Critical Access Hospital

Big Care in a Small Community

As a Critical Access Hospital, we provide the essential and emergency services our community needs. Families across Klickitat County have trusted KVH for generations. We are proud to carry that trust forward, caring for every neighbor with skill, compassion, and respect.

What It Means to Be a Critical Access Hospital

Critical Access Hospitals, or CAHs, exist to ensure rural communities like ours have access to essential healthcare. To qualify as a Critical Access Hospital, a facility must meet specific requirements that focus on serving rural communities, including:

• Having 25 or fewer inpatient beds
• Being located more than 35 miles from another hospital
• Maintaining an average acute care stay of 96 hours or less
• Providing emergency care services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

This model helps KVH remain financially stable and continue delivering care that is personal, reliable, and rooted in the health of our community. Learn more about CAHs at the Rural Health Information Hub and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Why KVH Matters

In Klickitat County, the nearest large hospital or trauma center is hours away. KVH fills that gap by providing 24/7 emergency care, primary care, inpatient stays, lab work, imaging, and therapy, all right here in Goldendale.

When patients require advanced trauma or highly specialized care, we work with Life Flight and regional hospitals to ensure safe and timely transfers. Many return to KVH through our Swing Bed Program to recover close to home, surrounded by family and familiar faces.

In addition to emergency services, we provide primary care, behavioral health, surgery, and infusion services to support ongoing health and healing.

KVH is part of The Rural Collaborative and is supported by state and national hospital and rural health organizations that share a commitment to quality healthcare in rural communities.