Teton Valley Health Care - News and Information

Teton Valley Health Care Showing Results

March 1, 2010

Today marks my fourth week as CEO. Every day I see more examples of the dedication to quality care by Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Clinical and Support staff members. The past few years have been a struggle, but our recovery is happening every day. The daily operations efficiency shows our ability to cover our costs while providing primary care in our clinics and emergency care to every patient in need, regardless of ability to pay, Our current economic downturn means more and more residents are struggling to pay for their care. I feel the entire staff is working together to gain your trust and support by spending every dollar effectively....[read more]

Q&A with CEO Virgil Boss

February 1, 2010

At this starting point, what are your goals for Teton Valley Health Care?

The Stategic Plan and Studer Pillar goals are the focus for the immediate and long term plans of the hosptial under the direction of the Board of Trustees and all employees fo TVHC....[read more]

CEO Recruitment Update

December 29, 2009

We've been though an extensive review process that began with 33 candidates and left us with two top candidates, both of whom the Board of Trustees unanimously agreed were outstanding individuals of strong character with the leadership skills to succeed in our hospital.

The Board agreed to first pursue Mehdi Merred, CEO of Quincy Medical Center. Mr. Merred withdrew from the recruitment process due to ongoing operational concerns at his current facility. The Board continues to express unanimous support for the pursuit of additional candidate Virgil Boss as a viable CEO for Teton Valley Health Care...[read more]

Neurosurgery Added to Hospital Specialty Services

November 23, 2009

Back and neck pain are one of the leading causes of adult disability. Eighty-five percent of Americans suffer back pain by the time they turn 50 years, and more than 26 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 64 experience frequent back pain. For Teton Valley residents, getting help for back pain just got easier.

Driggs Health Clinic has invited Clark Allen, M.D., a highly experienced board-certified neurosurgeon, to join the rapidly growing number of visiting specialists at the clinic. He currently sees patients through the Idaho Physicians Clinic located at Bingham Memorial Hospital....[read more]

Thinkin' Vegan?

By Michael Snyder, M.D. Teton Valley Health Care

First, I would like to express my thanks for the warm welcome my family and I have received by those who live here in the Teton Valley. We are very excited as we begin a new chapter in our lives as I take up duties at Driggs and Victor Health Clinics and Teton Valley Hospital.

Americans are facing a health care crisis. We are faced with escalating costs of doctor’s visits, hospitalization, medications and insurance with less coverage. There is a huge debate going on in Washington and around the country about what course to take.

There are many nonpolitical approaches we can consider to lessen the negative impact of this ongoing crisis. One significant approach would be the prevention of health problems that can lead to chronic diseases or even death. As a physician, I encounter questions from many patients about diet and nutrition. Interest continues to grow in a vegan diet with new research shedding light on short- and long-term benefits.....[read more]

Building a Winning Team

August 26, 2009

Driggs Health Clinic has added a full-time family practice physician to their current staff. Michael Snyder, M.D. will join Dr. Chad Horrocks and the rest of the clinic staff in addition to providing ER care for patients of Teton Valley Hospital.

Dr. Michael Snyder was recently recruited by Teton Valley Health Care after it became clear that a second full-time physician was needed to support community demand. Snyder has managed a solo practice in Sonora, California featuring integrative medicine and obstetrics. He's a member of the California Medical Association, American Medical Association and American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Snyder received his M.D. at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and completed his residency program at the University of California at Davis

Dr. Snyder, his wife Ledeen and their four children are looking forward to relocating to Teton Valley. He will begin caring for patients September 10th, 2009.

Driggs Health Clinic Welcomes New Clinic and Outpatient Services Manager-Newly created position filled to provide leadership to Driggs Health Clinic

July 13, 2009

Blane Teckmeyer was recently hired by Teton Valley Health Care as the Driggs Health Clinic and Outpatient Services Manager. He has worked as both Administrator and Manager in various clinic and nursing home settings including management of a 7-physician multi-specialty clinic in Ketchum, Idaho. Blane has experience as a Chemistry Technical Specialist for Lockheed-Martin/Bechtel Babcock Wilcox in Idaho Falls and served as a Senior Technical Specialist in Sample Management for Bechtel. Most recently, he was co-owner and CFO for SkinSense LLC (an aesthetics skin care business) and a professional sales representative for Merck U.S. Pharmaceuticals. ....[read more]

Trustees Select Management Consultant Team

June 26, 2009

On June 24th, Teton Valley Health Care Board of Trustees selected the 8-person executive team from Bingham Memorial Hospital to provide professional management support for our community healthcare organization. Representatives from the two competing bidders - Bingham and Quorum Health Resources - were present at the meeting and spent over two hours answering final questions from the board and the public. After accepting public comment and hearing from Interim CEO Mitch Felchle, Chief of Staff Dr. Mo Brown (both non-voting ex-officio members) along with each individual trustee, a roll call vote was taken that resulted in a 4 to 3 split. In a show of unity, a final vote by the board was unanimous for the Bingham management consultant proposal....[read more]

The Bottom Line

June 3, 2009

Let me tell you what's going on at Teton Valley Health Care from an insider's point of view. It's been an interesting journey for me. I began serving on the Hospital Board of Trustees in September 2008. Now, I'm sitting behind a desk at the hospital working a minimum of 60 hours per week as the Interim CEO. I can say without hesitation that solid, measureable progress is being made...[read more]

Hospital prepared to handle swine flu

May 5, 2009

Health officials in Northern Idaho have confirmed the first known case of swine flu in Idaho. If this influenza strain reaches our community, Teton Valley Hospital is ready to provide the appropriate care and resources needed. Prior to and throughout any possible flu outbreak, prevention is essential......[read more]

Building the foundation for our future

March 12, 2009

Recently, our hospital's revised mission, vision and values statement were presented to staff and volunteers. These three key items form the keystone of our strategic plan. Decisions about the direction of our hospital will be based on relevance to the mission, vision and values of Teton Valley Health Care.....[read more]

Quality standard exceeded at Teton Valley Hospital

March 10, 2009

Teton Valley Hospital surpassed healthcare norms by posting a zero-percent infection rate for inpatients for 2008. Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) rates have been dropping nationally due to many quality initiatives and although 0% is everyone's goal, it's a very difficult goal to reach....[read the press release]

Hospital granted state funds

February 27, 2009

The State Office of Rural Health & Primary Care awarded a grant for $8,370 to Teton Valley Hospital for several patient care and staff training items. The award is known as a SHIP grant (Small Hospital Improvement Program). The majority of the grant, $4,175.00, was expended on an anticoagulation monitoring device and tracking software for patients on blood-thinning medication. The CoaguChek XS System has the capability of tracking 150 patients and storing essential data that is readily available for physicians and other care providers....[read the press release]

Physician signs hospital contract agreement

February 26, 2009

Dr. Eric Johnson has signed a new contractual agreement with Teton Valley Hospital affirming that our community will continue to benefit from his skills as a highly-experienced physician. Under the terms of his new contract, Dr. Johnson has agreed to resume his tenure as an independent contractor instead of continuing as an employee of Teton Valley Hospital. He'll continue to care for patients in the hospital emergency room....[read the press release]

Hospital committee conducts quality review

February 5, 2009

Teton Valley Hospital leadership recently conducted an analysis of specific areas of patient care in response to the Quality Improvement program goals of the newly adopted strategic plan and questions that arose during the January meeting of the hospital governing board. CEO Floyd Bounds convened a meeting with several hospital trustees, the Director of Nursing, Director of Quality Services, and pertinent department supervisors to review policies for supply requisitions and delivery of patient care services related to medical imaging, emergency room, and lab testing....[read the press release]

Hospital Foundation gives money for debt relief

January 15, 2009

The Teton Valley Hospital Foundation Board voted to approve $75,000 in debt relief funds for Teton Valley Health Care. The transfer of funds occurred Tuesday, January 13th following a special meeting of the Hospital Board of Trustees on Monday. Hospital trustees must approve any hospital administration funding requests from the Foundation that exceed $5,000. In anticipation of a vote of approval from the Trustees, Foundation directors pre-approved the motion and were ready to write the check Tuesday morning...[read the press release]

Update from Hospital Leadership

January 8, 2009

One outcome of the recently completed strategic planning process has resulted in the renegotiation of physician contracts by the Board of Trustees and Hospital Administration. The goal of our renegotiations is to align the TVHC staffing model with patient care services currently being provided. Unfortunately, this action was misinterpreted as a blanket termination of our physicians. We regret any confusion this may have caused. We have dedicated, highly skilled doctors at TVHC, and wish to support and strengthen their relationships with TVHC patients....[read the press release]

Federal appropriation benefits Teton Valley Hospital

January 7, 2009

Almost one year from the date that federal earmark HR 2764 was approved by Congress, Teton Valley Hospital has acquired medical equipment that has been on-hold until HRSA (Health Resources and Service Administration) funds were received. With the transfer of $236,367 in grant monies, capital purchases include a Central Cardiac Monitoring System (CCMS), mobile x-ray unit, and collateral equipment for the hospital's PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System). Additional top-priority capital purchases are being reviewed by medical staff, administration and department directors. ...[read the press release]

Keeping the doors open will require closing some services

August 6, 2008

In order for Teton Valley Hospital to remain open, some services will have to be revised or suspended. For the past 4 months, all service lines have been under analysis in order to determine community usage, profitability, and sustainability.

Immediate changes included implementing a hiring freeze on vacated positions, capturing $900,000 in annual savings, renegotiating various vendor and staff contracts, and initiating a review of patient billing and coding practices. ...[read the press release]

Supplemental Levy Approved by Voters

August 6, 2008

Teton County residents cast their ballots yesterday with approximately 62% voting IN FAVOR of Teton Valley Health Care's request for a supplemental tax levy. This is a vital link on the road to recovery for the local, critical access hospital. The levy is estimated to bring in $1.2-1.3 million a year to the hospital over the next two years....[read the press release]

Hospital Begins Bankruptcy Discovery Process

July 31, 2008

The Teton Valley Hospital Board of Trustees, the Administration, and the County Commissioner representatives met today with Nick Miller (hospital legal counsel), Bruce Anderson (bankruptcy attorney) and Preston Eichers (auditor), in executive session....[read the press release]

A Letter to the Community

July 28, 2008

On Wednesday, July 23rd, I recommended that the Hospital Board of Trustees begin consultation with an attorney regarding Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Trustees agreed to begin the discovery phase of this direction while research continues into other emergency options. Current financials show a debt load of approximately $3.5 million with losses for fiscal year 2008 projected to be $1.9 million...[read the full letter]

A Letter From the CEO

July 21, 2008

On July 14, 2008, the Teton County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to hold a special election on August 5th for a supplemental tax levy in support of Teton Valley Health Care. If passed, this temporary tax levy will be in place for a 2 year period. It will bring to the hospital approximately $1.2 million annually...[read the full letter]

Teton Valley Health Care Financial Status

June 26, 2008

Teton Valley Health Care (TVHC) is owned by Teton County, Idaho, and is managed by its seven-member Governing Board, appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). This form of ownership can result in funding restrictions hampering TVHC's ability to secure financing for it operations. Presently, we receive approximately $32,000 annually from County property taxes through a budget line-item. We do not receive funding from County hospital tax district...[read the full press release]

Teton Valley Hospital Keeps Infection Rates Under 1 Percent

May 16, 2008

Hospital-acquired infections have received a great deal of attention from state and national leaders, and it's no wonder. These infections are the fourth leading cause of death nationally, and kill more people each year than AIDS, breast cancer, and auto accidents combined...[read the full press release]