CEO of West Valley Medical Center promoted to Alaska Regional Hospital

Caldwell, ID - John Hanshaw, CEO of the MountainStar Healthcare division of HCA, announced the promotion of Julie Taylor, CEO of West Valley Medical Center, to CEO of Alaska Regional Hospital on Friday, November 1, 2013.

“The progress and success we have seen at West Valley Medical Center has been significant under Julie's leadership. 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,” commented Mr. Hanshaw.

Ms. Taylor started as CEO at West Valley Medical Center in February 2011. During this time West Valley Medical Center strengthened its position as a preferred provider of healthcare services and created synergies between providers and other healthcare organizations throughout the Treasure Valley.

With the vision of “access to excellence” for patients and a “partner in health and wellness” to the community, Julie led initiatives resulting in significant improvements for West Valley Medical Center in both quality and patient experience. Initiatives displaying her vision and passion for excellence include:

• Enhanced quality patient care by improving nursing / patient ratios and bolstering clinical expertise at the bedside. As a result, patient experience and nursing satisfaction with workloads are at an all-time high.
• Partnered with physicians to provide destination type services and established an exceptional place for them to practice medicine. This supported their ability to provide high quality care and achieved excellent outcomes for their patients.
• Solidified relationships with Treasure Valley hospitals to secure specialist availability and seamless transitions of care when higher level services are necessary.
• Implemented a “Health and Wellness” program geared to support local employers in keeping employees healthy.
• Development of the West Valley Medical Complex in partnership with the Gardner Company, a four story, 91,500 square foot medical office complex which will expand services and will facilitate the increasing demand for healthcare services in Canyon County.
• Secured funding for numerous physical plant and campus improvements, enhancing West Valley's healthcare delivery platform in Canyon County:
  • Newly renovated ICU unit with oversized rooms featuring sleep chairs for family members, and a patient lift system assuring both patients and staff are safe
  • New Family Maternity Center suites designed especially for comfort and bonding featuring king size beds and an activity area for siblings
  • Advanced Nuclear Medicine technology and an upgraded environment poised to meet the needs of patients and physicians
  • Improved Sleep Center with advanced software providing increased efficiencies and faster study results
  • Improvements to West Valley Medical Group facilities including an expansion to better serve the Wilder community

In addition, Ms. Taylor brought focus to achieving key quality indicators as a priority for West Valley Medical Center and the clinical teams and staff at this Treasure Valley hospital have accomplished:

• Grade “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, 2012, 2013
• Named a Top Performer in Key Quality Measures in The Joint Commission annual report, Improving America's Hospitals
• Ranked #1 in Idaho for general surgery and prostatectomy in 2013 by HealthGrades
• Get With The Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Plus - Achievement Award from the American Heart Association, 2012 and 2013
• Only hospital in Idaho named by Modern Healthcare among the 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare 2013

Both West Valley Medical Center and Alaska Regional Hospital are a part of the MountainStar Healthcare division of HCA. One of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services, HCA is made up of 162 hospitals and 113 surgery centers in the United States. Alaska Regional Hospital is located in Anchorage, Alaska with more than 1,000 employees and a medical staff of over 550 practitioners. Alaska Regional is a 250-bed licensed and accredited facility. Ms. Taylor is expected to start her position as CEO on December 16, 2013. A national search is underway to fulfill the CEO position at West Valley Medical Center.

“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,” commented Ms. Taylor. “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.”