Hospital deal in the works
MultiCare Health System and Northwest Doctors LLC have entered into an agreement that gives MultiCare the option of acquiring the majority ownership of Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls. (BRIAN WALKER/Press)
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — A growing Washington nonprofit is expanding its reach in the Inland Northwest with visions of acquiring majority ownership of Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls.
MultiCare Health System and Northwest Doctors LLC, the majority owner of Northwest Specialty Hospital, have entered into an agreement that provides MultiCare the option of obtaining the majority ownership position in Northwest before Sept. 30, 2020.
"This option agreement is the first of many steps in our path to an agreement," said an announcement issued by both sides on Monday in response to inquiries by The Press. "We have no further details at this time."
Rick Rasmussen, Northwest Specialty's CEO, was unavailable for comment on Monday.
Kevin Maloney, media coordinator for MultiCare's Inland Northwest Region, declined to comment further.
"This is a developing relationship that will take some time," he wrote in an email to The Press. "At this point, we don’t have any additional information to share …"
The announcement further states: "MultiCare’s vision is to be the Pacific Northwest’s highest value system of health and is always looking for opportunities to partner with other organizations as we work to expand access to care and reduce the costs for patients.
"MultiCare is committed to the communities it serves and to delivering high quality health care services in the regions in which it operates."
MultiCare, which has roots dating back to the founding of Tacoma's first hospital in 1882, owns eight hospitals, including Deaconess in Spokane and Valley Hospital in Spokane Valley.
It also offers several primary care, urgent care and specialty services, including Spokane-based Rockwood Clinic, the largest multi-specialty clinic in the Inland Northwest that was acquired a year ago.
MultiCare has more than 15,000 employees.
Northwest Specialty has had its own expansion ride since opening in Post Falls in 2003, when it was funded by 12 investor physicians and Chicago-based National Surgical Hospitals Inc. It grew out of North Idaho Day Surgery and Laser Center that opened in Coeur d'Alene in 1985.
Surgeries at the hospital include, but are not limited to: ear, nose and throat; bariatrics; podiatry; orthopedics; pain management; neurosurgery; plastic and reconstructive surgery; general; and gynecology.
Medical office buildings, Northwest Pain Management and immediate care have been among the expansion efforts.
Northwest earned a five-star rating for patient satisfaction from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and a golden seal of approval from the Joint Commission health care certification agency. Northwest's infection rate is one of every 200 patients, 13 times better than the national average, according to the hospital's website.