Latest News

Physician: Inactivity could be treated as medical condition

Behavior modification might be used to counter obesity, health problems

August 30, 2012

A sedentary lifestyle is a common cause of obesity, and excessive body weight in turn is considered a catalyst for diabetes, high blood pressure, joint damage, and other serious health problems.But what if lack of exercise itself were treated as

Costs for trauma care are highest in West, study finds

Higher prices, however, don't translate to fewer deaths, research shows

August 30, 2012

News Wise

A large-scale review of national patient records shows that although survival rates are the same, the cost of treating trauma patients in the western United States is 33 percent higher than the bill for treating similarly injured patients in the in

WSU launches doctor of nursing practice degree here

Program part of national movement driven partly by health care reform

August 30, 2012

Alli Benjamin

The Washington State University College of Nursing is preparing to welcome its first group of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students here in the fall semester.The action is part of a national movement supported by several accrediting bodies a

Inland Imaging looks to cut out unnecessary radiation

New program, education for medical community key to decreasing doses

August 30, 2012

Jessica Valencia

Inland Imaging LLC, of Spokane, plans to start slowly rolling out a methodology to decrease unnecessary radiation use, particularly with computed tomography, or CT, scans. Through radiologists' efforts, the big imaging services provider in some

Holy Family completes patient-room privatization

$8.4 million, multiyear renovation reflects trend toward single-bed units

August 30, 2012

Kim Crompton

Providence Holy Family Hospital says it is wrapping up work that began more than eight years ago on an $8.4 million multiphase renovation of patient floors in the six-floor main building on its North Side campus.The project has included a large

Cancer-patient assistance nonprofit appoints director

Halverson has worked as development director at CPC for 2 1/2 years

August 30, 2012

Kim Crompton

Cancer Patient Care, a longtime nonprofit here that provides nonmedical assistance to cancer patients, says it has appointed Melissa Halverson as its new executive director.Halverson succeeds Adam Nebeker, who left to pursue a master's has been

Low vision rehab specialist calls for more collaboration

Population of sufferers said to be growing, but simple steps can help

August 30, 2012

Linn Parish

Years ago, Holly Galow's first client with low vision was a fiercely patriotic World War II veteran who became dispirited after an election ballot he had mailed in was rejected for having an illegitimate signature. Galow, an occupational who in

Rendering courtesy of Eixenberger Architect

Kootenai Health involved in $9 million in new projects

About $9 million in new construction, remodeling under way or planned in Cd'A hospital district

August 30, 2012

Mike McLean

Kootenai Health, the Coeur d'Alene-based hospital district that operates Kootenai Medical Center, says it's involved in a number of construction projects with a combined estimated value exceeding $9 million and ranging in size from kitchen upgrades

Bridging Care Across the Inland Northwest works to reduce hospital-readmission rates

WSU nursing researcher helps area health groups with transitions care model

August 30, 2012

Treva Lind

A group called Bridging Care Across the Inland Northwest formed by health and elder care organizations has developed a new hospital transitional-care model to reduce readmission rates for elderly patients.Before the end of this year, the group a

Taking fresh look at old structure

August 30, 2012

Editor's Notebook

It would be a predictable post-mortem for us to blast historic preservation advocates for killing Campus Advantage's plans for a job-generating $25 million student housing project on the University District site where the 102-year-old former after