Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 4, 2021

Close to Home, Family and Friends Every year, the Festival of Trees raises money for a project, expansion or cause to accommodate the needs of our growing community and extend the best care to Kootenai Health’s patients. Funds raised during this year’s Festival will go to the Kootenai Health Foundation’s campaign to purchase lifesaving equipment that will allow neurosurgeons to treat more patients with increased speed and precision for procedures such as brain and spinal surgery and deep brain stimulation. “This is to help the community so they don’t have to go to Spokane or Seattle for these special procedures,” Cynthia Jones, neurosurgery program coordinator, said. “They can stay here, close to their families and supportive friends, and receive the best possible care.” Lifesaving equipment Each generous dollar given to the Foundation’s $1.1 million neurosurgery equipment campaign will help purchase a StealthStation S8 Surgical Navigation System, a neuro-navigation and computer-based surgical guidance system that has become a standard part of neurosurgery practices today. The StealthStation gives surgeons a more precise view while they’re performing procedures. Additionally, the funds will purchase a KINEVO microscope to provide greater visual acuity with state-of-the-art function. Both pieces of equipment are designed to perfectly address surgeons’ needs and facilitate challenging new operating procedures and new approaches in neurosurgery. Honoring Heroes of Health Care Nearly two years into a global pandemic, Kootenai Health’s doctors, nurses and team members are still in the throes of caring for patients with COVID-19. The Health Care Heroes Fund was established in 2020 to assist patients, caregivers and the hospital with COVID-19-related needs. The fund helped create a testing center stocked with PCR test analyzers, which drastically increased the number of COVID-19 tests we can process each week. In addition, the Health Care Heroes Fund helped open three Zen Rooms to provide quiet sanctuaries for staff members in need of quick respite during their long shifts. It also funded supplies, personal protective equipment and additional staff. Keeping spirits high These resources and more would not be possible without our generous donors who believe in our Health Care Heroes. Support for health care employees and physicians continues to be a great need as they work through these challenging times. With your help, we can look forward to a brighter tomorrow. Visit Health Care Heroes at KH.org/foundation to help support our local Health Care Heroes and all they do to care for our community. environment,” he said. “Kootenai Health team members have been tirelessly working on the front lines, doing what they are trained to do, taking care of people in our community. For United Heritage Insurance, giving back to the communities we serve is the right thing to do.” For Nicole Jacklin, broker/owner of Berkshire Hathaway Jacklin Real Estate, the Festival of Trees is a family tradition that will continue, no matter what or how. “It is even more important to continue our commitment to the Kootenai Health Foundation in the second year of the trees being displayed virtually,” Nicole said. “Even though we aren’t on a public stage, we look forward to once again creating a display that is highly visual and applicable to the needs of the community. This is a cherished tradition my mom and I have done together for the last 11 years. The added challenge of making our tree stand out online instead of in person adds another level of excitement and creativity to our decorating process.”