Latest News

New Sacred Heart surgery robot getting good workout

Medical center now has three; it retired its oldest such system late last year

June 21, 2012

A new robotic surgery system that Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital installed about six months ago is far more advanced than one it replaces and is drawing heavy use from the growing number of surgeons who are becoming to

Insurer creates online tool for health cost comparison

UnitedHealthcare makes its estimator available here, in 46 other markets

June 21, 2012

UnitedHealthcare, a Minnetonka, Minn.-based health-insurance provider that had more than 42,000 enrollees in Eastern Washington as of late last year, has launched an online tool called myHealthcare Cost Estimator that's intended to help patients to

Pre-diabetics appear to be at increased risk of stroke

However, researchers say further study is needed to find proclivity's extent

June 21, 2012

News Wise

Millions of pre-diabetic Americans may be at increased risk of future stroke, say researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine in a new meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. The researchers say, though, that the of a

Northwest MedStar adds Palouse base

Critical care air transport service opens a fourth site in region for adult patients

June 21, 2012

Treva Lind

Northwest MedStar, the Spokane-based air ambulance transport service, is opening a helicopter base for adult patients in the Pullman-Moscow region, citing the Palouse's growing population.The new base will be MedStar's fourth. In addition to it

VAMC projects approach $50 million

Operating-room expansion next on drawing board for hospital improvements

June 21, 2012

Mike McLean

In less than five years, the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center has launched or planned construction projects with a total value approaching $50 million on its 38-acre campus at 4815 N. Wellesley, in North Spokane, says Cheryl Wood, the chief

Rewarding efficiency

Rockwood Clinic PS joins Premera effort to move away from fee-for-service approach

June 21, 2012

Chey Scott

As part of an effort to curb the rapidly increasing cost of health care, Mountlake Terrace, Wash.-based medical insurance provider Premera Blue Cross has expanded a new payment model it's developed, called global outcomes contracting, to include a

PepsiCo selects Valley space to consolidate three facilities

Tenant improvements valued at $1.5 million

June 21, 2012

Mike McLean

PepsiCo, the New York-based global beverage and food producer, has leased 80,000 square feet of space in the Central Business Park, in Spokane Valley, and plans to consolidate its Eastern Washington and North Idaho distribution operations there of

Contractor wins decision in Idaho arbitration case

$1 million payout ruling awaits court confirmation in Kellogg condo dispute

June 21, 2012

Treva Lind

Native American Services Corp., a Kellogg, Idaho-based construction management and general contractor company, has won a more than $1 million arbitration decision in a dispute over work performed at a 21-unit condominium building called Alpine also

Small Business Watch

June 21, 2012

Company formed to produce videosAki and Connie Peterson have launched a Spokane Valley video and television production company, named The Squirrel Box LLC. The Petersons will specialize in creating short video segments that businesses can put on

Village Cafe replaces Empyrean

Longtime downtown spot sat empty for 18 months; new venue to open in July

June 21, 2012

Chey Scott

A trio of Spokane business partners plans to open a new cafe, bar, and concert venue next month in a downtown building at 171 S. Washington that most recently housed the Empyrean Coffee House.Doug LaPlante, Shawn Duffey, and Mark Agnew own the &