An In-Depth Look into the Healthcare System
Cassia Regional Hospital: Rural Excellence Backed by World-Class Resources
Step onto the campus of Cassia Regional Hospital and you'll immediately sense something different from the typical rural community hospital. The 264,132-square-foot facility feels modern and well-equipped, the staff exudes competence and pride, and the technology rivals what you'd find in major metropolitan centers. This is not a struggling rural hospital—it's a thriving Critical Access Hospital delivering sophisticated care with the personal touch that defines rural medicine at its best.
Intermountain Health: Your Safety Net
Cassia Regional Hospital's affiliation with Intermountain Health—one of the top-ranked healthcare systems in the nation—is what makes it exceptional. As Intermountain's only Idaho hospital, Cassia Regional serves as the flagship Idaho facility, benefiting from world-class resources while preserving its community character.
This affiliation enhances your daily practice through:
- Tele-health infrastructure: 24/7 access to intensivists, neonatologists, pulmonologists, and maternal-fetal medicine experts at the touch of a button
- Evidence-based clinical protocols: Intermountain's nationally recognized care pathways
- Quality improvement resources: Access to best-in-class systems and analytics
- Purchasing power: Advanced equipment and technology beyond typical rural budgets
- Transfer network: Seamless coordination with tertiary Intermountain facilities
National Recognition for Intermountain Health:
- #1 Large Health System in the Nation – Fortune Magazine & PINC AI
- Top Three in Patient Safety – Patient Safety Movement Foundation
- Among Five Most Innovative Healthcare Providers – Into the Minds of the C-Suite
- Best Children's Hospitals – U.S. News & World Report (Primary Children's Hospital)
- 100 Great Hospitals in America – Becker's Hospital Review
When you practice at Cassia Regional, you're part of a nationally recognized system setting the standard for quality, safety, and innovation.
Hospital Profile: Size and Scope
- Classification: Rural Critical Access Hospital (Intermountain Health)
- Licensed beds: 25
- Service area: Mini-Cassia region (~40,000 residents)
- Employees: ~400 (one of the region's largest employers)
- Governance: 12-member local trustee board ensuring community representation
Emergency Services: Board-Certified and Busy
The Emergency Department is staffed 24/7 by board-certified emergency physicians—remarkable for a rural CAH—with 11,000+ annual visits and comprehensive trauma and acute care.
- Designations: Trauma IV, Stroke III, STEMI II, Pediatric Ready (Advanced Level)
- Staffing: Five local EM physicians, APP support, and Intermountain backup
- Recent expansion: Newly renovated and enlarged to handle growing volumes
Birth Center: Your OB Practice Home
Delivering over 500 babies annually, Cassia's 11-room Birth Center offers modern, compassionate obstetric care.
- Staffing: Three nurses per shift (day/night), many bilingual
- Support: Three certified nurse midwives, 24/7 CRNA coverage
- Technology: Continuous fetal monitoring, tele-neonatology
- Transfer policy: Accepts ≥35 weeks gestation; earlier transfers to higher-level centers
- Awards: Vital Maternity Access Hospital (2024), Best Hospital for Maternity Care (2022, 2024)
Inpatient Services: Comprehensive and Supported
- Medical/Surgical Unit: 13 inpatient beds + 6 observation
- ICU: 6 beds with tele-critical care backup
- Tele-ICU & tele-nocturnist programs: Drastically reduce overnight calls
- Experienced nursing staff: Low turnover and high-quality care
Surgical Services: Sophisticated Capabilities
The surgical department is a regional standout with four operating rooms and more than 1,600 procedures annually.
- da Vinci Surgical Robot: Acquired in 2024, expanding local minimally invasive options
- Specialties: General, bariatric, orthopedic, ENT, podiatric, OB/GYN, and urology
- CRNA coverage: Three experienced anesthetists
Diagnostic Imaging: Modern and Comprehensive
- CT: 64-slice high-resolution scanner
- MRI: Newest-generation upgrade planned
- Additional modalities: X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine
- Volume: 20,000+ imaging studies annually
Specialty and Referral Services
- On-site specialties: Orthopedics, general surgery, OB/GYN, urology, podiatry, and sports medicine
- Referral destinations: Twin Falls (45 min), Pocatello (60 min), Boise (2.5 hrs), Salt Lake City (3 hrs)
Rehabilitation and Ancillary Services
- Rehabilitation: PT, OT, and speech therapy (including pediatric programs via Primary Children's Hospital)
- Lab and respiratory therapy: 24/7 services
- Tele-oncology: Chemotherapy and IV therapy available locally
- Home care & hospice: On-campus programs ensuring continuity
EMS and Transport
- Paramedic services: Hospital-employed, highest level of pre-hospital care
- Classic Air Medical: On-campus helicopter, ~100 transfers annually
- Transfer coordination: Streamlined through Intermountain network
Community Benefit and Mission
- 2022 charity care: $6.2 million provided
- Top in Idaho: #1 for community benefit (Lown Institute, 2024)
- Mission-driven: Committed to accessible, high-quality, low-cost care regardless of ability to pay
This alignment with Family Health Services strengthens your mission as a safety-net physician serving those most in need.
Athletic Training Program
Cassia Regional funds full-time athletic trainers at Minico and Burley High Schools—demonstrating community investment and enhancing visibility among local families.
Recent Capital Improvements
- da Vinci Surgical Robot (2024): $2M investment in robotic capabilities
- Medical office renovation: Completed modernization of physician spaces
- MRI upgrade: Next-gen system installation planned
- ED expansion: Recently completed to increase throughput
Medical Staff Culture
Hospital CEO Mike Blauer describes the medical staff as having "no bad apples right now"—a genuinely collegial team. Staff meetings are productive and collaborative, and the medical staff lounge fosters informal connections (with complimentary soup and sandwiches provided daily).
Quality and Accreditation
- Joint Commission Accredited – meeting rigorous safety standards
- Critical Access Hospital designation – ensures financial stability and rural access
- Certified programs: Trauma, Stroke, STEMI, and Pediatric Ready ED
- Intermountain protocols: Data-driven, evidence-based clinical pathways
What This Means for Your Practice
At Cassia Regional Hospital, you'll practice in a modern, well-equipped, and supportive environment. You'll manage a broad scope of care while backed by Intermountain's tele-critical infrastructure. Whether it's a complex ICU case or an obstetric emergency, expert consultation is one click away. Transfers are efficient, staff are experienced, and the atmosphere is genuinely collegial. This is rural medicine at its best—community-centered care powered by world-class systems and teamwork.