Preparing a special place
Mike Forness, Executive Director for Ronald McDonald House of Charities of the Inland Northwest, speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday afternoon at Kootenai Health's new Hospitality Center. The center is the result of collaboration between Kootenai Health, Community Cancer Fund, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Inland Northwest. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Kootenai Health Chief Executive Officer Jon Ness speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday afternoon at Kootenai Health's new Hospitality Center. The center features 12 adult Walden House rooms, 6 pediatric Ronald McDonald House rooms and will be available to all Kootenai Health patients and families who are in need of close affordable overnight lodging. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Community Cancer Fund Executive Director Jerid Keefer speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday afternoon at Kootenai Health's new Hospitality Center. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Construction will begin on the new hospitality center at Kootenai Health, expanding the capacity to serve more family members and patients beyond the The Walden House, built in 1989 by the Kootenai Health Foundation. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
The Walden House, which features eight-bedrooms, provides comfortable lodging for outpatients and their families while receiving treatment at Kootenai Health. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — It's been nearly 30 years since the Walden House was constructed to house families who want to stay close to their loved ones in hospital care.
Next month, construction will begin on the new hospitality center at Kootenai Health, expanding the capacity to serve more family members and patients while building on the dream of A.K. (Ace) and Ellen Walden, longtime supporters of the Kootenai Health Foundation, who had the vision to give the hospital community a home away from home.
"I think both Ace and Ellen would be very proud and excited about the advancement of their legacy and their vision in the hospitality center," said Jeremy Evans, executive vice president of hospital and regional operations for Kootenai Health. "It’s going to be a very beautiful and unique facility."
Kootenai Health hosted a groundbreaking celebration Thursday on the site of the future hospitality center at the northwest corner of the Kootenai Health campus.
The hospitality center is a collaboration of Kootenai Health, the Community Cancer Fund, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Inland Northwest and building services provider Katerra. The 18,000-square-foot building will have 12 Walden House rooms, six pediatric Ronald McDonald house rooms, two rooms to be used as needed, laundry facilities and an adjacent transportation building.
Jerid Keefer, executive director of the Community Cancer Fund, said to the crowd of about 100 that only 5 percent of hospital campuses in the country have the presence of a Ronald McDonald House, which provides housing and support to families with pediatric patients.
"I’m happy to say that Kootenai is now going to be one of them,” he said. “If you think of the Ronald McDonald House locations in the Northwest, there’s four currently: Boise, Spokane, Seattle, Portland. I’m proud to stand here today and say that Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene will be the fifth."
Mike Forness, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Inland Northwest, said this hospitality center will be a place for families facing trying times.
"This hospitality center isn’t a hotel," he said. "This hospitality center is where people stay when their loved ones are going through medical crises. And the support they provide each other is invaluable. We are very excited to be able to frame this home away from home to the patients and their families that need help.”
Kootenai Health communications specialist Andrea Nagel said with more people coming to Kootenai Health for care from outside Kootenai County, this center will make sure all their needs are met.
"I think it’s going to be a great facility," she said. "I know the Walden House has benefited a lot of patients, but I also know that there’s more out there. I think it’s really cool that the hospital and the Ronald McDonald House Charities and Community Cancer Fund are working to create an option for people that isn’t necessarily business-generated. They're looking to help people because it’s their mission to help people."