Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 4, 2021

By Devin Weeks On the northwest corner of the Kootenai Health campus is a quiet, peaceful space where healing takes place. The Hospitality Center offers overnight lodging, for little or no cost, to patients and loved ones who need to be near the hospital. Six pediatric Ronald McDonald House rooms, 12 Walden House rooms and two rooms that can be used for either side are available to provide privacy and comfort to families and patients. Rooms include ADA-accessible bathrooms, king- or queen-sized beds and large windows. Many offer outdoor patio space that opens to an enclosed landscaped yard. “People could be staying here for a week at a time—more than just a one-night stay like you would at a hotel,” Kootenai guest services manager Justin Schorzman said. “Many patients are postsurgical, healing before they go home.” Comfort, convenienceandsupport At the heart of this 18,000-square-foot home away from home are two spacious kitchens—one on each side— where guests and volunteers congregate to make family meals and baked goods. “How cool is it that you’re in a room, and you wake up to the smell of home-baked cookies?” Justin said. “There’s a lot of love in the kitchen in your home, and we try to translate that here. It’s as close to home as you could possibly get.” Laundry and recreation spaces are on site, as well as garden beds where guests can immerse themselves in garden therapy. “We wanted to offer another outlet to help distract patients and families from what’s going on at the hospital,” Hospitality Center family service site coordinator Tiegan Colwell said. “We have the garden, patio space, board games, pet therapy. We want to let our guests forget why they’re here. What we have established here is comfort, to let families know they’re not alone and we’re here to support them how we can.” The $5.85 million project was funded by the Community Cancer Fund in 2019 with support from the Kootenai Health Foundation. In August 2021, Community Cancer Fund raised more than $6 million at its annual celebrity golf event, The Showcase, to support community projects like the Hospitality Center. Welcome! To learn more about the Hospitality Center and register for lodging, visit KH.org/family-support-services/ hospitality-center . Your Home Away fromHome Our Hospitality Center is a place of healing Photos by Devin Weeks LEFT: Hospitality Center staff are here for you. From left: Katherine Lewerenz, Tiegen Colwell, Dawn Kettell and Rachel Carillo. RIGHT: Enclosed and secluded, outdoor space at the Hospitality Center provides privacy for families. KH . ORG 19