ILWACO, Wash. – Oct. 24, 2025 — Ocean Beach Health is pleased to announce the completion of its Laboratory Expansion Project, the first of four major capital projects funded through the 2023 bond measure approved by the local hospital district. Following Washington State Department of Health (DOH) approval, construction began in March 2025 and was completed earlier this week.
“We are very happy to bring the first bond project to fruition,” said Merry-Ann Keane, Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Beach Health. “We remain deeply grateful to those in our hospital district for supporting this bond and for recognizing the significant impact these capital improvements will have on delivering health care locally.”
The expansion added 661 square feet of space, including a second draw station and a reconfigured lab layout designed to improve workflow and reduce patient wait times. The project also includes a dedicated microbiology room to enhance staff safety, as well as additional space for new equipment and the staffing needed to provide comprehensive laboratory services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round.
“We’d like to thank the project team including Larry Cohen, Chief Project Officer, INLINE Construction, and our Ocean Beach Health facilities staff for their careful work and commitment to maintaining patient and staff safety while adapting to the challenges of working within an active hospital environment,” said Keane. “We are especially grateful to our laboratory team for keeping services fully operational throughout the phased construction. Despite the constant changes, they continued to provide compassionate care for our patients.”
Ocean Beach Health’s laboratory team performs an average of 800 lab tests per day. A dedicated staff of nine technologists and five lab assistants serve patients at Ocean Beach Health as well as at draw stations in Ocean Park and Naselle.
For a full list of laboratory services, visit: www.oceanbeachhospital.com/departments/laboratory.
About Ocean Beach Health
Ocean Beach Health (formerly Ocean Beach Hospital and Medical Clinics) is a Critical Access Hospital serving residents and visitors of South Pacific County, Washington. As Public Hospital District 3 of Pacific County, Ocean Beach Health provides compassionate, patient-focused care through emergency, inpatient, outpatient, and specialty services, as well as medical clinics and rehabilitation programs. The organization is dedicated to meeting the evolving healthcare needs of the community and enhancing the quality of life for those it serves. For more information, visit www.oceanbeachhealth.com.
