Prosser Hospital Heliport

Hospital expansion and modernization. The closure was not due to economic issues, accidents, or a decline in need. Instead, the original helipad was situated on land required for the construction of a new, multi-story patient care wing. The closure was part of a planned capital project to upgrade and expand the entire hospital facility.

The site of the original heliport (US-10771) is now occupied by the new patient care building of Prosser Memorial Health, which officially opened in 2017. Helicopter services for the hospital were not discontinued; they were relocated to a new, modern, ground-level helipad. This new, active facility is registered with the FAA under the identifier **2WA7** and is located immediately south of the new hospital wing, at approximately the same coordinates. The new helipad is fully operational and continues to serve the hospital's emergency transport needs.

The Prosser Hospital Heliport was a critical piece of life-saving infrastructure for the city of Prosser and surrounding rural areas of Benton County. Its primary function was to handle medical evacuation (medevac) and air ambulance operations. When active, it served as a vital link, allowing for the rapid transport of critically ill or injured patients by helicopter services (such as Life Flight Network) to larger, more advanced trauma centers in the Tri-Cities (Richland, Kennewick, Pasco) or Spokane. This capability was crucial for time-sensitive emergencies like severe trauma, cardiac events, and strokes, significantly improving patient outcomes by reducing transport times.

There are zero prospects for reopening the original heliport site (US-10771), as it has been permanently replaced by a new hospital building. The hospital's air ambulance requirements are fully met by its new, superior, and actively used helipad (2WA7), making the old site functionally and physically obsolete.