Editor’s note: Throughout 2018, The Press will be spotlighting local nonprofits with major impacts on our communities. This is an introduction to one of them.

By JULIE HOLT

Special to The Press

Before moving to Coeur d’Alene a year ago, I had lived my entire life in California. My husband, Ted, and I had started talking about wanting to live somewhere that had a smaller population, but was near a larger city. We also wanted to be near educational institutions, have access to the arts and be near good health care. After all, we weren’t getting any younger and knew the need for great physicians and a great hospital would only become more significant in future years.

When we first came to Coeur d’Alene for me to interview for the position of president of the Kootenai Health Foundation, we were amazed by the beauty of the area and quickly learned that it had everything we wanted in a place to live. We were very impressed with the quality of health care provided by Kootenai Health.

Having worked for a larger health system for 18 years (and one that was merged with an even larger one a few years ago), I appreciated that Kootenai Health was not part of a large health system. Although there are economy of scale benefits when part of a large system, the importance of the needs and the voice of the local community are downplayed. Kootenai Health is owned by the local community. Decisions are made by locally elected board members as well as managers and leaders who live in the hospital’s service area.

It is with great pride that I have served as the president of the Kootenai Health Foundation since Jan. 9, 2017. Our organization’s purpose is to build community support for Kootenai Health. Many people wonder why a hospital like ours would need philanthropic support. If the hospital were going to remain relatively small and with limited services, it might not need that support so much. But, if it is to remain locally owned and managed, it must grow and provide all of the services that this community and its residents need. Otherwise, with the current climate in health care, Kootenai Health would be at risk for merging with a larger system. And that would not be in the best interest of our community. Kootenai Health’s board of trustees wants it to remain as your local hospital. Your support will ensure that your hospital will remain community-owned.

For more information about the Foundation and how you can help, check our website at kh.org/foundation, call us at 208-625-4438 or email us at Foundation@kh.org.

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Julie Holt is president of the Kootenai Health Foundation.