As I am out in the community, people regularly
comment on the growth we are experiencing at
Kootenai Health. With this past summer’s an-
nouncement of our membership in the Mayo
Clinic Care Network and our hospital expansion
beginning to take shape on campus, even more
people are starting to look at our community
hospital with fresh eyes.
I am pleased to say that today we have a greater
variety of services and increasingly focused efforts
to improve the quality of care for our patients.
However, as we continuously work to improve care in our community, many
challenges remain. One of these challenges is to improve patient access to
physicians.
Idaho continues to vie for last place in the U.S. for its number of physi-
cians per capita. Kootenai is doing its part to correct this. We have an
ongoing effort to recruit physicians in needed specialties to our commu-
nity. We are also seeing early success in our family medicine residency
program. After completing their residencies, these new doctors are much
more likely to practice in this region than they would be if they had com-
pleted their residencies elsewhere.
Recently, we began piloting a unique new Appointment Center. The goal
of the Appointment Center will be to provide a central place people seeking
a doctor can call to schedule an appointment. Although the primary goal
of the Appointment Center will be to connect patients with a primary care
provider, staff will be familiar with specialists in the community as well.
No more calling multiple offices to see who can get you in, who accepts
your insurance and so on. The Appointment Center will offer you informa-
tion, options and an easier way to find the care you need. At Kootenai,
we’re all for improving the care you receive—and for making it easier than
ever to receive it.
Wishing you good health,
Jon Ness, CEO
Opening Thoughts
Jon Ness, CEO
K O O T E N A I H E A L T H
2003 Kootenai Health Way
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814
KH.org
(208) 625-4000
KOOTENA I HOSP I TAL
D I STR I CT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Paul Anderson,
Chairman
Ernest Fokes, M.D.,
Vice Chairman
Liese Razzeto,
Secretary/Treasurer
Katie Brodie,
Trustee
Jim Eisses,
Trustee
Terence Neff, M.D.,
Trustee
Neil Nemec, M.D.,
Trustee
A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Jon Ness,
Chief Executive Officer
Jeremy Evans,
Vice President,
Operations
Walter Fairfax, M.D.,
Chief Medical Officer
Steve Garske,
Chief Information Officer
Daniel Klocko,
Vice President,
Human Resources
Ron Lahner,
General Counsel
Joan Simon,
Chief Nursing Officer
Kim Webb,
Chief Financial Officer
Shawn Bassham,
Kootenai Health
Foundation President
E X E C U T I V E R E G I O N A L E D I T O R
Kim Anderson
R E G I O N A L E D I T O R
Andrea Nagel
C O V E R P H O T O
Trevin Spencer, BHW1 Advertising
Published as a courtesy of
Kootenai Health four times a year.
Models may be used in photos and
illustrations. If you have any concerns
or questions about specific content
that may affect your health, please
contact your health care provider.
Copyright © 2014
Coffey Communications
CMM30802
4
