Our History
Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center traces its roots back to 1954. That year eight physicians practicing at Hutchinson General Hospital bought the for-profit facility and converted it to a not-for-profit, in order to better serve the community. In the late '50s, these founding physicians launched a capital fund-raising campaign to build a new hospital. Thanks in large part to local community support, Willamette Falls Community Hospital (later shortened) opened in 1961 at its current location.
In recent decades, our hospital has seen tremendous growth. New additions, department expansions and off-site facilities have been a regular occurrence. Here is a timeline of our major accomplishments:
1985
Willamette Falls Immediate Care, our first off-site “branch” opens. In 1989, the walk-in care center moves to Sunnyside Road in Clackamas, where it continues to provide urgent medical care. The building also houses Willamette Falls Occupational Health and Sunnyside Family Practice.
1985
Willamette Falls Hospice begins taking in our first patients. The service provides comfort and in-home support for terminal patients and bereavement care for their families.
1990
Birthplace opens as the premiere regional maternity center, becoming a model for birth units in other hospitals across the country.
1995
Willamette Falls Medical Plaza I, a 44,000-square-foot office building opens, providing professional space for many of our affiliated medical staff. Physicians and patients are now just steps away from exams or treatment using the connecting skybridge.
1996
The hospital expands Rehabilitation Services, which now offers private treatment areas and a large rehabilitation gym. Its services include physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology.
2000
Our popular Community Health Education Center opens in Oregon City at 15th & Washington Streets, offering free and low-cost health seminars, classes, screenings, meetings and events. The center was sited on donated property and constructed with the help of significant community financial contributions.
2000
A $10 million Surgical Wing Renovation updates our existing operating area and expands the surgical suites from four to six. Supporting services like Sterile Processing also receive an upgrade.
2001
Soon after, our clinical Laboratory gets a four-phase remodel. It is now nationally accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and processes nearly 250,000 tests annually.
2002
Willamette Falls Medical Plaza II, adjacent to Plaza I, opens to provide more office space for our burgeoning staff of medical providers, like the Women’s Health Center of Oregon.
2005-06
A dramatic circular rotunda becomes the hospital’s new architectural signature along Division Street, as the Diagnostic Imaging and Emergency Department gain a new home in this 30,000 sq. foot expansion. The ER nearly doubles in size to 19 private exam rooms and Diagnostic Imaging upgrades to all digital equipment and gains the space to add a Women’s Imaging Center.
2007
Responding to the community needs of Canby Willamette Falls Health Center-Canby Plaza opens to offer local residents an Urgent Care walk-in clinic, a full-service Diagnostic Imaging department, on-site Lab testing and Occupational Health services.
2009
Willamette Falls Hospital becomes part of Providence Health & Services. Honoring the hospital’s history and commitment to the community, the facility is now called Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center.
Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center deeply appreciates the loyalty of our friends and neighbors over the years.