Harbor Regional Health Awarded More Than $2 Million

Harbor Regional Health has secured just over $2 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding to help purchase a new CT scanner, update patient-care spaces and provide equipment and technology that support the everyday work of caring for patients. All three of HRH’s applications were approved for their full requested amounts. 

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) and Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) outlined the types of projects eligible for funding. HRH matched those opportunities with projects that supported our patients and our staff.

A $700,000 award administered through WSHA will help fund a new CT scanner. When someone arrives with signs of a stroke, a serious injury or unexplained symptoms, CT imaging helps the care team see what is happening inside the body and decide how to respond. The scanner also serves patients receiving scheduled tests and those already hospitalized. This award brings HRH closer to replacing its current system, with additional funding still needed to complete the purchase.

“When someone we love needs care, we want the team caring for them to have the tools they need,” said Shannon Johnson, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer. “These funds will help us replace equipment we use every day, give providers more time to focus on their patients and take a significant step toward a new CT scanner. That matters to our team, and it matters to the families who count on us here in Grays Harbor.”

Two awards administered through HCA will support facility updates, patient-care equipment and clinical technology. 

The equipment includes 27 replacement stretchers, used for assessment, treatment and transport, the stretchers will include features that help our team transport, position, and monitor patients. A new surgical rapid infuser will allow the team to quickly administer warmed blood or fluids during emergencies and other procedures, including cesarean sections. 

Repairs and updates to patient-care spaces will include improvements to flooring, walls, doors and other frequently used surfaces in the Family Birth Center, surgical, critical-care and inpatient units.

The technology funding will support Suki AI-assisted documentation, which helps providers prepare clinical notes for their review. Reducing the time spent on documentation can give providers more time to focus on patients during visits and reduce work that carries over after appointments.

Six AvaSure mobile observation units and a hospital-based monitoring station will provide additional safety for patients who need closer observation during their stay.

Together, these awards will help HRH move forward with practical improvements that patients and care teams depend on, from the equipment used in an emergency to the spaces where people receive care and recover.

About Harbor Regional Health 
Harbor Regional Health is the largest healthcare provider and one of the largest employers in Grays Harbor County, offering a full spectrum of care across the region. As a Public Hospital District and Sole Community Hospital, we are committed to keeping high-quality care close to home through services including primary and specialty clinics, a Family Birth Center, cardiac catheterization lab, emergency care, and more. Guided by our mission to heal, comfort, and serve everyone with dignity and compassion, we continue to invest in people, technology, and partnerships that strengthen the health of our community.