Ritzville’s East Adams Rural Health Care is in dire financial straits as the hospital considers laying off the majority of its workforce or closing entirely.

According to a notice from the Washington State Security Employment Department, the hospital plans to lay off 108 employees beginning on Jan. 7 of next year.

In the notice interim CEO Todd Nida wrote the Ritzville hospital is “experiencing severe financial difficulties and is at risk of closure or filing for bankruptcy.”

In recent meetings of the Adams County Public Hospital District, interim chief financial officer Viola Babcock warned board members that the hospital district has lost $14 million since 2020. East Adams Rural Health Care is also approximately $10 million dollars in debt, she added.

“We just simply do not have the

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