CALDWELL, Idaho – Several promotions and additions within department leadership recently took place at West Valley Medical Center:
Heather Howard is the new director of Health Information Management. Her duties include oversight of the Medical Records Department. She also remains the facility privacy official.
Howard has worked at WVMC for 11 years, serving in various roles during that time, including as the assistant director of HIM for three years.
She also has many years of experience as the HIM director at several long-term care/rehabilitation centers. She has an associate's degree in HIM from Boise State University.
Glenda Nelson, RN, is the director of Mental Health Services. She manages this 16-bed adult unit, with oversight of the therapeutic activity program and staff education.
Nelson has worked at WVMC since 1984 and in the Mental Health Unit since 1994. She previously served as manager of the unit from 2002-2004.
Nelson has an associate’s degree in nursing from BSU and is working toward her bachelor’s degree in nursing, also at BSU. She was in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1986-1995 and served as a battlefield medic during Operation Desert Storm.
Slade Thacker, RN, is the associate chief nursing officer. He has administrative oversight of the Intensive Care Unit, Cath Lab/Cardiology Services, Respiratory Services, Emergency and Education.
He has worked at WVMC since 2004, serving as Emergency Department director since 2007.
Thacker has been in nursing since 1999. He has a master’s of science in nursing and bachelor’s of science in nursing degrees from University of Phoenix in 2007, along with a family nurse practitioner degree from Graceland University and an associate’s in nursing from Treasure Valley Community College.
Tracy Phillips, RN, is the Orthopedics Service Line coordinator. She guides orthopedic surgery patients through the entire continuum of care, from diagnosis to procedure and recovery — helping develop a customized treatment plan and providing specialized case management and discharge.
Phillips began working at WVMC as a certified nursing assistant for a few years before serving as a licensed practical nurse. She took over as medication reconciliation coordinator in 2008 before earning her registered nurse certification and joining the Medical/Surgical nurse team in 2009. Most recently she was a clinical supervisor in Pediatrics at WVMC.
Phillips has an associate’s in nursing degree and is working toward her bachelor’s degree.
Michael Nelson, Environmental Services supervisor, manages the Housekeeping and Laundry departments and is responsible for ensuring compliance.
He has a long history of management experience. He was general operations manager for Sodexho Textile Services in California for eight years before serving as the laundry and linen manager at Maricopa Integrated Health System in Phoenix for more than a year. He also was the director of housekeeping at The Service Companies in Arizona.
Nelson earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Washington State University in 1995.
West Valley Medical Center, Caldwell’s community hospital, is one of the leading hospital facilities and employers in Idaho. This 150-bed, nationally accredited facility is dedicated to providing high-quality, cost-effective healthcare to Treasure Valley residents. For more information about West Valley Medical Center, please see www.westvalleymedctr.com.