By Andrea Nagel
There are
a lot of people in northern Idaho who have a
connection to Kootenai Health. Whether they were born
here, gave birth here or received treatment here, it seems
like just about everyone has some connection or tie to the
big blue hospital.
Tom Richards is no different.
“My father was the chairman of the board that purchased
the land that Kootenai sits on today,” Tom said. “At the
time it was considered too far out of town. I think it worked
out pretty good though.”
Tom followed in his father’s footsteps and helped to form
what is now the Kootenai Health Foundation. Not long
after, he was one of the team members to start the Festival
of Trees.
“It was a wonderful experience,” Tom said.
In more recent years, Tom has continued to spend time
at Kootenai, now as a heart patient.
“It’s important to offer these services locally so people
don’t have to travel in order to receive the care they need,”
he said.
Tom has had two heart surgeries at Kootenai Health,
benefitting from the both the creation of the original heart
center and from the expansion of electrophysiology (EP)
services.
“I am grateful that Kootenai was able to expand and
grow its cardiac services so I could have both of my heart
surgeries close to home,” he said.
In July of 2011, Tom received a defibrillator to help
prevent heart failure and sudden death from occurring.
Tom also went through physical therapy at Kootenai for
three weeks following his first surgery and continued with
cardiac rehabilitation to build his cardiovascular strength
and endurance.
“If I hadn’t been able to get these services at Kootenai
Health, I would have had to go out of state and my family
wouldn’t have been able to be with me,” Tom said. “Every-
thing I needed was here at home.”
A History
of Caring
T OM R I C H A R D S A N D
T H E K O O T E N A I H E A LT H
F O UN D AT I O N G O WAY B A C K—
3 0 Y E A R S , T O B E E X A C T
KOO T ENA I HE A LT H . ORG
11
LEGACY
