Summer 2023 Connections Letter from Leadership
President and CEO Kara Besst
We are in the midst of an exciting time at Gritman Medical Center.
Gritman continues to be the region’s leader in providing exceptional care and advanced technology to the people in our communities, led by the dedicated providers and staff throughout our hospital and growing network of clinics.
That care network continues to expand. I’m pleased to announce the addition of services throughout our Gritman System that will help fill the need for specialty care services here on the Palouse.
Gastroenterologist Dr. Lee Hixson joins our Gritman General Surgeons and Gastroenterology clinic. In addition to performing endoscopes and colonoscopies, Dr. Hixson specializes in treating both acute and chronic GI problems. He is Board-Certified in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine and brings a much-needed specialty to patients on the Palouse. Dr. Hixson is also able to perform Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatograms (ERCP) – a technical procedure that helps diagnose specific GI conditions – thanks to investments in equipment at Gritman Medical Center.
Dr. Hixson’s onboarding follows the successful expansion of other services into our hospital and clinic system. Experienced Palouse Urologist Dr. Bryan Smith transitioned his services into the Gritman Urology clinic in February with our addition of the Da Vinci Surgical System. Sleep Specialist Dr. Preetha Rosen joined us last fall and brings extensive experience in treating the full spectrum of sleep medicine disorders.
These amazing new providers join a Gritman System that continues to grow in its ability to provide exceptional care. Thanks to the vision of our community-led Board of Directors, Gritman has grown from 500 to more than 700 employees over the past five years as our hospital and clinic network diversifies in service of community needs.
Whether our orthopedic patients are getting the help they need through our Total Joint Education Classes, or area philanthropists are supporting upgrades to fetal heart monitors that are vital for our youngest new arrivals, these services are helping provide services to an ever-growing and vibrant Palouse community.
Stories of Gritman’s compassionate expertise in treating our community are chronicled in this issue of Connections Magazine. I invite you to read more about this progress in the coming pages.
We have a lot to be proud of throughout the Gritman System. I’m excited about what’s to come.
Sincerely,
Kara Besst
President & CEO
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