Moscow mourns death of Gritman CEO

MOSCOW - Health professionals and community leaders here mourned the death Monday of Gritman Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey W. Martin, who was killed in a single-vehicle accident near Elk River.

"The entire Gritman community as well as the community as a whole is devastated," said B.J. Swanson, chairwoman of the hospital's board of directors. "He was such a great leader for Gritman, leader for the community and it's a huge hole to fill."

According to an Idaho State Police accident report, Martin, 47, was traveling westbound on State Highway 8 when his 1999 Ford pickup truck left the roadway for unknown reasons, climbed up an embankment, turned on its side and came to rest amid trees. Martin, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle, according to the report.

Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt, who works part time at Gritman as a nurse, said the cause of death was injuries sustained from impact of the accident. "This is not something that you expect, that's for sure," Mabbutt said. "I saw him on Friday when I was working."

Martin, who leaves behind his wife, Becky, and three school-age children, had served as the hospital's president and CEO since 1999.

"Jeff had a long-standing commitment to the Moscow community and had developed many good services for the hospital there," said Scott Adams, Martin's counterpart across the border at Pullman Regional Hospital. "We had meaningful partnerships between the two hospitals. Any untimely tragedy such as this is devastating to overcome. It's such a shock for me. My heart goes out to his family and the hospital and community of Moscow."

Martin was said to have spent the weekend in Elk River with his family. His wife and children left for home in Moscow in a separate vehicle. When Martin failed to arrive home, family members became concerned and eventually filed a missing persons report.

According to a news release from the Latah County Sheriff's Office, Martin was expected home around 11 p.m. Sunday. Deputies searching the highway found the vehicle shortly after 9 a.m. Monday. The accident happened near mile post 41, about two miles away from the Clearwater County line.

"It's a terrible loss to our community and Jeffrey's very large circle of friends," Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney said. "The loss is going to be felt for a long time."

Swanson said Kara Besst, the hospital's chief financial officer, has been appointed by the board's executive committee as interim replacement for Martin. Officials from Quorum Health Resources, the nation's largest hospital management company that oversees Gritman operations, were en route Monday to help with the search for a new CEO, Swanson said.

"Many from here were out searching for him and he was found this morning," Swanson said. "I had dinner with him Friday night. He and Becky were there. We had a great time, everything was wonderful with the world and now, I guess I'm just devastated."

Hospital employees were fighting back tears Monday morning as news of Martin's death spread throughout the staff. Swanson said a grief center had been set up in the hospital conference room and was available for both hospital staff and community members. "I think we're all so devastated in trying to deal with this."

Besst, during an afternoon news conference at the hospital, said she was determined to fill in for Martin until a permanent replacement is named.

One year ago, Martin was named CEO of the year by Quorum Health Resources. That same year he served as chairman of the Idaho Hospital Association Board of Directors. In 2008, he was named Idaho Grassroots Champion by the American Hospital Association and the Lewiston Tribune named him business leader of the year. A former president of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce, Martin served on the Inland Northwest Blood Center board of directors and was recipient of the 2008 Moscow Community Service Award.

A memorial fund for Martin's children has been set up at American West Bank.

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Johnson may be contacted at djohnson@lmtribune.com or (208) 883-0564.