Latest News

Researchers come closer to automating sedation in ICUs

If such systems were used at hospitals, nurses could see workloads reduced

June 16, 2011

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Northeast Georgia Medical Center claim they are one step closer to their goal of automating the management of sedation in hospital intensive care units.They say they developed control to

New school here feeds demand for nursing assistants

Course prepares students to work with residents in long-term care settings

June 16, 2011

Chey Scott

As the baby boomer population and their parents age, the demand increases in the Inland Northwest for workers who are trained to work in a long-term care or hospital setting.A new vocational training school that recently opened in Spokane, CNA a

Nontraditional providers converge at new Valley location

Couple opens new center that focuses on alternative body treatments, counseling

June 16, 2011

Chey Scott

A new wellness clinic that offers a variety of nontraditional body treatments and counseling services opened last month in Spokane Valley. Called Balanced Life Center and located at 12929 E. Sprague, the 3,200-square-foot clinic houses five who

Deaconess buys practice of Spokane neurosurgeon

Hospital plans to use acquisition to develop neurosciences program

June 16, 2011

Treva Lind

Deaconess Medical Center has acquired the assets of Spokane Brain and Spine PS, a practice started by neurosurgeon Dr. John Demakas.Demakas, who has been practicing in Spokane for more than 25 years, now will be a part of the hospital's plan to

Calculating hereditary factors that increase cancer risk

Post Falls assessment, counseling clinic adds to range of tests it offers

June 16, 2011

Mike McLean

People with a family history of certain types of cancer can be tested for a growing list of hereditary cancer syndromes, says the Kootenai Cancer Risk & Counseling Clinic, which is based at the Kootenai Cancer Center, in Post Falls.The clinic a

Physician group changes name to Providence Medical Group

June 16, 2011

The large Spokane-based physician group owned by the Providence ministry has changed its name to Providence Medical Group. Providence says the new name—the group formerly was known as Providence Physician Services—reflects the growth a

NW MedStar gives landing zone kits to rural responders

Strobe lights in the sets intended to help guide in transport helicopters

June 16, 2011

Chey Scott

In an effort to improve safety for its employees and the patients it transports, Northwest MedStar recently provided helicopter landing zone kits to 15 rural fire and ambulance districts in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.Each kit includes a

Sacred Heart to begin testing new heart valve device

Medical center is one of 40 nationwide to participate in CoreValve System trial

June 16, 2011

Treva Lind

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center is one of 40 hospitals nationally enrolling patients in a clinical trial scheduled to start this month to test a new heart-valve replacement device. The Medtronic CoreValve System, marketed by Medtronic is

Diabetes prevention program launches

Spokane-area YMCA among early adopters of national initiative

June 16, 2011

Linn Parish

The YMCA of the Inland Northwest is an early adopter of a nationwide Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance, a partnership that Minnesota-based health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. has launched with YMCA of the USA in an effort to slow growth a

Rockwood opens clinic on West Plains

Physician group here also plans to open North Side, Liberty Lake offices soon

June 16, 2011

Chey Scott

Rockwood Clinic PS, the Spokane-based doctors group owned by Community Health Systems Inc., of Franklin, Tenn., has opened a new primary-care clinic on the West Plains and says it has at least two more planned to open here before the end of the and