Kindred spirits. 

That's how Jamie Smith, CEO of Kootenai Health, described the regional medical center and the Hagadone Corporation on Wednesday. 

"We are both anchor institutions," he said. "We both serve a very high-purpose mission for our community." 

Smith addressed a few hundred people at The Resort Plaza Shops for the grand open house of the Hagadone Corp.'s medical clinic that is being operated by Kootenai Health. Eligible employees and covered family members enrolled in the health plan have free, unlimited access to the Hagadone Medical Clinic. 

It provides convenient, on-site primary care designed to meet most health care needs while connecting patients to a network of local providers.

Services include everyday care; chronic condition management; preventive care including annual physicals, screenings, wellness visits; lifestyle support including weight management, tobacco cessation, health coaching; medications and coordinated specialty care. 

"One thing that has amazed me through this process is how much the folks at Hagadone Corporation keep putting their people at the center of this equation," Smith said. 

A three-person staff mans the clinic Monday through Friday led by Colleen McElroy, a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Concordia University and achieved board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2022.  

Clint Schroeder, president and corporate publisher of Hagadone Communications, said the clinic was the result of a simple question: How can the company support and encourage the well-being of its employees in the face of rising health care costs?

He said the clinic is an investment in people and their families and represents the company's dedication to its staff members who live, work and play in North Idaho.

The goal is a healthy, happy team.

"Projects like this don't happen without a great group of people working really hard behind the scenes," he said. 

Brianna Shriner, Hagadone Corporation administrative manager, said the clinic started with a vision of the Hagadones to create affordable, accessible health care. 

She said the partnership with Kootenai Health is "amazing." 

"They have so many resources that they can provide for our team members," Shriner said. 

The clinic originally opened in 2023 with a different health care provider. Smith said it is an innovative model.

He said for a company to provide a medical clinic like the one provided by the Hagadone Corporation is an unusual commitment. 

"I think the Hagadone Corp. should be lauded for that level of commitment to its people," he said.

Hagadone Corp. includes The Press, The Coeur d'Alene Resort, The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course, Hagadone Hospitality, Hagadone Marine Group, Lake Coeur d'Alene Cruises and affiliates of the Hagadone Communications Division. 

Smith said Kootenai Health shares the Hagadone Corp.'s commitment to the health of the community. He said health care becomes expensive when people put off visiting medical professionals. 

"We do not want people to be sick unnecessarily," he said. "We don't want people to delay their care."

    The team at the Hagadone Medical Clinic, from left Alyssa Castleman, Colleen McElroy and Heather Bermel.