4 / 24
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
Liese Razzeto,
Chair
Terence Neff, M.D.,
Vice Chair
Neil Nemec, M.D.,
Secretary/Treasurer
Paul Anderson,
Trustee
Katie Brodie,
Trustee
James Eisses,
Trustee
Ernest Fokes, M.D.,
Trustee
A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Jon Ness,
Chief Executive Officer
Jeremy Evans,
Executive Vice
President
Walter Fairfax, M.D.,
Chief Medical Officer
Steve Garske,
Chief Information Officer
Daniel Klocko,
Executive Vice
President
Ron Lahner,
General Counsel
Joan Simon,
Chief Nursing Officer
Kim Webb,
Chief Financial Officer
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
Jake Parrish,
Coeur d’Alene Press
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.
2016 © Coffey Communications, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Many of the conversations about health care today
focus on quality, price, access and the challenges
they present. While these are important issues,
there’s another story that’s equally important: the
story of the tremendous good work happening in
health care today.
With innovative new treatments, lives are being
extended and quality of life is being improved.
What really makes this interesting to me is the fact
that these new treatments aren’t just being done by
a handful of physicians practicing in major metro-
politan areas. Through collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Care Network and
the dedication of local physicians, they are happening right here.
Northern Idaho is fortunate to have an outstanding medical community.
Our physicians are collegial, innovative and willing to roll up their sleeves to
implement the changes needed to improve patient care.
An exceptional example of this is on page 12 in this issue of
Kootenai Health
magazine. General surgeon Marcus Torgenson, M.D., re-
cently led a multidisciplinary team in the adoption of a new surgical protocol
called the Enhanced Recovery Program. The program takes a different ap-
proach to preparing patients for surgery and caring for them afterward, and
it is seeing impressive results. Patients require less medication, heal more
quickly and experience better outcomes.
The adoption of this program by physicians at Kootenai Health is among
the best in the nation. As others around the country are working to accept
the idea of change, physicians and patients here are already seeing results.
Although the dialogue about price and access to health care must con-
tinue, let’s remember the rest of the story. Many, many people are working to
improve the care patients receive every day. And many of them are right here
in northern Idaho.
Wishing you good health,
Jon Ness
WELCOME
Opening Thoughts
F O R M AY 2 0 1 6
Jon Ness, CEO
4