Our History

What We Do

St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, a 110,000 square-foot, state of the art medical facility serving approximately 21,000 residents of the greater Blaine County area, is a testament to the value of community philanthropic efforts.

In the mid-1990s, the Wood River Valley community committed to building a new hospital that would not only consolidate existing services in the valley, but also would enable more advanced and comprehensive health care services for all residents.

To that end, in 1997, the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation began a countywide campaign to raise funds for the construction and equipping of a new facility to be owned and operated by the St. Luke’s Health System, headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Within 20 months, the emergent foundation had raised more than $20 million. These donations, coupled with a $15.5 million investment by St. Luke’s made the vision a reality. St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, a not-for-profit organization, opened its doors in November 2000 with no debt financing or taxpayer assistance.

Since the hospital’s opening, the Foundation has greatly expanded its efforts to develop community investment in the hospital and the services it provides. Our focus continues to be on enhancing patient care, whether through advancing technological capabilities, developing innovative health and wellness programs, or enabling a greater scope of medical services to our community members.

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

2022

Workforce Housing

First four homes built for St. Luke’s Wood River employees to help support our healthcare workforce.

2021

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, decreasing testing turnaround times from weeks to one day.

2021

Family Health Services Clinic

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

2020

COVID-19 Testing

Nearly 3,000 COVID-19 viral detection tests administered by the COVID Outreach Wood River collaboration, a partnership of the SLWR Foundation and Dr. Tom Archie. Of these, 244 tests were positive. The program also confirmed the first variants in Blaine County.

2018

A full-time pediatrician

For the first time in over a decade, the hospital welcomed a full-time pediatrician thanks to the Pediatric Services Endowment in the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation. Generous community members established this fund to ensure the long-term sustainability of pediatric services.

2016

Infusion Center

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

2016

Spinal Robotics Navigation

First Spinal Robotics Navigation system purchased in the state of Idaho to assist surgeons performing minimally invasive spine surgery.

2015

3D State-of-the-art mammography

State-of-the-art mammography technology provides earlier detection of breast cancer, greater accuracy in pinpointing abnormalities and fewer unnecessary procedures.

2015

Compassionate Care Program

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

2013

St. Luke’s Clinic – Mental Health

A long-time dream was realized with the opening of St. Luke’s Clinic – Mental Health, which brought a full-time psychiatrist and broadened the scope of mental health services in the valley.

2010

Alter-G Anti-gravity Treadmill

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

2009

Women’s Imaging Center

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

2009

Integrative Therapies Program

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

2008

Infusion Room

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

2008

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.

2007

Integrative Operating Rooms

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

2007

Emergency Services Endowment Fund

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

2005

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

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

2004

16-Slice CT Scanner

The first 16-Slice CT Scanner to be installed in Idaho, the scanner provides detailed images to treat illness and injury more effectively.

2002

MRI Machine

The installation of a fixed MRI helps save lives by providing quick diagnosis for injury and illness.

2000

St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center Opens

Community generosity raised over $20 Million in 20 months to make our state-of-the-art critical access hospital a reality.