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Serving hospital patients
dbryce@journalnet.com
BLACKFOOT -- Bingham Memorial Hospital in Blackfoot offered Vicki Allen exactly what she had been looking for during her three-decade nursing career -- an opportunity to provide personal care to her patients. "(Bingham Memorial) is the very best hospital I've worked at in my 32 years," said Allen, who oversees all hospital personnel who have bedside contact with patients. Allen, the chief process officer, has been part of the hospital's administration for more than three years.
A registered nurse and a legal nurse consultant, she attended school at the Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wis. After graduating, Allen went to work at the Primary Children's Hospital in Madison and then in St. Paul. She moved to Pocatello 25 years ago and worked at Bannock Memorial, Portneuf Regional Medical Center and the Southeastern District Health Department.
During that time, she taught classes at Bingham Memorial. "That's how I got to know them," Allen said.
Bingham Memorial Hospital recently recruited four internal medicine physicians and is in the process of building a new medical office building. The complex is located across the street from the hospital and an overhead walkway will connect the building to the hospital, making physician response time faster. The hospital's long-term care center also features a kidney dialysis unit.
"We're the only long-term care center to offer dialysis," she said. Allen said Bingham Memorial's status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit facility means the hospital is owned by the community and is totally self-sufficient.
But it's the hospital's cozy and personal atmosphere that appeals to Allen. "When I worked in 1,800-bed facilities, I knew my immediate staff," she said. "At Bingham I pretty much know everyone in the hospital."
Allen and her husband, Paul, an emergency room physician at Bingham Memorial, have been married for 20 years. The couple have three children: Nathan, who's enrolled in the Idaho State University Vo-Tech program; Kirsten, a student at the University of Utah but currently studying in Spain; and Jordan, a senior at Century High School. When she's not working, Allen enjoys reading and traveling.
She and her daughter plan one trip together each May. Last year, they traveled to Greece and this year they plan to visit Ireland. The family also enjoys hiking, skiing and spending time outdoors.
Allen said she and her family seem to have found their niche in Southeast Idaho. "It's been a wonderful place to raise our family," she said. "And Paul and I both think the medicine here is exactly what we were looking for." By Debbie Bryce
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wow wrote on Nov 9, 2008 9:36 AM:
I wonder how Louis enjoyed the Legacy vote...tick...tock..... "