HEALTH CARE: Lack of local service

After calling Idaho Lung, which is contracted with Kootenai Health, the earliest appointment I could arrange in mid-September was four months away (end of January). Having to go out of state, I finally got an appointment two weeks out at Providence in Spokane.

Clearly, the lack of doctors in this profession is not conducive to the health and welfare of Coeur d’Alene citizens. My question is what is Kootenai Health and/or Idaho Lung doing to improve this lack of services? I’m being told that not many doctors are willing to move to Coeur d’Alene to work here. That begs another question … why?

I get the fact that more and more people are moving here. However, why hasn’t Kootenai Health or Idaho Lung been proactive in arranging for this new growth? It’s a shame that Coeur d’Alene residents have to go out of state to get their medical needs met.

JoANN LOKKEN

Coeur d’Alene