Some of Saltzer’s Boise-area health clinics will be kept alive. Some won’t. What to know

Saint Alphonsus Health System has worked out a deal with Saltzer Health to keep some Saltzer operations alive, including an ambulatory surgery center and urgent-care clinic, both of which are located in the Ten Mile Crossing business development north of Interstate 84 in southwest Meridian.

That clinic is the Treasure Valley’s only 24-hour, seven-day-a-week urgent-care clinic. Saint Alphonsus did not acquire the building but is leasing the space, spokesperson Letty Ramirez told the Idaho Statesman.

Saint Alphonsus is also leasing Saltzer’s urgent-care clinic at 215 E. Hawaii Ave. in South Nampa, according to a news release Monday from the health system.

Saltzer’s parent nonprofit, Intermountain Health Care, announced in January that the Treasure Valley medical group would either sell or close by end of March, citing “significant financial pressures.” Saltzer’s last day of business was Friday, March 29.

The nonprofit physician group had another urgent-care clinic in north Nampa, which has now closed. Saltzer also owned several other clinics and medical offices in Boise, Meridian and Caldwell.

Saint Alphonsus said the agreement will provide stability by allowing patients to continue accessing services at those locations.

The two urgent-care clinics closed Friday so new information-technology equipment and an electronic medical record system could be installed. The clinics will reopen in May, Saint Alphonsus said. Patients who typically sought care at the clinics are encouraged to go Saint Alphonsus’ nearby urgent-care clinics in the interim.

Asked if the Meridian clinic would resume its 24-7 schedule upon reopening, Ramirez told the Statesman that the health system is assessing the clinic’s operating hours and leaning toward extended hours, which are typically beyond 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. She said there is limited demand for 24-7 urgent care.

The ambulatory surgery center in Meridian will continue operating uninterrupted under the new ownership, Saint Alphonsus said.

Saltzer sells imaging center

Saltzer said it is also selling its imaging center located at its Ten Mile campus in Meridian to Intermountain Medical Imaging, a Boise company with three other imaging centers.

“Our goal during this challenging process was to ensure that as many medical services as possible continue to operate and serve the health care needs of the community,” Jana Huffman, assistant vice president for Intermountain Medical Group, said in a news release Monday. “We appreciate this collaboration with Saint Alphonsus and Intermountain Medical Imaging so that residents in the Treasure Valley will continue to have access to convenient and affordable urgent care, surgery services and imaging services.”

Dr. Joseph Saltzer founded Saltzer in 1961 in Nampa.

This story was originally published April 1, 2024 at 4:31 PM.

Angela Palermo

Idaho Statesman

208-377-6285

Angela Palermo covers business and public health for the Idaho Statesman. She grew up in Hagerman and graduated from the University of Idaho, where she studied journalism and business. Angela previously covered education for the Lewiston Tribune and Moscow-Pullman Daily News.  Support my work with a digital subscription