History and Mission 

Teton Valley Hospital opened its doors in 1938 and the construction was part of a Works Progress Administration project.  The original WPA plaque still hangs in the Driggs Health Clinic. At the time of establishment, the Teton Valley Hospital was owned by the Mormon Church. The community supported the hospital in a variety of ways, including a fundraiser where they auctioned off pigs, chickens, butter, coal, and firewood.

 

Later, in 1965, the community voted to change the ownership structure to a County owned and supported facility.  Also at that time, the community voted for a bond of $110,000.  The bond was a do-or-die vote and was the result of a State of Idaho Board of Health inspection. Inspectors informed County officials that several items had to be addressed before the hospital could be issued a license to continue operations.  The hospital bond paid for the renovations to the facility and allowed the hospital to continue. 

 

In 1991, the next significant fundraising evolution began when volunteers formed the hospital auxilary and opened the See N Save thrift store in Driggs.  Fifteen years later, the auxilary leveraged funding from a private Foundation and the hospital for constructing a new See N Save Thrift Store, at its current site. Later, the existing hospital auxilary changed its organizational structure to the Teton Valley Hospital Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c)(3). 

 

In 1993, more stringent federal requirements made it necessary to pay for upgrades and renovations that were simply out of reach financially.  That's when the Teton Valley Hospital Foundation was born, spearheaded by Chris and Albert Tilt.  The Foundation received their 501c3 status in 1994 and a few weeks later, received a $250,000 private Foundation grant.  This critical funding paved the way for the hospital to qualify for a $2 million loan to complete the federally mandated projects. 

 

Our community has continually supported the Teton Valley Hospital since its doors opened in 1938 in a variety of meaningful ways. It has not been an easy path; federal requirements, medical technology changes, interpretation of the Frazee act, have all caused financial strain for Teton Valley Hospital.  Hospital Administration have taken active strides in ensuring sustainability for the future.  New hospital leadership, new strategic plan, revenue cycling have been benefical steps taken for moving forward into the future. 

 

Mission

As medical technology rapidly advances, regulatory requirements change, and against the face of an economic decline, ongoing investments are needed to maintain and reach the next level of care and excellence for our community and those visiting the region. The Teton Valley Hospital Foundation exists solely to support the Teton Valley Hospital.  Support is in a variety of ways and the Foundation has helped fund capital purchases, programs, staff training and community programs that would not have otherwise been possible. 

 

Funding comes from a variety of sources; federal, state and private grants, donors, private foundations, fundraising events, and net proceeds from See N Save, the thrift store owned and operated by the Hospital Foundation.