Health Care

Beyond Pink pushes for more breast thermograms

Nonprofit expects to fund 500 screenings this year

February 25, 2016

Spokane nonprofit Beyond Pink is advocating for breast thermography as an early-screening method for breast cancer-and having success in getting more women to take the test. While the American Medical Association and others have yet to embrace the tec

Rebranded INHS division expands its footprint

Engage now works with more than 100 hospitals

February 25, 2016

Chris Street

Inland Northwest Health Services' rebranded information-technology division, called Engage, has expanded its national footprint and accelerated its growth. The 15-year-old, information-management concern needed an upgrade, says new Engage chief execut

Patients learn to embrace technology in exam room

Informaticists train staff in interactive technology

February 25, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

With more medical practices recording patient data electronically rather than on paper, health care officials here say they are now focused on training staff in how best to use technology in patient interactions. Dr. Kirk Rowbotham, chief medical office

WSU medical school plans are on track, inaugural dean says

Tomkowiak starts program focused on community

February 25, 2016

Mike McLean

Dr. John Tomkowiak, Washington State University's inaugural dean for the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, is carrying on the legacy of the medical school's namesake by implementing a few innovative ideas of his own. Tomkowiak, whose medical backgr

Group Health sought partnership with Kaiser Permanente

$1.8 billion acquisition still at least a year away

February 25, 2016

Continuous change in the health care industry served as the driving impetus for Group Health Cooperative as it started pursuing a partner a few years ago. That pursuit culminated at the end of last year when Oakland-based health insurer Kaiser Permanente

Gonzaga, UW partner on medical education

Up to 100 med-school students to take classes on GU campus starting next fall

February 24, 2016

Staff Report

Gonzaga University and the University of Washington announced this morning that they have signed an agreement through which Gonzaga will teach first- and second-year medical students on its campus starting next fall. Gonzaga spokeswoman Mary Joan Hahn

CHAS opens urgent care center in Spokane Valle

Clinic is second walk-in facility started by nonprofit provider

February 11, 2016

Mike McLean

The clinic, Spokane Urgent Care-Valley, occupies roughly 6,000 square feet of space in the upper floor of a two-story medical office building that CHAS owns at 1512 N. Vercler, just east of Valley Hospital, says Matt Grebe, CHAS spokesman.

Providence to develop psychiatric hospital

100-bed facility expected to cost about $37 million

February 11, 2016

Providence Health Care, which operates Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital, Providence Holy Family Hospital, and other Inland Northwest facilities, will partner with Kirkland-based Fairfax Behavioral Health to build and operate

Inland Northwest Blood Center plans collection center on Spokane's North Side

Donation site will be open three days a week initially

January 28, 2016

Mike McLean

Inland Northwest Blood Center has leased 1,200 square feet of space at 10403 N. Newport Highway, where it plans to open a new blood collection center in February, says Jennifer Hawkins, a spokeswoman for the Spokane-based nonprofit. The collection center

St. Luke's increases role of Pilates in its rehab regimens

Exercise method said well-suited for women

January 14, 2016

St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute, at 711 S. Cowley, has incorporated more Pilates-related training into rehabilitation regimens for patients in recent years.