Lost Rivers receives surgical center gift

Lost Rivers Medical Center in Arco has won a $144,000 gift from the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust. The trust is a private foundation based in Vancouver, Washington which supports non-profits in the northwest region.

Lost Rivers Chief Executive Officer Brad Huerta said the funding would be put towards the center’s surgical center project. That project is aimed at bringing state-of-the-art surgical services to rural Idaho.

“We are so very grateful for their continued leadership and philanthropy in helping to make affordable, accessible health care a reality in eastern Idaho. Their generous gift will help us to realize our dream of providing world class surgical services in our underserved area,” said Huerta.

A shell for the surgical center has been constructed and hospital officials are now finalizing interior design and equipment priorities.

In a related note, Huerta was recently awarded the American Hospital Association’s annual “Rural Hospital Grassroots Advocacy Award.”

The award recognized hospital executives who advocate for health care issues in their community.