WELCOME
MAR IA R . RODEBAUGH, M. D . ,
F.A.C.E., is the medical director for the
Kootenai Diabetes and Endocrinology
Center. With
Kootenai Health
she talked
about what she does—andwhy she loves it.
KOOTENAI HEALTH
:
Why did you choose
your specialty? What about it is most
interesting to you?
DR. RODEBAUGH:
The practice of endo-
crinology is very gratifying because many
of the conditions we see are treatable, if not
curable. Diabetes is a widespread condition that affects the endocrine system and
is becomingmore common. Therefore, we have the opportunity to help and impact
a large number of patients and their families. Endocrinology is very interesting
because hormones, as chemical signals, affect all organ systems of the body.
KOOTENAI HEALTH
:
How would you explain your job to someone who
doesn’t understand what it is?
DR . RODEBAUGH:
Endocrinology is a subspecialty of internal medicine. It
focuses on the study of glands and hormones and the treatment of patients who
have disorders in hormone function and metabolism. Diabetes is a large part of
endocrinology and the most common condition we treat.
KOOTENAI HEALTH
:
Where did you work before Kootenai?
DR. RODEBAUGH:
For the previous nine years, I worked at the Internal Medi-
cine Group in Cheyenne, Wyoming, a private practice specializing in internal
medicine and its subspecialties.
KOOTENAI HEALTH
:
Why did you decide to come to Kootenai and northern
Idaho?
DR. RODEBAUGH:
Joining Kootenai Health gives me the opportunity to practice
endocrinology exclusively and do thework I ammost interested in. I alsowelcome
the additional responsibility of being themedical director for the Kootenai Diabetes
and Endocrinology Center and helping Kootenai Health deliver the services that
our community needs.
Whenmy husband and I visitedCoeur d’Alene the frst time, wewere impressed
by its natural beauty. We heard about its excellent schools and met a lot of people
who likedworking here and living here.We decidedwewanted tomake it our home.
KOOTENAI HEALTH
:
What should patients expect when they come to see you?
How should they prepare for an appointment?
DR . RODEBAUGH:
When patients come to see me, they should expect a lot
of questions about their symptoms, problems and medical history. I also ask
questions about their family history as well as their personal and work history.
Many things related to these affect a patient’s health. If they have old medical
records that they think may be pertinent, they should bring them or forward
them to us before their visit so we can review them. They should also make a list
of questions or concerns that they want to discuss. If they want to bring a family
member or a friend who can make the visit more fruitful, we also welcome them.
ENDOCRINOLOGY
College and then graduated from
the University of Idaho. My family
has a cabin onHayden Lake, where
we love to spend time.
DR. HANCOCK:
Dr. Webb and I
were very eager to work together
at this hospital and to participate
in the expansion of newborn
services.
KOOTENAI HEALTH
:
What
should patients expect when
they come to see you? How
should they prepare for an
appointment?
DR . WEBB :
Most people don’t
expect to come to see me! Most
people meet me in the delivery
room, right before—or right af-
ter—their baby is born.
DR. HANCOCK:
We attend deliv-
eries where a problem or need for
resuscitation is anticipated, and
we care for high-risk newborns
in our NICU. Occasionally, dur-
ing a pregnancy, we sit down
with a family who is awaiting
the birth of a baby expected to
have a problem. In that case, we
provide information about the
baby’s condition and outline the
plans for after the birth. Some-
times it’s relieving for a family
to have an idea of what to expect
in the delivery room and in the
nursery. We want to give parents
the opportunity of experiencing
the joy of the first face-to-face
meeting with their new child.
Sometimes we will need to work
quickly in the delivery room or in
an emergency, but we try to keep
the family on top of information
and involved as much as possible
as we do our work.
Maria R. Rodebaugh, M.D., F.A.C.E.
KOO T E NA I
H E A L T H
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