Hospitals in Idaho

Hospital Infrastructure in Idaho

Idaho's 44 hospitals serve a rapidly growing population of nearly two million residents spread across a mountainous, largely rural state. St. Luke's Health System and Saint Alphonsus Health System are the two dominant providers, both headquartered in Boise and competing for market share in the Treasure Valley. St. Luke's Boise Medical Center is the state's largest hospital and a Level II trauma center. Idaho has a high proportion of critical access hospitals serving rural communities, and several areas of the state are designated as health professional shortage areas. The state's rapid population growth, fueled by in-migration from California and other states, has strained hospital capacity in the Boise metro area. Idaho was among the last states to expand Medicaid, doing so through a ballot initiative in 2018. The state lacks a medical school, though partnerships with the University of Washington WWAMI program help train physicians. Telemedicine has become increasingly important for connecting rural Idaho communities with specialists in Boise, Spokane, and Salt Lake City.