CLARKSTON, WA – February 1, 2023 – Tri-State Memorial Hospital received $2.5 million in federal
funding for its Patient Imaging Project, which consists of two new CT scanning machines and one new
MRI machine. This project will serve the three-state, eight county community with increased access to
Imaging Services and faster diagnosis for patients. The Tri State Patient Imaging project will bring state
of the art diagnostic imaging technology to the community and is expected to serve patients starting in
fall of 2023.
Both CT and MRI Imaging play a vital role in the early detection and prevention of ailments such as
stroke, cancer, and chronic conditions. The hospital is seeing an increase in CT scanning needs from its
patient volume necessitating a second scanner. The number of CT scans performed in 2019 was 6,287,
with a projected 8,840 scans performed in 2022. With a new, fully functioning CT program in place, TriState can increase the number of scans performed to over 300 within a week (increase of 76%), resulting
in a faster turnaround for patient diagnostics and treatment plans and meeting the community need.
The Tri-State patient mix coupled with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a
need for federal funding, to complete a medical imaging project to bring better health outcomes to the
rural community. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers submitted this project as one of her 15
community project priorities during the Appropriations process. The project was ultimately included in
the final FY23 Omnibus funding bill.
Tri-State also received 37 community letters of support. The request of $2.5 million represents 48% of
the total project cost of $5.2 million that will complete the project. Having CT and MRI scanning capacity
to meet patient demand will result in better patient health outcomes, faster diagnosis, and enhanced
treatment options for patients in the Tri-State Memorial Hospital service area.