North Valley Hospital selects new CEO

Chris Thomas has been selected to serve as the new chief executive officer of North Valley Hospital.

Thomas has served for the last three years as chief operating officer of the hospital. She has 35 years experience as a nurse and 27 years working in healthcare leadership.

Thomas says her role as an administrator is to ensure the hospital is providing quality of care to its patients. She says she enjoys working at North Valley Hospital because of the great staff members who have that same commitment.

“I can honestly say that not one single person here is not committed to giving excellent care,” she said.

She replaces Tate Kreitinger who assumed the role of interim CEO at North Valley along with his duties serving as CEO of The HeathCenter at Kalispell Regional Healthcare. Kreitinger took on the role after Jason Spring last June stepped down as CEO at the Whitefish hospital and moved into a new role with Kalispell Regional Healthcare.

Thomas previously worked as an acute care manager and worked for the Kalispell Healthcare system. She has served in hospital leadership positions in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. She previously lived in the Flathead Valley from 1993 to 2002 and then returned more than four years ago.

Thomas grew up in Wyoming, attended Eastern Wyoming College, what is now Montana State University-Northern and earned her masters in healthcare administration from Montana State University.

Thomas said her decision to move from nursing to hospital leadership roles was about helping the most patients.

“I loved nursing,” she said. “I felt I was a strong clinical nurse and a flight nurse, but I only influenced one or two patients per day. As a leader I knew I could influence the quality of care for more people.”

North Valley Hospital last year became an affiliate under the umbrella of Kalispell Regional Healthcare. Both hospitals maintain their respective governing boards, but have moved to integrate the organizations both clinically and financially.

Thomas said her time already serving in leadership at North Valley Hospital combined with her past experience working for the Kalispell Regional Healthcare system makes her ideal to lead the Whitefish hospital.

“I have a good network with the Kalispell leadership and I understand the North Valley culture,” she said. “I can influence how we best optimize that affiliation and serve the needs of the community.”

She said North Valley remains committed to focusing on patient care through its Planetree philosophy and retaining its critical access status. The hospital will continue to grow in services and expects to create a new strategic plan to plan for the future, she noted.

Thomas is married to husband Ken, has six children and one stepchild, and four grandchildren. She enjoys outdoor activities including backcountry packing and hunting. She raises horses, mules and cattle on her property.

In the announcement made Thursday, the board of directors recognized Thomas saying she has provided exemplary leadership as chief operating officer of the hospital over the last three years, while maintaining a focus on the unique values and culture of North Valley Hospital.

“The board is thankful for Tate’s leadership over the past year,” Steve Stahlberg, board chairman, said in a prepared release. “By appointing Ms. Thomas to this full-time leadership role, the board establishes a strong commitment to the staff at North Valley Hospital and the greater Whitefish community that North Valley Hospital will continue providing high quality patient-centered care.”

Thomas praised the board for its decision to select a new CEO for NVH.

“The North Valley Hospital board is committed to the community and in the services that we provide,” she said. “The decision that we need a full-time CEO is a clear indication of their interest to maintain the culture of North Valley Hospital.”