Our History

Celebrating 25 Years

St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation envisions a community where generosity ensures clinical excellence and empowers health for all. Nearly a quarter century ago, people in the Wood River Valley came together to conduct one of the greatest acts of generosity this valley has ever seen: building and equipping a new hospital. Over these intervening years, many others have built upon this same spirit of generosity to make possible the innovative technologies, local facilities, and lifesaving and life-enhancing health services that exist today.

Since the St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center opened in 2000, community generosity has made it possible to expand services, purchase new equipment, advance clinical expertise, support community health partnerships and facilitate a level of superior care seldom seen in a small, rural community. The success of the St. Luke’s Wood River has been driven by the partnership of hundreds of people who give in myriad ways, all with a common goal of creating an extraordinary patient experience and advancing the health and well-being of our community.

This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of our hospital. As we celebrate this important milestone, St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation remains steadfast in our mission to inspire generosity that improves health and well-being in the community. The timeline below highlights more than two decades of philanthropic investments that profoundly impact the lives of people in our community.

What We Do

St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation has a singular commitment to achieving excellence in health for the community of the greater Wood River region. By securing enduring philanthropic support, the Foundation works to inspire generosity that improves health and well-being in the community.

The Foundation aims to embody the remarkable spirit of generosity implicit in the Wood River Valley. Through gifts big and small, those targeted to specific programs or those intended for the long-term sustainability of services, the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation seeks to provide a level of health care services exceeding that which is expected of communities our size.

We believe that philanthropic gifts are an investment in our community. The Foundation’s efforts are harnessed so that your investment ultimately brings us closer to our vision of a community in which generosity ensures clinical excellence and empowers health for all.

Celebrating Generosity

St. Luke’s Wood River opened its doors in November 2000 to serve the health care needs of people in the Wood River Valley. Over the last two decades, generous community philanthropy has significantly improved the health and well-being of the Wood River Valley community.

The timeline highlights more than two decades of philanthropic investments that profoundly impact the lives of people in our community.

Your generosity brings us closer to our vision of a community in which generosity ensures clinical excellence and empowers health for all.

The Foundation Timeline

The Foundation Timeline

da Vinci Surgical Robotics Program

A groundbreaking tool helping our talented physicians perform minimally invasive surgeries, the first da Vinci 5 Robotic Surgical System in the St. Luke’s Health System. This technology yields enormous benefits to both patients and staff.

 

Mental Health

More than $500,000 helped form the Blaine County Mental Well-Being Initiative, with the goal of building an integrated mental health ecosystem.

Spect CT Scanner

The first state-of the-art nuclear medicine SPECT/CT scanner in Idaho was brought to Wood River to provide critical imaging technology for stroke and trauma patients.

Workforce Housing

First four homes completed for St. Luke’s Wood River employees to help support our healthcare workforce.  In total, 12 new homes were built St. Luke’s employees.

COVID-19 Clinical Priorities

Nearly $1 million invested in clinical priorities stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, including rapid testing technology and community testing programs, which decreased testing turnaround times from weeks to one day.

 

Family Health Services Clinic

A $1 million investment in the new Family Health Services Clinic in Bellevue, which provides access to comprehensive health care services to every member of our community.

COVID-19 Testing

Nearly 3,000 COVID-19 viral detection tests were administered by the COVID Outreach Wood River collaboration, a partnership between the SLWR Foundation and Dr. Tom Archie. The program also confirmed the first COVID-19 variants in Blaine County.

 

A full-time pediatrician

Thanks to the Pediatric Services Endowment in the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation, the hospital was able to welcome a full-time pediatrician for the first time in more than a decade. Generous community members established this fund to ensure the long-term sustainability of pediatric services.

Infusion Center

A new Infusion Center opened to radically improve the patient experience, doubling the capacity for infusion and chemotherapy care.

Spinal Robotics Navigation

The first Spinal Robotics Navigation system purchased in the state of Idaho assists surgeons performing minimally invasive spine surgery.

Compassionate Care Program

The Keith Sivertson, MD Compassionate Care Program encourages health and healing by helping patients with significant financial hardship access supplemental health care resources. 

3D State-of-the-art mammography

This state-of-the-art 3-D technology enables earlier detection of breast cancer, greater accuracy in pinpointing abnormalities and fewer unnecessary procedures.

 

St. Luke’s Clinic – Mental Health

A longtime dream was realized with the opening of the St. Luke’s Clinic – Behavior Health which broadened the scope of available mental health services and brought a full-time psychiatrist to the valley.

Alter-G Anti-gravity Treadmill

The Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill uses partial weight-bearing technology for rehabilitation and helps improve athletic performance. 

Women’s Imaging Center

Featuring digital mammography, the Women’s Imaging Center offers state-of-the-art services in a healing environment for the women of our community.

Integrative Therapies Program

Offering Healing Touch, aromatherapy, and meditation, this program offers a multi-disciplinary approach to healing.

Infusion Room

Patients receive their chemotherapy or infusion treatments in a dedicated private room.

Expanded Mother/Baby Unit

The expanded Mother/Baby Unit offers families a comfortable, home-like environment throughout the entire birthing process. Generosity made it possible to remodel and add two additional birthing suites.

Integrative Operating Rooms

By advancing our surgical technology, patients experience shorter procedures, faster recovery times and improved clinical outcomes.

 

Emergency Services Endowment Fund

This fund ensures community access to expert emergency care, including a board certified emergency physician on staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

 

P. Scott McLean Jr., MD Endowment for Staff Education

Established by the Boswell Family Foundation, this fund ensures staff members have opportunities to further expand their expertise and knowledge.