An Rx for you - and economy

Sure, they're still competitors. Northwest Specialty Hospital, a for-profit facility that specializes in outpatient surgery, and Kootenai Health, a nonprofit, full-fledged regional hospital, have healthy independent desires to meet as many North Idaho patient needs as humanly possible.

But in the past 13 months, something has changed. The hospitals aren't at odds. In fact, they're finding more and more ways to push together toward a common goal.

This week, you can read more about this exciting new dynamic and what it means to you, as a prospective patient, as well as to the region's economy. It's the cover story of the North Idaho Business Journal, which will be inserted in the Post Falls Press and Coeur d'Alene Press on Tuesday.

If these hospitals are increasingly successful all of North Idaho will gain, but much work remains to be done. That's where you come in.

Years ago, Spokane wasn't just regarded as the retail center of Eastern Washington and North Idaho. It was the retail center.

Kootenai County got busy. Starting with downtown Coeur d'Alene, it became a magnet for outstanding retail to meet every need, including small mom and pop shops, fine restaurants, malls and even included the proliferation of big box stores. Spokane's loss, in jobs, sales taxes and millions of shopping dollars annually, was Kootenai County's gain.

Kootenai County gained because eventually it could, in most cases, provide services equal to or better than those offered across the state line. And today, the same realization is fueling a drive to keep North Idahoans at home for all their medical needs.

The realization, however, must go beyond hospital staff and administration. As long as the perception exists that Spokane practices better medicine or has better facilities, many millions of dollars and scores of jobs will continue to seep across the state line.

We aren't preaching pure provincialism here. Medical facilities throughout North Idaho are up to the outside competition, as their many awards, honors and high ratings attest. Spend a few minutes on the website hospitalcompare.hhs.org and you'll see what we mean.

Those of you who have prescribed to the theory that Spokane medicine is inherently better, we urge you to give North Idaho a chance. We're confident you'll receive great medical care, and we're certain the impact on North Idaho's economy will rival the retail revolution of a couple decades ago.