4 Adapting to a New Challenge “If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.” —Henry Ford Over the past year, we have worked to be very transparent about Kootenai Health’s financial challenges, which have been driven by a national nursing shortage and the high cost of traveling nurses. These challenges are not unique to Kootenai Health; every health care organization across the country is competing for qualified health care workers. For more than 10 years, Kootenai Health has met or exceeded its budget targets with year-over-year financial growth. We have an exceptional track record of strong financial performance and we know our vision, mission and strategic plan are still on target for meeting our community’s growing health care needs. That being said, we are in an environment in which the demand for employees has simply overwhelmed the supply. So we are aggressively changing our approach to the challenge. This year Kootenai Health’s leadership has been working on a variety of strategies to significantly reduce our reliance on traveling nurses, take a thoughtful approach to all labor costs, reduce operating expenses and increase revenue without burdening patients. The plan includes more than 200 individual tactics, with work occurring throughout the organization. While some might look at our challenges with fear, that’s not how we work. Kootenai Health has an excellent history of strong financial performance, strong local leadership and innovative problem solving. Yes, we are changing our approach to solving this new problem, but we are doing so while continuing to take advantage of the cultural traits that have brought us historic success—strong work ethic; collaborative partnerships; and, above all, a deep commitment to the patients we serve. When everything in the environment has changed, success depends on your ability to adapt and find new ways to thrive. Ironically, our adaptability, which brought us through COVID-19, will be the strength that brings us through this next challenge as well. Wishing you good health, Jon Ness, CEO Kootenai Health 2003 Kootenai Health Way Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814 KH.org (208) 625-4000 Kootenai Hospital District Board of Trustees Katie Brodie, Chair Robert Colvin, Vice Chair Teri Farr, Secretary and Treasurer Dave Bobbitt, Trustee Cindy Clark, Trustee Thomas deTar, M.D., Trustee Liz Godbehere, Trustee Steve Matheson, Trustee Robert McFarland, M.D., Trustee Administration Jon Ness, Chief Executive Officer Karen Cabell, D.O., Chief Physician Executive Kelly Espinoza, Chief Nursing Officer Jeremy Evans, Chief Operating Officer Cara Nielsen, Kootenai Health Foundation President Ryan Smith, Chief Information Officer Kim Webb, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer John Weinsheim, Executive Vice President of Kootenai Clinic Executive Regional Editor Kim Anderson Regional Editor Shannon Carroll Cover photo Katrina Walker 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. Kootenai Health complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Translation assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Please call (877) 746-4674. Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al (877) 746-4674. Ako govorite srpsko-hrvatski, usluge jezicke pomoci dostupne su vam besplatno. Nazovite (877) 746-4674. 2022 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Health Kootenai Health Pharmacy Manager J.R. McCurdie, Night on the Palouse
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