Health Care

Providence Health, St. Joseph merger gets green light

Systems review conditions imposed by California AG

June 30, 2016

A proposed merger between Providence Health & Services, the Renton, Wash.-based parent of Spokane-based Providence Health Care, and smaller Irvine, Calif.-based St. Joseph Health has been cleared to move ahead, albeit with a host of conditions. The Calif

Bye-bye to medical marijuana dispensaries

Deadline elevates concerns for customer patients

June 30, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Senate Bill 5052, the Washington measure to close all medical cannabis dispensaries not licensed with the state's Liquor and Cannabis Board, will take effect this Friday, July 1. Signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee this past April, the bill, now titled

Rockwood Health owner set to sell 10 hospitals systemwide

Company might divest itself of more centers

June 16, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Community Health Systems Inc., the Tennessee-based hospital operator that owns Rockwood Health System in Spokane, reported during a first-quarter earnings investor call last month that it has transactions underway to divest itself of 10 hospital facilitie

â€”LeAnn Bjerken, Center for Disease Control

Zika virus poses little risk in Northwest, health district says

Pregnant women advised not to go to some regions

June 2, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Despite the beginning of mosquito season and rising national concerns over cases of the Zika virus, officials at the Spokane Regional Health District say there is little to no risk of an outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease occurring here. The Zika vi

Sacred Heart sees increase in birth defects in region

Anencephaly rates rise in three Washington counties

June 2, 2016

A rare birth defect called anencephaly has increased dramatically among infants born in three Eastern Washington counties this decade. Since 2010, the rates of anencephaly in Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties have been significantly higher than both t

Cross-discipline academia at WSU Spokane's nursing school

New nursing dean drawn to interprofessional approach at WSU Spokane

June 2, 2016

Treva Lind

Future nursing education should involve more learning in teams with cross-discipline health care students, working together in patient scenarios and using technology, says the new Spokane-based dean of the Washington State University College of Nursing.

â€”Mann-Grandstaff Veteran Affairs Medical Center

Spokane VA medical center plans $35 million in projects

Next building to be erected for mental health, education

June 2, 2016

Mike McLean

The Spokane Mann-Grandstaff Veteran Affairs Medical Center plans to erect a mental health and education building on its campus in northwest Spokane to kick off a few projects in the works there with a combined value estimated at nearly $35 million. The n

Post Falls Medical Boom

Health care sector provides community hundreds of jobs

June 2, 2016

Mike McLean

Post Falls, once considered a bedroom community to both Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, has become home to a vibrant medical district that's brought hundreds of health care jobs to the River City. The growth in medical and health services and facilities i

Assisted-living facility eyed on the South Hill

Center would be built at Freya, 44th junction

May 19, 2016

Mike McLean

Co-owners and operators of a Coeur d'Alene assisted-living facility are part of a prospective ownership group exploring the potential to develop a similar facility for up to 80 residents on the South Hill. The development site would be on 5 acres of va

Helping the seriously mentally ill

Eastern State adds beds, but struggles to fill staff positions

May 19, 2016

Treva Lind

Though public attention now swirls around its West Side counterpart, Eastern State Hospital has navigated recent capital projects, adding 30 beds for inpatient care of adults with serious or long-term mental illness as it seeks to meet growing needs here.