Health Care

Kaiser's Group Health acquisition approved

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January 13, 2017

Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler announced today that he has approved Kaiser Foundation Health Plan's $1.8 billion acquisition of Group Health Cooperative. Kaiser had filed its application to buy Group Health last March after the

Health care in flux, but new facilities keep rising

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December 15, 2016

Kim Crompton

Health care industry executives here are gazing into a murky crystal ball as they try to plan and budget for changes in the coming year, amid new major players entering the market and the possibility of the federal Affordable Care Act being abolished or d

Good health should include quality dental care

Poor oral conditions said too common in Spokane

December 1, 2016

Guest Commentary

The SmileMobile, a mobile dental clinic, made a recent visit to Spokane. Sponsored by Washington Dental Service Foundation and funded by Delta Dental of Washington, the SmileMobile travels around the state providing low-cost care to those unable to access

Northwest Sports Network partnership expands

Orthopedic specialists join forces with sports clinic

December 1, 2016

Recognizing an opportunity to provide more comprehensive treatment for its customers and a wider swath of the general community, two medical groups formed a partnership here more than a year ago with the intention of helping clients with sports-related in

Cd'A oral surgeon pioneers dental implant system

FDA-approved technology assists planning, placement of dental implants

December 1, 2016

Mike McLean

Dr. Daniel R. Cullum, oral surgeon and founder of Coeur d'Alene-based Implants Northwest, is pioneering the use of a computer-guided system for precision placement of dental implants. The X-Guide navigational guidance system, which the manufacturer des

Providence Health CEO Elaine Couture: Adapting to myriad of market shifts

Lagging revenues, rising costs lead big health care system to make cuts

December 1, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

With more potential changes in the wind for the health care industry in the wake of Donald Trump's election as the nation's president, Providence Health Care's chief executive, Elaine Couture, says leading officials need to be prepared for new respo

Small Business Watch

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November 17, 2016

Staff Report

Dialysis clinic renovates larger site on North Side

$1.3 million project slated to be finished in February

November 17, 2016

Mike McLean

Denver-based DaVita Inc. has started a $1.3 million renovation project to convert a portion of a retail building at 7701 N. Division into a dialysis and kidney care clinic where DaVita plans to move its North Side clinic, says Kristin Videto, a Federal Wa

Students experience robotic surgery technology

Rockwood Health System, others put on STEM event

November 17, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Rockwood Health System earlier this month hosted its second annual science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine event designed to introduce local high school students to robotic surgery. The event, dubbed STEM2, was staged through a partnership

Rockwood Health System owners posts $79M loss

Stock price sunk nearly 50 percent last week

November 3, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Community Health Systems Inc., the Tennessee-based hospital operator that owns Rockwood Health System here, has reported a $79 million third-quarter net loss, compared with net income of $52 million for the same period last year. Investor confidence in t