Seeing first-hand the deep commitment to patients in our rural communities

By Paul Krakovitz, VP, CNO, Specialty-Based Care

sanpete-valley-hospital
One of the best parts of my job is spending time with physicians and providers across the system. Recently, I met with the medical staff of Sanpete Valley Hospital. I really appreciated the hospitality I experienced from the following physicians: Drs. Gary Cole, Brinton Woods, Tristy Christensen, Michael Frischknecht, Brooks Thompson, Dallin Olson, Eric Jones, Dave Krzymowski and Brett Johnson. Everyone was open in helping me understand their unique challenges and celebrating their successes. 

With this recent visit I gained greater appreciation for the realities of practicing medicine in a rural area along with new insights into these providers’ deep commitment to serving their patients, the communities of central Utah and to supporting each other and their teams. I also came away with added perspective on how the strength of our system is synergistic with our rural communities. At a time when there has been a plethora of rural hospital closures across the country, our facilities remain vibrant and able to meet many health needs locally, while also tapping into the expertise available at our larger facilities as needed. 

Finally, I want to especially acknowledge Dr. Gary Cole. He will be stepping down as medical director for the hospital after serving in this capacity for nearly four years. His passion for excellence, his collaborative spirit and his undeniable love for his patients are hallmarks of his leadership that have had a tremendous influence on the entire hospital. Thanks, Dr. Cole.