EIRMC CEO announces his retirement

The following is a news release from Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

IDAHO FALLS — Doug Crabtree, Chief Executive Officer for Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center since 1999, announced his retirement, effective December 31, 2017.

Doug’s career in healthcare has spanned three decades, with most of that time spent at EIRMC. He has served as CEO of the region’s largest healthcare facility for 18 years; prior to his appointment as CEO, Crabtree served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at EIRMC from 1993-1997, and Assistant Administrator from 1991-1993.

Under his leadership, EIRMC has seen tremendous growth and transformation. In the late 1990’s, EIRMC was a community hospital serving healthcare needs of Idaho Falls residents. Today, it is the largest hospital in Southeast Idaho, western Wyoming, and southern Montana, and functions as a regional referral center for multiple hospitals within this service area.

Throughout his tenure, Doug has been guided by one singular vision: to provide the best care for our patients. To that end, the focus remained on building services, recruiting physicians, and training employees so that residents do not have to travel hours away to receive high-quality healthcare that they deserve.

Doug says, “It has been a remarkable experience to be involved in EIRMC’s transformation. I’m very proud of the work we’ve done to ensure that people in our area can choose top-notch healthcare close to home.”

EIRMC’s growth has included:

· Designation as a Level II Trauma Center, requiring 24/7 specialty care, such as trauma surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and an integrated clinical structure to properly care for traumatically injured patients.

· Designation as a Level I Intensive Care Unit.

· Development of a comprehensive heart program, including open-heart surgery, minimally-invasive cardiac surgery, cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology (region’s only), and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

· Built the Idaho Cancer Center at EIRMC, and later, a partnership with Gamma West Cancer Care to provide region’s most advanced radiation oncology treatment.

· Creation of the region’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, serving babies born as early as 22 weeks gestation.

· Partnership with Obestetrix Medical Group of the Mountain States for the region’s only maternal-fetal medicine services from women with high-risk pregnancies.

· Opening of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for critically-ill and critically-injured children.

· Establishment of the region’s only inpatient rehabilitation unit for people with conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury.

In fact, over the last 18 years, EIRMC has invested $93 million in renovations and additional building footprint to provide for service line expansion and growth.

Additionally, Doug has sought to build important relationships with hospitals in the region. The result is a stronger network of regional healthcare, particularly for residents of outlying communities served by smaller hospitals. For example, he was instrumental in creation of the Hospital Consortium, a partnership between EIRMC, Madison Memorial Hospital (Rexburg), Teton Valley Hospital (Driggs), St. John’s Medical Center (Jackson), Star Valley Medical Center (Afton, Wyoming), and Sublette County Rural Health Care District (Pinedale, Wyoming). The Hospital Consortium works to improve healthcare delivery at the local level. The focus is on “sharing” services, when appropriate, to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs, while still keeping healthcare operations at the local level where it is best delivered and managed.

Dr. Rachel Gonzales, CEO at Madison Memorial Hospital and Hospital Consortium member, said, “We have built a wonderful partnership over the years. Doug’s leadership has built a strong sense of community collaboration. This has been the fundamental reason why EIRMC has worked so well with area hospitals. He has a motto he often says, “Friends and family serving friends and family.” I have appreciated Doug as a friend and colleague, but additionally I am grateful for what he has taught me. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Doug’s impact on healthcare in southeast Idaho is only overshadowed by the passion he has brought to work every day. “I’ve been very fortunate to have a career where I’ve loved going to work every day. Being a hospital CEO is a 24/7 job, and I’m grateful for every minute of it,” Crabtree says.

After his retirement, Doug will continue to pursue passions that are meaningful to him. He is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Shauna; daughter Amanda and her husband Chris; son Matt and daughter-in-law Aubrei; and their two grandchildren. Doug will also continue service to the community through charitable and church activities.