Health Care

UW physician assistant program targets rising need

Nearly 400 providers have graduated in past 20 years

October 20, 2016

Physician assistants are playing a more vital role in health care communities across the U.S. In Spokane, many of these physician assistants are graduates of the University of Washington's MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program here. Currently

WSU's sleep research center keeps growing

Budget of operation here has doubled since 2009

October 20, 2016

In the last seven years, Washington State University's Sleep and Performance Research Center has seen its annual budget more than double, a reflection of the growth and amount of work it now conducts at the Spokane campus east of downtown. The sleep ce

Annual health plan enrollment brings familiar stress

Insurance decisions often involve increasing costs

October 20, 2016

Guest Commentary

Besides colder weather and pumpkin carving, October also brings the beginning of the employee benefits open enrollment season. Nearly 40 percent of Washington state employers renew their employee benefit plans on Jan. 1, causing an intense surge in huma

Humana adds hearing aid benefit to Medicare plans

Insurer beefs up Advantage offerings in six counties

October 20, 2016

Staff Report

Humana Inc., the Louisville, Ky.-based health insurance company, says it's teaming up with a hearing aid company to provide Medicare beneficiaries in Spokane County and five other counties in Washington state with better access to hearing exams and affo

Tacoma's Multicare offers online health services here

System using billboards to draw local consumers

October 20, 2016

Kim Crompton

MultiCare Health System, a Tacoma-based provider network, is using billboards here to market health care services that Spokane-area consumers can access online. 'Online healthcare when and where you need it. Visit multicare.ecare.com,â€ says the messa

New digestive center launched in Post Falls

Comprehensive approach is focus at hospital facility

October 20, 2016

Samantha Peone

Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls has opened the Northwest Institute for Digestive Surgery, says Dr. John L. Pennings, founder and director of the institute. Located at 750 N. Syringa, the digestive center occupies about 10,000 square feet and i

Premera Blue Cross adopts new customer-service focus

Big health insurer invests in tech, patient research

October 20, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

With open enrollment periods for health insurance starting next month, consumers once again find themselves navigating the complexities of health care plans. Because of those complexities, Mountlake Terrace, Wash.-based Premera Blue Cross says it has be

â€”Providence Health Care - Steven Navratil

Monitoring students on the move

System tracks, scores activities of fifth graders

October 20, 2016

Mike McLean

Coeur d'Alene-based Kootenai Health is joining Spokane-based Providence Health Care in providing area fifth graders a program that emphasizes the importance of physical activity. In its inaugural year in the program, Kootenai Health is distributing 1,5

WSU medical college earns preliminary accreditation

School is on track to enroll first class next August

October 19, 2016

Staff Report

Washington State University's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine said it received preliminary accreditation earlier today from the Liaison Committee of Medical Education, which is the accrediting agency for MD-granting medical schools. The school des

WSU vice dean is eager to help shape new medical school's culture

DeWitt aims for inclusive, unique student experience

October 6, 2016

With an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Dawn DeWitt has held academic positions and been an attending physician in three countries. But now she thinks she has potentially the best chance in her career to make an impact in the medical field as the n