What's a Public Hospital District?
Public hospital districts are governmental entities established by Washington State statute. The legislature granted local communities the authority to create hospital districts in 1945 and today nearly one-half of Washington's 90 hospitals are part of public hospital districts. Valley Medical Center—Public Hospital District Number 1—is the oldest and largest in Washington.
Public hospital districts fulfill a vital role in the state's healthcare system. Without them many people would be unable to receive healthcare in their own communities. The Washington State Legislature granted local communities the ability to create their own hospital districts in 1945. Nearly half of Washington's 90 hospitals are part of a public hospital district. Hospital districts are authorized not only to operate a hospital, but to deliver any service to help people stay healthy—physically, socially, and mentally. Because they're owned and governed by local citizens, hospital districts tailor their services to meet the unique needs of their individual communities. It is this community-based mission that defines and distinguishes hospital districts from other healthcare entities.
To learn more about the important role public health district hospitals play in Washington State healthcare visit the Association of Washington Public Health Districts website.
Download a pdf version of Public Hospital District No. 1 (2 mb).
Visit the King County website to see whether your address lies within Public District Hospital No. 1.
Contact a member of our Board of Commissioners via email or by writing directly through Kris Tiernan, Valley Medical Center, 400 S 43rd St, Renton, WA 98055.
