CVHC & SMHC recognized as leaders

Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics and St. Mary's Hospital and Clinics were recognized for having the 2005 Top Small Hospital Leadership Team in the Nation at ceremonies in Kamiah Thursday.

Jim Molpus, editor of Health Leaders Magazine, Nashville, TN presented the award praising the two facilities for their efforts and success in developing a joint management team that is able pool resources and leadership to serve the communities of the region.

Tom Gillem, HealthLeaders Top Leadership Team Search coordinator, said there were four things that the judging team saw in the facilities:

• An effort to build a team with local people
• A leadership environment where is no fear to try things
• Team effort and mutual respect
• A model for rural health care that they felt should be emulated.

Casey Meza, CEO, spoke of how the boards of the two facilities had the courage in 1998 to come together and share costs and resources to cut costs. It is a unique situation for two otherwise competing facilities to develop a situation that ties them together.

An article recognizing CVHC and SMHC will be in the August issue of the magazine.

Photos: 1. A special banner announces the honor. 2. Jim Molpus, Health Leaders Magazine editor, announces the designation. 3. Casey Meza, CEO for CVHC and SMHC displays the award. 4. Steve Millard, Idaho Hospital Association, offering congratulations. 5. Specials cakes provide refreshments. 6. Tom Gillem, HealthLeaders Top Leadership Team Search coordinator, outlines the reasons for the award. 7. The Joint Management team are from left: Tim Zwickey, BHS; Sr. Barbara Jean Glodowski, Mission Integration Director; Larry Kidd, CFO; Sue Higgins, RN, CVH Director of Nursing Services; Larry Barker, Compliance Officer; Jeanette Gorman, Community Relations Coordinator; Iris Hawley, RN, Executive Director of Nursing Services; Debbie Schumacher, Human Resources; Casey Meza, CEO; Theresa Uptmor, SMH Clinics Coordinator; Pat Watkins, Facilities Manager; Patsy Bright, Health Information Services; Shawn Severson, RN, Home Health; Jim May, Development Director; Kathryn Allen, Medical Staff Services; Pam McBride, Grants Coordinator; Bryan Skinner, Information Technology Manager; Gary McEwen, Physical Therapy Co-Manager.