Kootenai Health and North Idaho Family Physicians now will evenly share ownership and combine operations of five urgent care clinics - in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, and Hayden - and expect to be able to use up excess doctor and facility capacity through a new partnership.

Later this year, the five clinics in those cities will begin doing business under the name Kootenai Urgent Care. North Idaho Family Physicians and Kootenai Health announced the partnership agreement Monday.

North Idaho Family Physicians had solely owned and operated two clinics that have been doing business as After Hours Urgent Care, one at 1300 E. Mullan Ave. in Post Falls, and another at 700 Ironwood Drive in Coeur d'Alene.

Kootenai Health had solely owned and operated three North Idaho Immediate Care Centers, in Coeur d'Alene at 1701 Lincoln Way; in Post Falls at 750 Syringa Drive; and in Hayden at 566 W. Prairie Ave. Kootenai Health announced the acquisition of the three in September 2008.

A board of directors with members from the two owners will provide strategic governance and oversight for the five clinics. North Idaho Family Physicians will manage the day-to-day operations of the five clinics.

North Idaho Family Physicians represents 28 independent primary-care doctors with local practices in what's called an independent practice association that enables the doctors to work together.

Dr. Neil Nemec, the association's president, said the partnership gives the two sides the chance to work to keep health care costs down, to withstand uncertainty in the health care market, and gives doctors for both sides an opportunity to serve more patients.

Nemec, speaking about the association, said no job losses will result from the partnership.

Joe Morris, CEO of Kootenai Health, said he believes the five are the only stand-alone urgent care clinics in Kootenai County.

Morris said overhead costs will be shared, making for more efficient operations. Kootenai Health anticipates that existing staff members will continue to have opportunities with the new partnership in place.

"This is a tough economy to operate," Morris said. "This will allow us to better coordinate care."

Morris added, "This partnership will help support the community's need for primary-care providers and lead to increased access to care."

Dr. Dave Chambers, medical director of North Idaho Family Physicians, said, "We are excited to participate in this joint venture as equal partners."