About David J. Baltzer, RN, LFACHE
David Baltzer is a native of the Ozarks and St. Louis, MO. Baltzer is the oldest of five siblings. He grew up in the parsonage next to the church, where his father was the minister, and his mother was the organist, choir director, and Sunday school teacher. He married Joanne (Jody) Burke in 1971.
Responsible and Hardworking
Baltzer was a Boy Scout of America, First Class with merit badges. He accepted financial responsibility at a young age and has worked at the following non-healthcare jobs in St. Louis:
- Rack Boy in the Grand and Victor Pool Hall at Age 12
- Clerk at McCracken's Drug Store Above the Pool Hall
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch Paperboy
- Bookroom Clerk at Roosevelt High School
- Door-to-Door Salesman of Ekco Pots and Pans
- Nick's Catering Truck Route Runner
- Tennis Instructor for the City of St. Louis Parks Department
- Imo's Pizza Deliverer
- Library File Clerk at the University of Missouri - St. Louis
Humble Beginnings
At 17, Baltzer began his healthcare career in 1968 as a Hospital Attendant I at the St. Louis State Hospital. To get the job, Baltzer paid his own fare to ride a St. Louis city bus downtown to take the civil service test. His score was so high that he moved to the top of the hiring roster.
The interview process included an extensive battery of intelligence and psychological tests. Baltzer worked as part of a specially funded Hospital Improvement Program to determine whether providing extra resources would show measurable benefits for chronically ill psychiatry patients.
Psychotropic medications, such as Thorazine and Mellaril, had been only recently developed, and the State of Missouri had begun deinstitutionalization. Baltzer received on-the-job training, including administering medications to 45 male patients on Unit I-3. Other duties included shaving and showering patients, feeding patients, and taking patients for outings and walks.
During the six months that Baltzer worked full-time at “State,” making money for college, he absorbed the values of rank-and-file hospital staff who struggled to support their families on a monthly paycheck of $305. This understanding later helped Baltzer, as a healthcare executive, to foster excellent staff morale.
The interview process included an extensive battery of intelligence and psychological tests. Baltzer worked as part of a specially funded Hospital Improvement Program to determine whether providing extra resources would show measurable benefits for chronically ill psychiatry patients.
Psychotropic medications, such as Thorazine and Mellaril, had been only recently developed, and the State of Missouri had begun deinstitutionalization. Baltzer received on-the-job training, including administering medications to 45 male patients on Unit I-3. Other duties included shaving and showering patients, feeding patients, and taking patients for outings and walks.
During the six months that Baltzer worked full-time at “State,” making money for college, he absorbed the values of rank-and-file hospital staff who struggled to support their families on a monthly paycheck of $305. This understanding later helped Baltzer, as a healthcare executive, to foster excellent staff morale.
Life as a Working Student
Baltzer returned to full-time student life at the University of Missouri in St. Louis, where he met his now wife, Jody Burke. He graduated with a St. Louis Municipal School of Nursing diploma in 1975. During his three years as a nursing student, Baltzer worked part-time and summers at St. Louis City Hospital as a laboratory posting clerk, operating room scrub, circulating nurse, and recovery room nurse. He also worked as a night shift admitting clerk at St. Louis Children's Hospital one summer. Baltzer maintains an active Missouri registered nursing license and is an active member of the Homer G. Philips Hospital Nurses Alumni, Inc.
Committed to Learning
The Baltzers lived in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, from 1976 to 1978, where Jody completed a diploma as a Montessori Directress with lifetime international certification. Baltzer worked as a student nurse at Ireland's largest teaching hospital, St. James' Hospital in Dublin, and earned lifetime Irish general nursing registration. During this time, Baltzer decided on a career in healthcare administration. Baltzer had served two full terms on the board of trustees of a credit union and felt that his interest in finance would be coupled well with his clinical background.
Upon return to the United States, Baltzer concluded a bachelor's degree in business at Webster College while working as a psychiatric nurse for the St. Louis Veteran's Administration Medical Center (SLVAMC). Baltzer was accepted into the Washington University School of Medicine Health Administration Program for the Fall of 1979 and graduated with a master's degree in Health Administration in May of 1981. During his two years in graduate school, he worked as a research assistant in medical school and performed a summer internship with the SLVAMC. Baltzer's administrative residency was with the Evangelical Hospital Association, now called Advocate Health Care in Chicago.From 1982 to 1985, Baltzer worked as an administrative assistant for Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, NM. At Memorial, Baltzer was responsible for strategic planning, safety, and special projects, including creating the region's first ambulatory surgery unit and implementing a corporate-wide productivity system.
Upon return to the United States, Baltzer concluded a bachelor's degree in business at Webster College while working as a psychiatric nurse for the St. Louis Veteran's Administration Medical Center (SLVAMC). Baltzer was accepted into the Washington University School of Medicine Health Administration Program for the Fall of 1979 and graduated with a master's degree in Health Administration in May of 1981. During his two years in graduate school, he worked as a research assistant in medical school and performed a summer internship with the SLVAMC. Baltzer's administrative residency was with the Evangelical Hospital Association, now called Advocate Health Care in Chicago.From 1982 to 1985, Baltzer worked as an administrative assistant for Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, NM. At Memorial, Baltzer was responsible for strategic planning, safety, and special projects, including creating the region's first ambulatory surgery unit and implementing a corporate-wide productivity system.
Dedicated to Serve
In 1985, Baltzer began ten years of service with Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother's (SSM) Health System in the United States. This service began with five years at St. Mary's Regional Health Center in Roswell, NM, from 1985 to 1990, when he was promoted from assistant administrator to administrator and CEO. Following the merger of St. Mary's with Eastern New Mexico Medical Center, Baltzer was transferred within the SSM St. John Ministry Corporation to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, OK, where he worked as Vice President for Patient Care (CNO) for almost five years until the fall of 1994. For St. John, Baltzer initiated kidney dialysis services, opened a geriatric psychiatric unit, and created an angioplasty recovery unit while implementing many divisional operating efficiencies.
President and CEO of RMCHCS
In 1994, Baltzer was recruited to become President and CEO of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services (RMCHCS) in Gallup, NM, where he served until 2005. During this time, RMCHCS became recognized as a high-quality provider of comprehensive healthcare services. RMCHCS developed an integrated delivery system that grew from nine employed physicians to 55 employed physicians in three multi-specialty clinics. RMCHCS joined the VHA. When the malpractice crisis in the United States forced RMCHCS's carrier, St. Paul Insurance, to stop insuring hospitals in 2003, RMCHCS became a charter member of a VHA Mountain States regional consortium that owns a self-insured onshore reciprocal captive with headquarters in Vermont for hospital and physician malpractice claims. RMCHCS has meager loss experience for malpractice claims.
President of VIP Select
From 1996 to 2003, Baltzer served as President of VIP Select. VIP Select was RMCHCS's Managed Care Organization. An HMO that accepted full capitation for hospitals and physicians for 10,000 covered lives under New Mexico's Salud Medicaid Program was formed. RMCHCS also served as the hub for a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) with four neighboring hospitals in a 60-mile radius. VIP Select contracted directly with McKinley County's two largest self-insured employers, Giant Industries and the Pittsburg & Midway Mining Company.
Capital Improvement Projects Completed During Baltzer's 11 Years at RMCHCS:
- Building of a 4-story new addition to the main hospital that houses the Intensive Care Unit, Laboratory, Inpatient Dialysis, and Emergency Department—the first significant construction project in over 20 years.
- Remodeling of the Medical-Surgical-Pediatrics Unit with the addition of 11 beds.
- Remodeling of the Diagnostic Imaging Department with replacement of all equipment, including new interventional radiology suite, MRI, nuclear medicine gamma camera, ultrasound, Breast Center, two radiography and fluoroscopy rooms, and installation of rural New Mexico's first 64-slice CT scanner in January 2005.
- Conversion to enterprise-wide Meditech computer system.
- Expansion of Zuni Dialysis Center from 11 stations to 38 stations in several phases—this center has been rated #1 for patient outcomes in the U.S.
- Construction of a new 10-station outpatient dialysis center in Crownpoint, NM.
- Starting the region's first sleep lab.
- Development of a comprehensive campus plan by purchasing more than 25 acres of land on multiple sites, acquiring an 18,000-square-foot medical office building, acquiring several adjacent houses, and doubling the number of parking spaces while improving traffic flow.
- Building of rural New Mexico's first rooftop helipad.
Much capital funding came from the RMCHCS subsidiary Western Health Foundation (WHF). In 1998, the WHF completed its first capital campaign, raising $2,350,000. The WHF raised more than $7 million during Baltzer's presidency.
RMCHCS provides clinical experience for medical students from the University of New Mexico and the University of Pennsylvania and nursing students from the University of New Mexico-Gallup, among others.
RMCHCS provides clinical experience for medical students from the University of New Mexico and the University of Pennsylvania and nursing students from the University of New Mexico-Gallup, among others.
Baltzer led construction of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital’s 70,000 square foot addition that was completed in 1998 at $113/sq’ to provide the following:
- 8 bed ICU with skylight over nurses station
- New laboratory tripled in size
- New 15 station ED with ambulance entrance portico
- Rural New Mexico’s first rooftop helipad
- 5 level elevator connecting ED & ICU with roof
- Patient solarium with beautiful view
- High tech board room
- Medical library with kitchen and skylight
- New HIM department
- New administrative suite & Human Resources department
- Renovated Admissions area and lobby
- Dirty-to-clean receiving dock, warehouse, supply
- New mechanical space with boilers & air handlers
- Basement corridor connecting old St. Mary’s convent with hospital
- Resolved structural issues on 1969 main hospital building
- Loop road completed around campus
- 9 additional parking spaces
This project freed up space for future addition of Medical-Surgical-Pediatrics beds, tripling of Diagnostic Imaging space with replacement of all DI equipment, doubled Physical Rehabilitation space, and allowed creation of a Sleep Lab.
National Acknowledgments Received by RMCHCS During Baltzer’s Presidency:
- Modern Healthcare Top 100 Integrated Health Networks 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010
- Hospitals and Health Networks 100 Most Wired 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
- AHA Circle of Life Citation of Honor for Hospice 2002
- Trustee of the Year for Arlene High, Chairman 2003
- AHA Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence (HAVE) 2005
- #1 in the U.S. for Zuni Dialysis Unit Patient Outcomes
A True Leader
In the 11 years that Baltzer served as CEO of RMCHCS, Baltzer witnessed the poverty of Native Americans and Hispanics in the region. He served on the Blue Ribbon Task Force that recommended to the Navajo Nation Tribal Council the privatization of Indian Health Service hospitals on the Navajo reservation. He was later appointed as the only Anglo on the Navajo Health System Board of Directors. Baltzer also interacted with the Zuni Pueblo Council. He learned firsthand the enormous challenges of finding resources and operating a complex health system in a town bordering on sovereign nations within the United States. Recruitment was challenging. Fortunately, RMCHCS experienced favorable retention, with team member turnover between 12% and 18% annually during Baltzer's tenure.
To provide access and information to citizens, Baltzer created HealthLink as an entry point into the broader healthcare system in the region. RMCHCS provided so many wellness-related programs for the community that Baltzer created the RMCHCS Wellness Institute to offer a coordinated approach to improving health outcomes for people in the region.
To provide access and information to citizens, Baltzer created HealthLink as an entry point into the broader healthcare system in the region. RMCHCS provided so many wellness-related programs for the community that Baltzer created the RMCHCS Wellness Institute to offer a coordinated approach to improving health outcomes for people in the region.
Other Engagements and Leaderships
Since leaving RMCHCS, Baltzer has had interesting engagements in a variety of healthcare leadership endeavors:
- Interim Hospital CEO
- Latino Primary Care Clinic Nurse Leader
- For-Profit Hospice Management
- Executive Search Firm Senior Vice-President for Business Development
- Volunteer for a Consulting Project at a 2,600-bed Hospital in India
- Baltzer served as a member of the Gallup McKinley County Chamber of Commerce board of directors for five years and as chairman in 1999. He also served as a member of the Rotary Club of Gallup's board of directors for seven years and as President in 2002. He is a member of the Rotary Club (#11) of St. Louis and serves on the Rotary International Foundation Committee.
- Baltzer also served on the New Mexico Hospital Association (NMHA) board of directors for eight years and was chairman in 2000. He received NMHA's most prestigious award, named for its founder, the Frank Gabriel Award, in 2001.
- Baltzer also served the American Hospital Association on two national committees, the Committee on Volunteers (2000-2002) and the Committee on Governance (2002–2005). He was an AHA Region 8 Policy Board delegate (2004–2005).
A Life Fellow
Baltzer is a Life Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE). He earned Fellowship status in 1990, has served on numerous ACHE committees, and served as New Mexico Regent (2002–2003). Baltzer received the ACHE 1999 New Mexico Senior-Level Health Care Executive Award and the 2015 Missouri ACHE Regent's Choice Award. On January 1, 2016, Baltzer began a two-year term as President of the 963-member Missouri Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
A Published Author and More
Baltzer authored articles on various healthcare management-related topics, including governance, volunteerism, telecommunications, and multi-institutional systems theory (See Publications tab).
He is interested in approaches to healthy lifestyles that include nutrition, exercise, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Baltzer has studied therapeutic massage and meditation for over 40 years. From the experience of living in Ireland, Baltzer developed an appreciation for tea. Baltzer has toured tea plantations and factories and picked tea in the Yunnan Province of China. He and Jody lodged on a tea plantation in Darjeeling, India, and toured the tea estates in Munnar, India.
He is interested in approaches to healthy lifestyles that include nutrition, exercise, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Baltzer has studied therapeutic massage and meditation for over 40 years. From the experience of living in Ireland, Baltzer developed an appreciation for tea. Baltzer has toured tea plantations and factories and picked tea in the Yunnan Province of China. He and Jody lodged on a tea plantation in Darjeeling, India, and toured the tea estates in Munnar, India.