Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 2, 2020

4 Karly Vesely The Mountains Are Calling Kootenai Health 2003 Kootenai Health Way Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814 KH.org (208) 625-4000 Kootenai Hospital District Board of Trustees Terence Neff, M.D., Chair Robert Colvin, Vice Chair Katie Brodie, Secretary and Treasurer David Bobbitt, Trustee Cindy Clark, Trustee Thomas deTar, M.D., Trustee James Eisses, Trustee Teri Farr, Trustee Liz Godbehere, Trustee Administration Jon Ness, Chief Executive Officer Jim Adamson, Executive Vice President and General Counsel Karen Cabell, D.O., Chief Physician Executive Jeremy Evans, Executive Vice President of Hospital and Regional Operations 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 Andrea Nagel 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 . 2020 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Health August 2020 “Concern yourself more with accepting responsibility than assigning blame. Let the possibilities inspire you more than the obstacles discourage you.” —Ralph Marston, author of The Daily Motivator Moving Forward As this issue of Kootenai Health magazine is preparing to go to press, Kootenai County and northern Idaho have experienced a significant surge in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19. As we gain more experience with COVID-19, it is becoming clear that our response has moved from a sprint to a marathon. While our hospital and our community’s initial response included pausing all nonessential services to focus on the pandemic, where we go from here will require a multilayered approach. We must continue our work to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and care for those who are ill. At the same time, we must also continue our other important work, unrelated to the pandemic, to meet northern Idaho’s health care needs. In this issue, you can read about the addition of two rural hospitals to Kootenai Health—Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics in Orofino and St. Mary’s Hospital and Clinics in Cottonwood. You will also find profiles on some of our new physicians and practices. Since the beginning of the year, more than 30 new physicians and advanced practice providers have joined Kootenai Clinic to help expand care in our community. Cancer, heart disease, COPD and neurologic disorders have not taken a pause during the pandemic, and neither have we. Kootenai Health is ready and prepared to care for you, just as we have always been. If there is a silver lining in the dark cloud of COVID-19, it is this: As we concurrently work on our response to the pandemic and normal operations, the work being done in each area helps improve the work being done in other areas. New possibilities are discovered, and we are finding innovative ways to provide care across the board. Drive-up testing centers and telemedicine (appointments with your physician using a video call) are just two early examples. Some of the greatest advancements in science, technology and industry have come in response to adversity. Yes, these are frightening times. Yes, many parts of our new daily routines are difficult. However, if we put our energy into trying to put things back the way they were, we will miss the opportunity to do something better. Let’s focus on the possibilities rather than the obstacles. It is the best way forward. Wishing you good health, Jon Ness, CEO