Kootenai Health joins Mayo Clinic Care Network as new member

Kootenai Health and Mayo Clinic leaders today announced Kootenai Health as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a national network of like-minded organizations that share a commitment to better serving patients and their families.

The network, which began in 2011, now includes 30 member organizations that are interested in working with Mayo Clinic to improve health care delivery by sharing knowledge and promoting collaboration between physicians.

As part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, Kootenai Health physicians now have access to Mayo Clinic's knowledge and expertise when these additional resources will be helpful, allowing many patients to avoid unnecessary travel for answers to complex medical questions.

"We are working with Mayo Clinic so our patients can benefit from leading medical expertise and physician collaboration without having to leave home," says Jon Ness, Kootenai Health CEO. "Our two organizations share the same commitment that health care should be provided close to home whenever possible."

Mayo Clinic Care Network members have a close working relationship with Mayo Clinic and access to tools and services that promote collaboration and serve to complement provider expertise, including:

• eConsults to allow network physicians to connect electronically with Mayo Clinic specialists when they want additional input regarding a patient's care.
• AskMayoExpert to provide point-of-care information compiled by Mayo physicians on disease management, care guidelines, treatment recommendations and reference materials for a wide variety of medical conditions.
• eTumor Board Conferences to allow physicians to present and discuss management of complex cancer cases with a Mayo Clinic multidisciplinary panel and other members of the network.

"Mayo Clinic and Kootenai Health physicians have a long-standing commitment to patient-centered care," says David Hayes, M.D., medical director, Mayo Clinic Care Network. "We are excited to formalize this relationship, and continue working together to help patients get the right care, at the right place, at the right time."

For nearly 60 years, Kootenai Health has provided comprehensive health care to individuals in northern Idaho and eastern Washington. In addition to general medicine and emergency care, Kootenai Health offers clinical services in cardiology, oncology, behavioral health, women's and children's health, orthopedic surgery and many other services. The community-owned hospital currently has 254-beds and continues to grow.

Kootenai Health is the first health care organization in the Pacific Northwest to be selected as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, and, like all network members, will remain a locally owned and independent health care provider.