Kalispell Regional board gets new members

Three physician members and one community member, all of whom bring with them a wealth of experience, were recently welcomed to Kalispell Regional Healthcare’s Board of Trustees, according to a recent press release from the hospital.

The four new members launched into their three-year terms on July 1. The trustees are tasked with establishing the purposes and goals of Kalispell Regional Healthcare and provides oversight for overall quality, planning, management and finances.

One new physician member, Dr. Courtney Stout Paterson, is a pediatric hospitalist who has been with Kalispell Regional since 2016. She also serves as co-medical director for Montana Children’s.

Dr. Tyler Hoppes, also a new physician member, has been the medical director of Silvertip Emergency Physicians since January. Prior to earning his director title, Hoppes transitioned from the Montana at Community Medical Center in Missoula to North Valley Hospital about seven years ago. Then in 2013, he joined Silvertip as an emergency department physician at Kalispell Regional Medical Center while also serving as a courtesy staff member at North valley.

The third new physician member is Dr. Karen Perser, who has been an orthopedic surgeon at Northwest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine since 2012. She is also actively involved in other leadership roles at Kalispell Regional including a physician IT group member and an A.L.E.R.T. advisory board member.

The new community member, Marjorie Spencer, served as the chief financial officer at the Medical College of Wisconsin from 2007 to 2016. During her time there, she provided “strategic financial leadership for the executive team” and was responsible for financial operations, according to the press release. Prior to that role, she was the chief operating officer for University of Washington Physicians for 10 years.

The 16-person Board of Trustees includes nine community members, six active physicians, the president of the medical staff and the president and chief executive officer of the hospital. Board members are considered volunteers and are not compensated for their time.

According to the press release, “members represent the communities within the KRH service area possess skills needed by the organization to carry forth strategic plans to and are committed to the community.”

Upon vacancy, the KRH Nominations, Governances and Compensation Committee of the board considers nominees and makes recommendations to the board, which then conducts a ballot vote to finalize selection of the new members.

Community members are eligible to be nominated for a maximum of three consecutive three-year terms. Physician members serve for an initial term of three years with a second three-year term option for a six-year total limitation.

The new members replace Drs. Christopher Gill, Pete Fisher and Karl Oehrtman and community member Curtis Lund.