Whitefish hospital leader shifts to Kalispell job

A month after North Valley Hospital was pulled under the umbrella of Kalispell Regional Healthcare System, the Whitefish hospital’s chief executive officer has stepped down to transition into a new position at the Kalispell hospital.

Jason Spring began his role as the chief executive provider network integration at Kalispell Regional on June 1, soon after a finalized agreement created an affiliation between the hospitals.

Spring said his move to Kalispell Regional was voluntary. He said the hospital boards had agreed to his role changeover during the affiliation transition planning.

“This has long been part of the discussion by the boards ... We wanted to make sure that the time frame worked well for a smooth transition,” Spring said.

On March 28, the hospital boards at North Valley and Kalispell Regional reached an agreement in the governance bylaws that established the Whitefish hospital as part of the Kalispell Regional Healthcare System. The new relationship went into effect May 1.

Tate Kreitinger has stepped in as North Valley’s interim chief executive officer, which he will have to balance with his role as chief executive officer of the HealthCenter in Kalispell.

Kreitinger has been the leader of the HealthCenter for 10 years.

Mellody Sharpton, the Kalispell director of communications, said Kreitinger will simultaneously serve both CEO roles to assist in bridging the relationship between the Whitefish hospital and the Kalispell system.

She said Kreitinger has been part of the system’s integration effort.

Sharpton said over the next few months, the North Valley board of directors will evaluate the skills and traits needed to fill the CEO role.

Tagen Vine, the president of the Kalispell Regional Healthcare Foundation, said he wasn’t aware of any other major job transitions planned between the hospitals due to the recent affiliation.

Vine said Spring will be responsible for connecting hospital resources and health-care providers to improve regional patient care.

Spring was chief executive officer at North Valley for seven years. During that time, the hospital experienced a growth in patients, expanded its Birth Center and built the North Valley Professional Center in Columbia Falls.

Spring said he didn’t believe the North Valley board would struggle to find a strong CEO for the hospital.

“It is a great organization, with a great team, medical staff, board and now part of an strong healthcare system,” Spring said.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.