Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 2, 2020

14 Expert Care Kootenai Clinic is excited to announce the addition of lung and asthma services to its spectrum of care. For years, North Idaho Lung, Asthma and Critical Care has provided comprehensive pulmonary care to patients throughout the northern panhandle of Idaho. This team of dedicated health care professionals will continue to provide the same excellent care to patients in their clinic, on Kootenai Health’s critical care unit and at the Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital. “One of our primary goals throughout this process has been to preserve those elements that make our pulmonary practice unique to the Inland Northwest,” said Todd Hoopman, M.D. “We have always prided ourselves on having a wonderful staff that cares deeply for every patient. We have worked very hard to help our patients continue to receive excellent care through this acquisition. The name on the door may change, but we will still have all of the same smiling faces on the other side waiting to care for each of our valued patients.” What ispulmonary care? Providers who specialize in pulmonology focus on the health of the respiratory system—the organs and structures in your body that help you breathe. Kootenai Clinic Lung and Asthma provides comprehensive care for patients with a variety of pulmonary problems, including: • Asthma • Bronchiectasis (a thickening of the airways as a result of chronic inflammation or infection) • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) • Lung cancer • Pneumonia • Pulmonary fibrosis • Sarcoidosis (an inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of granulomas, or tiny clumps of inflammatory cells) Howcommon is pulmonarydisease? According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, millions of people in the United States have asthma or COPD, with many more not yet diagnosed. In addition to the inconveniences caused by respiratory problems, lung disease (including cancer) is one of the leading causes of death nationally. “Pulmonary disease is very prevalent in northern Idaho. We care for a range of patients with a broad range of disorders, including COPD, asthma and pulmonary malignancy,” Dr. Hoopman said. “As the entire northern Idaho region has grown, we have sought ways to expand our services to the local communities we serve. We also have a vision to expand to other service areas throughout our region. Joining Kootenai Clinic provides us the resources and support we did not have as a stand-alone practice. Aligning with Kootenai will help us achieve this vision in a shorter time frame and with a greater impact to a larger number of patients.” Leah Bennett, NP Kevin Chang, M.D., FCCP Todd Hoopman, M.D. Ronnie Mantilla, M.D. Kootenai Expands LUNG AND ASTHMA SERVICES