"The progress and success we have seen at West Valley Medical Center has been significant under Julie's leadership," said HCA MountainStar Division CEO, John Hanshaw. "This promotion is well deserved; the staff and physicians at Alaska Regional Hospital look forward to learning from her and building similar patient care improvements in Anchorage."
Julie began her CEO career with West Valley in February 2011 at which time she saw the hospital strengthen its position as a preferred provider of healthcare services.
The initiatives she led through her vision of "access to excellence" for patients and a "partner in health and wellness" to the community resulted in significant improvements for West Valley in both quality and patient experience, including:
- Enhanced quality patient care through improved nursing/patient ratios and bolstered clinical expertise at the bedside resulting in an all-time high of patient experience and nursing satisfaction with workloads.
- A partnership with physicians to provide destination type services coupled with an exceptional place for them to practice medicine, which supported their ability to provide high quality care and achieved excellent patient outcomes.
- Solidifying relationships with Treasure Valley hospitals to secure specialist availability and seamless transitions of care when higher level services are necessary.
- Implementing a "Health and Wellness" program supporting local employers in keeping employees healthy.
- Developing the West Valley Medical Complex, a four-story, 19,000 square-foot medical office complex, in partnership with the Gardner Company to expand services and facilitate increased demand for healthcare services in Canyon County.
- Securing funding for numerous physical plant and campus improvements, enhancing the hospital's healthcare delivery platform in the area with:
- A newly renovated ICU with oversized rooms, sleep chairs for family members and a patient lift system to ensure safety.
- New Family Maternity Center suites built for comfort and bonding featuring king-size beds and an activity area for siblings.
- Advanced nuclear medicine technology and upgraded environment to meet patient and physician needs.
- An improved sleep center with advanced software providing increased efficiencies and faster study results.
- And improvements to West Valley Medical Group facilities including an expansion to better serve the Wilder community.
Julie also pushed achieving key quality indicators to the forefront that resulted in:
- Grade “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, 2012, 2013.
- Being named a Top Performer in Key Quality Measures in The Joint Commission annual report, Improving America’s Hospitals.
- Having ranked #1 in Idaho for general surgery and prostatectomy in 2013 by HealthGrades.
- The Get With The Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Plus – Achievement Award from the American Heart Association, 2012 and 2013.
- The only hospital in Idaho named by Modern Healthcare among the 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare 2013.
"I am so very proud of West Valley and the accomplishments we have achieved together. The leadership team in place is strong, physicians are highly engaged and employees are completely committed to providing high quality care to those who choose West Valley Medical Center for their health care needs,” Julie said. "I have full confidence the providers and staff will continue to deliver exceptional, personalized care to the communities they serve. It's who they are. The impressions made on my heart from this team - and our community - will be with me always.”
At Alaska Regional Julie will oversee 1,000 employees and a medical staff of more than 550 practitioners.
She will assume her new role at the 250-bed licensed and accredited facility December 16, 2013.
Congratulations, Julie.