Baxter Health Donates Ambulance to Mountain Home White Coat Program

Baxter Health proudly announces the donation of a retired ambulance to the Mountain Home High School White Coat Program, a local initiative dedicated to providing high school students with hands-on exposure to careers in healthcare.

The donation ceremony took place earlier this week at Baxter Health’s main campus, where hospital administrators handed over the keys to program leaders and students. The retired ambulance, previously part of Baxter Health’s emergency response fleet, will now serve as a unique training tool, offering students real-world experience in emergency medical scenarios.

“We are honored to support the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Ron Peterson, President and CEO of Baxter Health. “By donating this ambulance, we hope to inspire students to pursue careers in medicine and to better understand the importance of emergency medical services.”

The White Coat Program, a collaboration between Mountain Home High School and Baxter Health, allows students to shadow various medical fields and participate in simulations. The donated ambulance will help elevate the program's simulation capabilities, allowing students explore emergency medical services (EMS) in a realistic, hands-on setting. They will also use the ambulance for community outreach events with the interns and the MHHS Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).

"We are beyond grateful for Baxter Health’s generous donation of this ambulance to our White Coat Internship Program. It gives our students an authentic environment to practice emergency medicine skills, patient transport, and teamwork,” said Tenille Rauls, APRN, MHHS Medical Professions Instructor. “This gift transforms learning from the classroom into real world readiness, and it shows our community’s commitment to preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders.”

The donation reflects Baxter Health’s continued commitment to community outreach, education, and strengthening the regional healthcare workforce. The ambulance will be retrofitted for educational use and incorporated into the program’s curriculum later this fall.