Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 4, 2021

The Comfort of Kindness “Always look for the helpers, because if you look for the helpers, you’ll know that there is hope.” —Fred Rogers These past 20 months, the national health care system and its physicians, nurses and other employees have been stretched to their limits and beyond. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all experienced uncertainty, loss, trauma and, sadly, tragedy. In every tragedy, however, you will always find people who are stepping up to help. It might be as simple as a note of encouragement or a call to check on a neighbor. Or it might be a nurse or physician working an extra shift so their co-worker can have a needed evening with their family. With a focus on the positive in mind, consider these stories in this issue of Kootenai Health magazine: • When one of our valued Kootenai Health employees came across a jogger in cardiac arrest, his swift action and CPR helped save a life (page 5). • Even on the COVID-19 unit, patients and staff members have found bright moments to share with each other (pages 8–9). • Sixteen new physicians and providers joined Kootenai Health this past summer (pages 10–15). The Kootenai Clinic Family Medicine Residency program also graduated six new physicians and welcomed six more to begin residency here (page 18). All of this helps create better access to health care for you and your neighbors. • Thanks to our focus on growing neurosciences, many people are getting access to the care they need closer to home (pages 6–7). This year’s Festival of Trees will further help this cause by raising financial support for the purchase of new neurosurgical equipment so patients here receive the best care possible (pages 20–21). As we near the two-year mark for COVID-19, it’s easy to focus on the loss and tragedy. Let’s also take a moment to look at the many helpers in our community and remember we can all help in our own way and choose to embrace hope. 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 Jim Adamson, Executive Vice President and General Counsel Karen Cabell, D.O., Chief Physician Executive Jeremy Evans, Chief Regional Operations Officer Julie Holt, Kootenai Health Foundation President Daniel Klocko, Chief Human Resources Officer Patricia Richesin, President, Kootenai Care Network Joan Simon, Chief Nursing Officer 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 Devin Weeks Cover photo Andrea Nagel Pu blished 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 . 2021 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Health Stan Foster, Emergency Services clinical coordinator Forgotten Beauty 4