Yakima Valley Memorial (YVM) is a 226-bed acute-care, not-for-profit community hospital that has served Central Washington's Yakima Valley since 1950. YVM also includes a multispecialty team of more than 300 physicians and 20-plus primary care and specialty care locations. Specialty care services include cardiac care, a continuum of cancer care, hospice care and advanced services for children with special healthcare needs.
YVM includes:
- Governance. YVM is governed by a volunteer board of directors.
- Physicians. YVM has a multispecialty team of more than 300 physicians, offering primary care and a broad range of specialty care.
- Hospital. YVM operates an acute care hospital in Yakima, licensed for 226 beds, which includes one of the region's busiest Emergency Departments.
- Clinics. YVM includes a network of clinics in the Yakima area.
- Philanthropy. The Memorial Foundation is the fundraising division of the health system and operates with a volunteer board of directors.
Our Executive Leadership Team
Kim Bersing, RN
ACNO
Marty Brueggemann, MD
VP Chief Medical Officer
Tanny Davenport, MD
VP Physician Executive
Lori Green
VP Chief Nursing Officer
Shawnie Haas
VP MGO Specialty & Ancillary Services
Tom McDonagh
VP CFO
Chatt Johnson MD
ACMO
Carole Peet
President CEO
Susan Sauder
VP Bus Dev/Strategy, Chief Compliance/Privacy Officer
Carrie Youngblood
VP Chief People Officer
Purpose, vision, mission and values
Core purpose: To inspire people to thrive
Core purpose reflects the heart of an organization over several decades. Though it is never completely fulfilled, it is something that continually guides us.
Vision: Creating healthy communities one person at a time
Vision is an inspiring, realistic picture of what we want to look like over the next 10 years or so.
Mission: Achieving health with you in new ways
Mission is what we do.
Values: Respect, accountability, teamwork, stewardship and innovation
Values describe the shared beliefs of our organization—those things that really matter to us—and help us achieve our vision.
History
The words, "Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, wherein is enshrined the living heart and spirit of a charitable and generous people," are as true today as they were in 1950.
It was in 1943 that Yakima accountant Edwin B. Mueller's daughter, Carol, was diagnosed with "high polio," a potentially fatal strain of the disease. She was sent to the local children's ward (collection of beds) at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Yakima's only inpatient medical facility.
Sensing somehow that Carol would not survive the polio attack, Ed and his wife, Phyllis, were determined to remain by the 9-year-old's bedside. Overcrowding made their desire impossible, and the Mueller's daughter drew her last breath with her parents in a waiting room just outside the crowded ward.
Shortly after Carol's death, Ed made a solemn vow, "I never wanted another parent to be denied being with their loved ones during severe crises, only because of hospital space."
In 1944, Ed Mueller met his friends, attorney George Martin and funeral director Donald Keith, over a cup of coffee to discuss his plans for a new hospital. They took their idea to James Bronson, director of Boise Cascade, and orchardist Ernest Kershaw. Through the determination of these five men, 16 community leaders banded together to explore the possibility of building a new hospital in Yakima. In May 1944, the Articles of Incorporation as a non-profit, charitable organization were filed, and Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital was formed.
Before a formal fundraising campaign was launched, trustees wanted to see if the public would support the project. A weekend was chosen to take the idea to the community and "test" public opinion. During the first few hours of the pledge drive, $180,000 was collected!
Truly the people of Yakima wanted YVM to be built. Fundraising began in earnest. A site in the middle of the "lower orchards," just outside Yakima's limits (on what is now Tieton Drive), was selected. A Chicago architect specializing in hospitals was chosen, and building plans were approved in 1946.
On July 7, 1947, The Honorable William O. Douglas, Justice of the United States Supreme Court, formally dedicated the hospital site. Construction by William Yeaman & Co. began on May 24, 1948. At the formal groundbreaking ceremony, members of the board of trustees each turned a shovel of dirt using a "golden" spade. Just a year later, the cornerstone of the new hospital was laid, engraved with a message for all to ponder: "Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, wherein is enshrined the living heart and spirit of a charitable and generous people."
By June 3, 1950, the building was complete and ready to receive visitors. Almost 15,000 people toured the hospital during open house festivities. On June 20, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital opened its doors to patients with 146 beds and 155 employees supported by over 200 auxiliary members who worked as unit clerks, dietary aides, office help and wherever else they were needed—including furnishing homemade sandwiches, cookies and coffee for the hospital's first cafeteria.