March 19, 2024

Lifelong learner Altman takes the reins at Skiff

After several weeks on the job as Skiff Medical Center’s new CEO, Brett Altman said he is ready for the challenge of running an evolving hospital.

“That’s what I like about this job, everyday is a different challenge. Usually you learn something new and often times you are doing things that you haven’t done before,” Altman said.

Altman is originally from Gilmore City in northwest Iowa where he grew up on a farm. After graduating high school, he attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake and received a degree in biology. He was then accepted into the physical therapy program at the University of Iowa, where he went on to receive a master’s degree in physical therapy.

Following graduation, Altman moved back to Storm Lake and worked at the Horn Memorial Hospital as the solo physical therapist. In 1994, the director of physical therapy position opened at Skiff and Altman jumped at the chance to work with a larger number of physical therapists and an opportunity to help grow the department, he said.

“It was really an untapped market for physical therapy, we only had two physical therapist and today we have around 13. Skiff was a very supportive employer personally and for professional growth as well,” Altman said.

Over the next 15 years, Altman continued his pursuit of knowledge, gaining certifications in sports medicine and orthopedic physical therapy. He also resided as president of the Iowa Physical Therapy Association and in 2001 become the director of physical medicine and rehabilitation when the hospital combined the occupation, speech and physical therapy departments. After receiving his athletic training certificate, Altman was able to use his skills for bigger audience outside of Newton.

“I got my athletic training certificate and was able to eventually work through the United States Olympic Committee to work with the U.S. triathlon team,” Altman said.

That team went to the 2003 Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece,” Altman said.

Altman rounded out his medical degree by getting his doctorate in physical therapy from Temple University in 2006. In 2009, when Skiff was looking for a new CEO, Altman was on their list to interim.

“In 2009, the board came to me and said, ‘We’d like you to consider being our interim CEO while we recruit a new person.’ And when Steve Long arrived on the scene, he said, ‘I need you to stay and help me,’ and I saidm ‘Oh, I was really planning to go back to my rehab job,’” Altman said.

Altman did stay on for the next four and a half years also gaining a MBA from Grand Canyon University.

However, becoming the permanent CEO wasn’t something Altman had in his plans.

“In hindsight, I think our boards were very thoughtful. Having been here for 20 years and having developed relationships with all kinds of community people, employees, physicians, volunteers here at Skiff ... I have the best interest of the hospital and the community in mind,” Altman said.

Looking toward the future, Altman is placing focus in a few key areas.

“We’ve been very transparent that we are seeking a partnership. Our No. 1 goal is we need a hospital in this community for the long haul,” Altman said.

While in the process of finding a partner, the hospital will continue to work on internal goals of quality and performance, he said.

“We place a lot of focus on our quality, we are really working hard to be one of the top quality hospitals in the country. It’s really our goal to be in the top 25 percent of hospitals for our performance when looking at quality, patient satisfaction and productivity,” Altman said.

Over the last five years, Skiff has recruited more than a dozen physicians to the community, working toward keeping residents from having to travel out of the community for medical services.

“Our motto is ‘the best care is close to home’ and we have a lot of elderly people and a lot of people that it is not easy to commute for health care, so the more services we can provide here the better we serve our community needs,” Altman said.

Altman does have a side to him that not many know about. Having grown up on a farm, he brought his roots to Newton.

“I actually have a very small farming operation on the side. What I really enjoy doing is, I have a lot of John Deere implements, so I am usually driving a tractor or mower on the weekends. I grew up on a farm and I can’t get that out of my blood,” Altman said.

Altman claims seven chickens and one cat as his livestock on his acreage that he shares with is wife and four children.

Contact Staff Writer Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.