In an effort to provide our patients with continued access to convenient, high quality, low cost healthcare, the Emergency Department at Wenatchee Valley Hospital changed to a walk-in clinic on August 5, 2012. The new hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week, including all holidays with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The hours of operation for the East Wenatchee walk-in clinic remain Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Our walk-in clinics throughout the region—including East Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Omak, Tonasket and Wenatchee—provide cost effective family healthcare when patients need prompt medical attention for non-emergent conditions. The walk-in clinic is not an emergency room.  To protect their health, patients should call 911 or go to an emergency room for serious or potentially life and limb threatening problems such as chest pain, possible stroke (abrupt numbness, weakness, visual abnormality, etc.), seizure, shortness of breath, severe burns or wounds, complications of pregnancy and any problem that requires ambulance transport or is potentially life or limb threatening. 

This change is being made independently of the upcoming affiliation with Central Washington Hospital. Dr. Peter Rutherford, Chairman and CEO of Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, stated: “Nationwide, there is an effort underway to prevent unnecessary visits to the emergency room and ensure that patients have access to high quality, cost-effective health care in a convenient manner. Through this change, we will be able to better accommodate patients who need immediate attention for non-emergent health issues.”