagement, including input from healthcare providers, patients, Washington State University, local government, emergency responders and community organizations.
About Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation
The Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation generates philanthropic support to assist Pullman Regional Hospital in nurturing a healthier quality of life for the community. The Foundation supports initiatives that strengthen healthcare services, access and innovation for patients throughout the region.
About M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, created by the will of the late Melvin J. “Jack” Murdock, provides grants, programs, initiatives and convenings for nonprofit organizations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington that seek to strengthen the region’s educational, social, spiritual and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways.
Media Contact
Alison Weigley, Director of Strategic Planning & Business Development
Public Information Officer
Pullman Regional Hospital
Office: (509) 332-2041 / Cell: (509) 330-0242
alison.weigley@pullmanregional.org