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About / Leadership

Read More About Our Leaders

Leadership

At Northwest Specialty Hospital, our leadership team is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and service for our patients. We are proud to be on the cutting edge of both technology use and community building. Our commitment to innovation has enabled us to develop new treatments and procedures that have improved patient outcomes while also creating a more collaborative environment between staff members, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. We strive to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to utilizing modern technologies in order to provide better care for our patients. This includes investing in state-of-the-art equipment such as robotic surgery systems, digital imaging devices, telemedicine platforms, and advanced analytics software. 

Rick Rasmussen

Chief Executive Officer

Read More on Rick

Rick joined Northwest Specialty Hospital in 2012 as Chief Financial Officer and Facility Compliance Officer. Before joining NWSH he spent 25 years at L-P Corporation working his way up from Staff Accountant to Financial Planning and Analysis Manager at L-P’s Hayden Lake, Idaho office. While at L-P Rick was involved in all aspects of the finance department and graduated from the Mahler Executive Management Program. Rick attended the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana where he played football, was on the track team and graduated with honors in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting. He grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and was Valedictorian and Student Body President at Coeur d’Alene High School. Rick is also very active in the Kootenai County community, was elected to the North Idaho Officials Association’s Hall of Fame in 2009, was the PSB Community Star Award Winner in 2012, currently serves on the Coeur d’ Alene Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a member of Rotary Club. Rick is happily married to his high school sweetheart, Sharyl, and they have two daughters, Chelsey and Kylie, currently in college.

Brian Brigham

Chief Financial Officer

Read More on Brian

Prior to joining the hospital in 2014, Brian worked for nearly 20 years in a variety of financial roles at L-P Corporation, most recently as Accounting Manager. He is responsible for all of the accounting functions at the hospital and also serves as the Compliance Officer. Brian graduated from the University of Idaho where he received a B.S. degree with majors in both accounting and operations management. In his free time he enjoys coaching his children in youth sports and spending time with his family on the lake.

Todd Putren

Chief Nursing Officer

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With more than two decades of professional experience in healthcare, Todd brings a wealth of knowledge in emergency medicine, trauma, and critical care to Northwest Specialty Hospital. His previous leadership roles include Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Kootenai Health, and the MultiCare Valley Hospital. As the former Director of Critical Care Services and a former Director of Emergency and Trauma Service he has received recognition from peers, employers, and the community for his work in these roles and was recognized as the Top 30 under 40 by the North Idaho Business Journal. Todd is a registered nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing and is a Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML®) ,which demonstrate his knowledge of the essential elements in nursing management and leadership.

Todd and his wonderful wife, Kim, raise their four children in Dalton Gardens. The family spends time together running a flower farm in their spare time. Todd is an active member of his church and our community and is a three-time Ironman.

Heather Claussen

Executive Director of Clinic Operations & Marketing

Read More on Heather

Heather has over 20 years of healthcare management experience within the Northwest Specialty Hospital clinics. She brings a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience to include billing, coding, and business management. In her tenure with our organization, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management. Her experience developing a multi-faceted surgical practice, coupled with working side-by-side with physician owners has given her a unique perspective within our organization. She was born and raised in North Idaho and enjoys spending time with her family, boating, and traveling.

Chris Gregg

Executive Director of Human Resources

Read More on Chris

Chris brings over a dozen years of experience in the healthcare industry, with the bulk of those years witnessing the growth of NWSH. Starting in 2005, through the years at NWSH, Chris has served in several departments, but landed in the human resources department in 2012. His skills and tenure are being used to support NWSH in the role of HR Director. Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, with honors. In early 2018, he achieved HR certification through the Society of Human Resources Management. Chris enjoys woodworking, spending time with his wife and two small dogs, playing the bass guitar, and volunteering with youth programs.

About / Leadership

Read More About Our Leaders

Leadership

At Northwest Specialty Hospital, our leadership team is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and service for our patients. We are proud to be on the cutting edge of both technology use and community building. Our commitment to innovation has enabled us to develop new treatments and procedures that have improved patient outcomes while also creating a more collaborative environment between staff members, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. We strive to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to utilizing modern technologies in order to provide better care for our patients. This includes investing in state-of-the-art equipment such as robotic surgery systems, digital imaging devices, telemedicine platforms, and advanced analytics software. 

Rick Rasmussen

Chief Executive Officer

Read More on Rick

Rick joined Northwest Specialty Hospital in 2012 as Chief Financial Officer and Facility Compliance Officer. Before joining NWSH he spent 25 years at L-P Corporation working his way up from Staff Accountant to Financial Planning and Analysis Manager at L-P’s Hayden Lake, Idaho office. While at L-P Rick was involved in all aspects of the finance department and graduated from the Mahler Executive Management Program. Rick attended the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana where he played football, was on the track team and graduated with honors in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting. He grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and was Valedictorian and Student Body President at Coeur d’Alene High School. Rick is also very active in the Kootenai County community, was elected to the North Idaho Officials Association’s Hall of Fame in 2009, was the PSB Community Star Award Winner in 2012, currently serves on the Coeur d’ Alene Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a member of Rotary Club. Rick is happily married to his high school sweetheart, Sharyl, and they have two daughters, Chelsey and Kylie, currently in college.

Brian Brigham

Chief Financial Officer

Read More on Brian

Prior to joining the hospital in 2014, Brian worked for nearly 20 years in a variety of financial roles at L-P Corporation, most recently as Accounting Manager. He is responsible for all of the accounting functions at the hospital and also serves as the Compliance Officer. Brian graduated from the University of Idaho where he received a B.S. degree with majors in both accounting and operations management. In his free time he enjoys coaching his children in youth sports and spending time with his family on the lake.

Todd Putren

Chief Nursing Officer

Read More on Todd

With more than two decades of professional experience in healthcare, Todd brings a wealth of knowledge in emergency medicine, trauma, and critical care to Northwest Specialty Hospital. His previous leadership roles include Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Kootenai Health, and the MultiCare Valley Hospital. As the former Director of Critical Care Services and a former Director of Emergency and Trauma Service he has received recognition from peers, employers, and the community for his work in these roles and was recognized as the Top 30 under 40 by the North Idaho Business Journal. Todd is a registered nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing and is a Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML®) ,which demonstrate his knowledge of the essential elements in nursing management and leadership.

Todd and his wonderful wife, Kim raise their four children in Dalton Gardens. The family spends time together running a flower farm in their spare time. Todd is an active member of his church and our community and is a three-time Ironman.

Heather Claussen

Executive Director of Clinic Operations & Marketing

Read More on Heather

Heather has over 20 years of healthcare management experience within the Northwest Specialty Hospital clinics. She brings a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience to include billing, coding, and business management. In her tenure with our organization, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management. Her experience developing a multi-faceted surgical practice, coupled with working side-by-side with physician owners has given her a unique perspective within our organization. She was born and raised in North Idaho and enjoys spending time with her family, boating, and traveling.

Chris Gregg

Executive Director of Human Resources

Read More on Chris

Chris brings over a dozen years of experience in the healthcare industry, with the bulk of those years witnessing the growth of NWSH. Starting in 2005, through the years at NWSH, Chris has served in several departments, but landed in the human resources department in 2012. His skills and tenure are being used to support NWSH in the role of HR Director. Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, with honors. In early 2018, he achieved HR certification through the Society of Human Resources Management. Chris enjoys woodworking, spending time with his wife and two small dogs, playing the bass guitar, and volunteering with youth programs.

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