St. Luke's Health System

06/10/2026

What was once a single therapy room at St. Luke’s Jerome has grown into three dedicated therapy spaces, along with new equipment designed to enhance strength, mobility and independence. This expansion allows therapy teams to provide more personalized care, reduces wait times for services and creates an improved healing environment for patients working toward a safe return home.

The expanded therapy space serves patients in Jerome’s swing bed program, a specialized service designed for patients who have recently been hospitalized and need additional care before they are safe to return home. After surgery, illness or injury, many patients experience decreased strength, balance or mobility. The swing bed program allows patients to stay in a hospital setting while focusing on recovery and healing.

The new therapy space was celebrated with a ribbon cutting in partnership with the Jerome Chamber of Commerce where staff and community members heard from Brian Sawyer, system director of inpatient rehabilitation, and Jason Urry, manager of therapy services. Urry also took photographs of scenic locations around Jerome that now hang on the walls!

Thank you to Jerome’s Building Services team as well as the administration and clinical partners who helped make this expansion a reality.

06/09/2026

One word: epic.

It’s the first that comes to mind for Kelly McCormick when she thinks about a once-in-a-lifetime experience she had May 15.

McCormick, associate chief nursing officer at St. Luke’s Elmore, was selected to fly with the United States Air Force’s Thunderbirds at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base as their “Hometown Hero.”

According to the Air Force, “the Hometown Hero Program recognizes exceptional individuals from local communities who exemplify service, sacrifice, and dedication.”

Read more: https://stlukesonline.org/en/news/2026/new-heights-st-lukes-nurse-leader-takes-part-in-special-flight-with-air-forces-thunderbirds/

06/08/2026

Today is National Healthcare Recruiter Day! We'd like to take this time to thank our recruiting teams and all the hard work they do all year!

06/08/2026

In 2025, Christina Thongdee was honored with the Excellence in Patient Care award as part of St. Luke’s Caring Heart Awards program. This award recognizes frontline, patient-centered clinical team members who demonstrate our values, behaviors, and vision in providing exceptional patient-centered care.

Thongdee is a licensed clinical social worker working on the Palliative and Supportive Care inpatient team at the Magic Valley Medical Center.

Christina’s compassion and unwavering dedication have touched countless lives. For more than a decade, Christina has brought warmth, advocacy and joy to patients and families facing life’s most difficult moments. Whether organizing birthday parties in hospital rooms, tracking down resources to help a patient or offering a heartfelt compliment, Christina makes people feel seen, valued and cared for. She is the heart of her team and a fierce patient advocate.

"Her intuition and compassion allow her the ability to connect with those struggling with the consequences of chronic illness. In the midst of crisis, she presents a calm, soothing demeanor and an engaging disposition which helps patients and families find ways to cope with the life changing difficulties they face," a colleague shared.

"Christina goes above and beyond every time she is involved with a patient or family member here in the hospital. She solves problems that are not her responsibility more often than not just to provide a better outcome for patients. I have personally seen the compassion she provides to patients and their loved ones during their most difficult times and the peace and comfort it brings," a co-worker said.

06/05/2026

This Pride Month, we honor the resilience and contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals and reaffirm our commitment to equitable, respectful care for all.

06/04/2026

In May, Wood River team members from the Center for Community Health and the Children's Injury Prevention team recognized Bike to School and Work Day by giving out free bike helmets to anyone who needed one (most already were wearing helmets, which was great to see!), bike safety information, St. Luke's swag and free treats along the Wood River Trail to bike riders.

This annual event, hosted by Blaine County Recreation District, highlights bicycles as both a mode of transportation and a form of recreation, encouraging people to ride to school, work or other destinations in a healthy and active way.

For those who may have missed the event, the Center for Community Health keeps free helmets on hand year‑round, ensuring families always have access to safe riding gear.

A huge thank-you to the Center for Community Health, the St. Luke's Wood River Foundation, Sarah Seppa, Kelly Nichols and Catherine Wood, who all helped out with the event this year!

06/03/2026

Last week, Magic Valley Community Engagement Director Kyli Gough was recognized by South Central Public Health District with a 2026 Health Hero Award in the Adult Professional category.

Every year, South Central Public Health District asks local residents to nominate neighbors that go above and beyond to improve the health of people in the community as Health Heroes.

Gough played a key role in establishing the Center for Community Health and strengthening collaborative, data-driven approaches to community wellness. She also oversees the community health grant program, helping direct millions of dollars toward local organizations addressing mental health, access to care, food security and preventive health initiatives across the region.

Congratulations to Kyli on this much-deserved award!

TogetherWe, a collaborative, community-driven nonprofit, formerly the Mental Well-being Initiative led by St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation, also received a Health Hero award. The organization focuses on improving mental wellbeing across Blaine County.

Health Hero honorable mentions included:
• Sabrina Roblin, St. Luke’s Wood River chaplain
• Monique Middlekauff, St. Luke’s Magic Valley cardiopulmonary rehab manager
• Angela Brady, St. Luke’s Wood River associate CNO

06/02/2026

The City of Boise and Idaho Clinicians for Climate and Health officially recognized May 18-22 as Heat Safety Week, highlighting the growing importance of community awareness around extreme heat and its impacts on human health.

Led by St. Luke’s physician Dr. Ethan Sims, Idaho Clinicians for Climate and Health work to reduce the health impacts of climate change through practical, non-partisan community engagement. Heat Safety Week is a strong example of this mission in action.

06/01/2026

In 2025, Audrea Wirta was honored with the Excellence in Leadership award as part of St. Luke’s Caring Heart Awards program. This award recognizes leaders who demonstrate our values and behaviors and engage and empower their teams.

Wirta is a senior director in HR operations in Boise. Audrea launched and expanded the HR Service Center and well-being programs that support employees across the health system and implemented the Critical Incident Stress Management team to provide psychological first aid and post-event support following critical incidents and crisis events.

Audrea leads the HR operations department, which includes the HR Service Center, Human Resources Information Services, Workers' Compensation, Employee Health and Employee Well-Being.

"Audrea consistently embodies St. Luke’s ICARE values, demonstrating integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence in everything she does. She is not only a great leader but also a trusted thought partner, bringing a deep sense of care and dedication to her work. Audrea's thoughtful approach allows her to make well-informed decisions while building strong connections with leaders and employees alike," a colleague said.

"Her positivity and commitment to collaboration fosters a culture of mutual respect and open communication, making it easier to navigate challenges and solve problems. Audrea leads with curiosity and her unwavering support is appreciated and valued by her colleagues."

05/30/2026

May recognized both National Nurses Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. It's the perfect time to bring you the story of Vibecke Thompson, a St. Luke's nurse educator who has found a passion in helping others learn the concept of trauma-informed care.

"You can see a need and say, ‘Someone should do something about this.’ Well, Vibecke is someone and she did something.”

When aptitude and opportunity meet, special things can happen.