Foundation completes $4M Heart Center campaign
Kootenai Health Foundation executive committee members present $4 million to three members of Kootenai Health’s executive leadership team and cardiovascular medical directors. From left: Jeremy Evans, Kootenai Health COO; Randy Oaks, Kootenai Health Foundation director; Mary Brinkman, Foundation director; Cara Nielsen, Foundation president; Darin Hayes, Foundation director; Chad Murray, Foundation board chair; Scott Anderson, Foundation director, Jon Ness, Kootenai Health CEO; Chris Meyer, Foundation director; Michele Bouit, Kootenai Health CFO; Kevin Kavanaugh, M.D., cardiovascular services …
Photo courtesy Kootenai Health
COEUR d'ALENE — Following a two-year campaign, the Kootenai Health Foundation met its timeline and goal to raise $4 million in support of Kootenai Health’s recent heart center expansion.
“This project really shows how the generosity of our community’s donors is improving access to health care in meaningful ways,” said Cara Nielsen, president of the Kootenai Health Foundation.
The expansion added 37,000 square feet to the Kootenai Health Heart Center, including nine new patient rooms, a second cardiac catheterization lab and a second electrophysiology lab for heart rhythm disorders.
The expansion project was started in June 2021, with work completed in October 2023. In the final three months of 2023, the expansion allowed 298 more procedures to be completed than during the same time frame last year.
“The clinical team here is exceptional and having the additional space to meet the community’s growing needs is something we all wanted to see," Nielsen said.
The additional space and equipment are one component of the new Heart Center. The world-class providers it is helping attract are another. Electrophysiologist Ronald Jones, M.D., joined Kootenai Heart Clinics in 2023.
“Kootenai is committed to patient care, and that means being committed to having the best technology and equipment,” Jones said. “When I was interviewing at hospitals, I was looking for a place where I would be able to practice full-spectrum electrophysiology. I saw Kootenai Health as an opportunity to be a partner in helping build the program alongside my incredible colleagues."
Chad Murray, chairman of the Kootenai Health Foundation board of directors, said Kootenai Health has an exceptional cardiovascular program.
"We are so grateful for everyone who made a gift to the Heart Center expansion campaign," Murray said. "It will make a difference for the care in our community for many years to come.”