News and Announcements

The mantle of administrative responsibility has fallen to a new leader at Minidoka Memorial Hospital this year. After seven years in Rupert, Randy Holom, former administrator, stepped down to take a position as hospital administrator in his home state. Replacing Holom is Carl Hanson who came to MMH from Conrad, Montana where he was CEO for a community hospital and skilled nursing home there.

"We are indeed fortunate and excited to have hired the caliber of person we did in Carl," noted Elvera Richan, hospital Board of Trustees chairperson.

Hanson is a native Idahoan, born and raised in the Shelley, Idaho area. He graduated from Madison High School in Rexburg. He attended Ricks College receiving his associate's degree in Accounting there. He received his master of science in administration with emphasis in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan in 1996. His Bachelor of Science in Finance was obtained at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 1976. He has worked as Hospital CEO/Administrator for 11 years and before that was self employed for 13 years in Southeast Idaho in a small manufacturing company. Hanson is currently a Diplomat of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Hanson and his wife Bonnie are the parents of six children, three of whom are still at home.

Hanson's plans include immediate thrusts of beginning the major renovation and building of the hospital's new surgical, obstetrical, and emergency wing planned during the Holom administration, and recruitment of at least one more board certified physician, in particular a surgeon to be announced in the near future. Plans also include some possible long-range goals deferred by Hanson at this time, pending getting acquainted with the workings and employees of Minidoka Memorial Hospital. Employees and managers generally feel happy to have "Carl" on board and look forward to working with him to continue positive movement of the hospital workings.

Steady movement toward "delivering ever better health education and services enhancing mind, body, and soul in a caring environment for all" characterized the progress of Minidoka Memorial Hospital in 1997 and encompasses the thrust for 1998. Changes and/or improvements were made in virtually every department last year reflecting this goal.

Education director Trena Phillips noted plans for 1998 include increasing a Speaker's Bureau, continuing education classes for health care professionals, CPR and first aid classes increased with two new instructors trained and certified, Safe Sitter course offering, a weight support group called "B.O.O.S.T." meeting weekly, and in the near future, a fully augmented community wellness program available. (See "Services Available" this site for details of Education).

Financially the hospital made great strides over the past year largely due to the efforts of each department to "hold the line" and cut costs. In addition, the patient load has increased overall and bills seem to be getting paid quicker. Business office and medical records staff have increased efforts to get coding and billing done more quickly so that money can be collected from insurance companies and government agencies in a more timely fashion. The hospital is currently operating "in the black" and the future looks stable, according to Chief Financial
Officer, Ken Knight.

The Chaplaincy Program was new at MMH in 1997. The program involved the hiring of a facility Chaplain to provide pastoral care including visitation, some counseling, and conducting services as needed for both patients and hospital employees. The program, according to Chaplain Dan Lovelace, has met with approval from all facets. Lovelace spends half of his week in the Chaplaincy and half as a lab technician in the MMH laboratory.

"A person's state of mind and spiritual well being can profoundly affect his or her physical health, including the ability to recover from major illness, surgery, or trauma," explained Lovelace, who formerly pastored a church congregation. "This goes along with being a part of the Total Person Care here at the hospital." He said he feels right at home and is glad to be able to minister to people in this way again.

Several new pieces of equipment in the Surgery Department enhance the routine surgeries and make new possibilities a reality. New personnel were also added. Surgical tools include state of the art gastroscope and colonoscopy system, and an arthioscopic pump. Dr. William Fitzhugh from Twin Falls is a regular addition one Wednesday each month doing cataract surgery. Dr. Gilbert Crane, new orthiopod in Burley, is also doing surgeries at MMH. Dr. Dell Smith, vascular surgeon, received privileges in November and is performing vascular surgery at the hospital. Tammy Parton, R.N. retired leaving a vacancy as OR department manager. Carol Fields took her place and Heather Waters, R.N. was added to the staff With all of this growth, staff and physicians are looking forward to the addition of another operating room included in the facilities addition. The ground breaking for the new addition will be this spring and will include a new emergency room area, treatment rooms, OB/delivery rooms, as well as an additional operating room.

The lab obtained a new VITROS Chemistry Analyzer near the end of 1996 and it proved itself worthy with increased lab testing including the running of the 1997 Health Fair tests. The 1997 Health Fair was the biggest ever with more than 600 Mini-Cassia residents attending. A survey sent to those who attended indicated that 97% favorable response especially to the speedy reporting largely credited to the VITROS analyzer. Dr. Kerry Patterson left the area to reenter the military. In his stead Dr. Leeana Hauser joined the staff as director. Dr. Hauser serves the pathology needs of the Mini-Cassia area and is in-house at MMH two days each week to assist with clinical interpretations of surgical tissue samples, etc.

Ongoing in the lab is a new program of cross training EMT's and nursing personnel to perform EKG's enhancing faster service for the cardiac patient. The goal of this program is to provide the critical base link to treating the patient presenting with chest pain. A team of hospital personnel has been working for six months to speed up treatment for patients with chest pain. This effort will continue in 1998. A new EKG instrument will be on line in 1998 to enhance this goal at all levels.

Thanks to the donations by the Hospital Auxiliary, a new room has been added, furnished, and decorated. The Quiet Room provides solace and comfort to hurting patients and families waiting for news and treatment. The Auxiliary gave two scholarships in 1997 and plans to give a third in 1998.

Alliance Imaging, Inc, contract company for MRI service to the hospital, upgraded to a 1.0 GS Sigma GE Horizon XL unit in 1997 bringing the most up to date MRI images to the Mini-Cassia area.

Dr. Saunders and imaging technician Dean Miller became certified in echocardiography in 1997, and this service is steadily increasing in popularity among local physicians as the numbers of echoes done at the hospital indicate.

Occupational therapy and Speech Therapy were added at MMH on a full time basis providing patients with on site services previously contracted.

Hart Hintze replaced Wanda Miller as Director of nursing services when Miller retired earlier in 1997. Hintze came to MMH from Idaho Falls where he was Director of Surgical/Orthopedics and Pediatrics. Anitta Dwight stepped in to supervise the nursing staff on Medical/Surgical floor.

The Family Practice Center, operated by Dr. Keith Wayment and Dr. Donald Konrad, welcomes Greg Boettcher. The Center's hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. six days a week, Monday through Saturday.

MMH welcomes Dr. Laurence Hicks who joined the medical staff and joined the OB Clinic staff. Dr. Hicks is located in Suite 11.

The Emergency Response Ambulance service agreed in 1997 to provide emergency service to the Burley Regatta, but flooding cancelled the Regatta efforts. The service will be extended to the 1998 Regatta.

Increasing patient numbers in the E. R. and government requirements, as well as additional physicians on staff necessitated the hiring of an additional transcriptionist in Medical Records.

Much remodeling has taken place in the hospital over the past several years including the cafeteria in 1997. The face lift effort will extend to Medical Records in 1998 which has not been remodeled for nearly 25 years. The change will add to the comfort and stability of patient care and to the morale of employees.

Realizing the growing need for Social Services in health care, MMH Social Services now has two full time employees to better serve the hospital and nursing home population. Jana Parks was hired in 1997 to work with Cathy Gosnell in this department.

With the increasing demands of all departments for supplies, an additional employee was hired in Stores. Edith Castro has been working on ECF and will now split her time between Stores and ECF where she works as a C.N.A. Store's goals include cutting patient costs of supplies by comparative buying and by reducing inventory wherever possible.

The Minidoka Home Health Agency increased services to the community in 1997 through registration with Medicaid for the PCS program (Personal Care Services) allowing Home Health aids to help individuals with personal care and independence. Home Health established an in house auditing process to ensure compliance with Medicare and Medicaid. New employees were added bringing staff numbers to 12. (See more details of Home Health elsewhere in this site.)

Safety awareness by area companies has improved with Minidoka Occupational Health (MOH) client companies showing an increase of 300% during 1997 implying safety consciousness and compliance with and/or exceeding OSHA standards by local companies. MOH purchased a new soundproof booth in 1997, increasing the volume of tests that can be performed and the accuracy of those tests.

The major goal MOH in 1998 is to instigate a comprehensive wellness/injury management program. This will allow clients to tailor the program to their specific needs, i.e. safety program with monthly injury management program, RTW assistance with an annual health fair, or simply a consultation. MOH will be cooperating with the Job Service on their Idaho Youth Special Project, training people 18-21 for employment in the Mini-Cassia area this year. Dalton noted last year there were 20 spots in this program and 19 of those were employed in the area after the training. The 20th trainee, entered a CSI education program.

"A Better Life, A Better way!" motto for Minidoka Memorial Hospital and its affiliate Home Health and Occupational Health agencies empowered positive progress in 1997 and drives the movement into 1998 and beyond providing better health care for the entire community.