New CEO wants to make Kootenai Health a health care destination

COEUR d’ALENE — In taking up the reins as CEO of Kootenai Health earlier this year, Jamie Smith noted the independent, not-for-profit mission of the health organization and hopes to carry that banner forward into becoming a regional health care asset. Smith replaced retiring CEO Jon Ness in March. 

“I am coming to this position with a lot of great legacy behind me and a lot of strength based on what Kootenai Health has done in the past,” Smith said Friday while addressing the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club. 

Kootenai Health has focused on expanding services in neighboring areas and attracting patients from outside the area to undergo treatments here in recent years.

“We say yes, and we get the patients to us,” Smith said.   

Smith wants to make Kootenai Health a health care destination for people from Washington to Montana. 

“This was the pattern. Spokane was the center of the universe for a lot of things,” Smith said. “Our aspiration is to be much more regional.” 

Partnerships to provide services in Orofino and St. Maries are expanding the health organization’s footprint.

Now, about 30% of patients are coming from outside Kootenai County.  

With 445 beds, 1,000 providers and 4,200 staff members, Kootenai Health currently has a $944 million operating revenue. 

Kootenai Health suffered losses in 2022 due to the pandemic and increased pressures on the health care industry. In 2023, Kootenai Health was able to turn that loss around and make changes to keep the agency not-for-profit and not for loss, either, Smith said. 

Still, Smith flagged the rising need for more professionals in the industry to pick up the torch for the future of health care. 

“There’s a physician shortage. There’s a nursing shortage, and as you go down the line, there’s a lab tech shortage. There’s a radiology tech shortage, and that’s a major, major issue for us,” Smith said. 

His main objective as CEO is to be the biggest champion for Kootenai Health, stating his belief that Kootenai Health’s “purpose is sacred.”   

“We’re here to improve the health status of the entire community,” Smith said.