Hospital History . read $ disc
History of Spokane & Kootenai County Hospital 2011
Spokane has 8 hospitals in the county. Four of these hospitals are specialty hospitals, one rural hospital was closed March 14, 2008 and four are acute care hospitals. Spokane County currently has approximately 1900 hospital beds.
These are the four specialty hospitals of Spokane. Eastern State Hospital is a state psychiatric hospital with 317 licensed beds opened in 1891. Shriners Hospital has 30 licensed beds and was established in 1924 as a children’s hospital specializing in orthopedics. St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute has 102 licensed beds in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The Veteran’s Administration Medical Center was established in 1951 with 46 licensed beds for veterans’ health services. One hospital was a rural critical access hospital. It was in Deer Park and had 25 beds. It was established in 1947 and was called the Deer Park Hospital. It closed its doors in March 2008 by a vote of the Providence Health Care board because of declining admissions, falling revenues and a shortage of specialists willing to staff the hospital.
The Spokane 4 acute care hospitals belong to two healthcare systems. Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital and Medical Center are part of Empire Health Services which was sold in 2008 to a for profit organization Community Health Services (CHS). Holy Family Hospital and Sacred Heart Medical Center are a part of Providence Health Care formerly known as Providence Services Eastern Washington (PSEW) which later merged with a larger Providence system and called Providence Health and Services and is now known as Providence Health Care . While both healthcare systems were not for profit organizations, Spokane now has one for profit and one not for profit system. Empire and PSEW started a collaborative joint venture, a not for profit organization called Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS) in 1994. INHS oversees and operates St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute. Over the years with mergers and collaborative efforts it is sometimes difficult to distinguish who the major acute care hospitals are and their connections. As a result of the sale of Empire to a for profit organization, the status of INHS has changed. In 2011, it was determined that the governance structure for INHS would change. Empire Health Foundation formed in 2008 following the sale of Deaconess and Valley hospitals will assume 3 seats on the INHS board with one seat determined by the Spokane County Medical Society. Providence Health Care will have 5 seats on the board. Deaconess and Valley hospitals will no longer have representation on the board.
Deaconess Medical Center was initially named the Maria Beard Home and Hospital in 1897 for the mother of one of the donors. The first superintendent was Clara A. Brown. The hospital was located facing Fourth between Howard and Mill Streets. It had 20 rooms and served as both a hospital and home for the aged. This hospital was a ministry of the Methodist Church. Laywomen undertook their mission to care for the sick and needy of the city. They were named Deaconesses. In 1907, a new hospital was constructed of brick, 3 ½ stories with a 50 bed capacity. The third hospital with a capacity of 150 beds was opened in 1919 on 4th Ave. In 1923, a new facility opened which was greatly expanded. In 1930 an additional 5 stories were added on the west side of the hospital. Another new wing was added in 1955 with total beds at 253. A south wing was added. In 1980, Deaconess Medical Centers’ legal connection to the United Methodist Church ended in order to avoid complications should the hospital ever seek to obtain tax-free financing as a nonprofit institution. In 1981 a patient tower was added. In 1984, Deaconess, St Luke’s and Valley became Empire Health Services. Construction and renovation continued in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Deaconess is currently licensed for 388 beds. Empire Health Services was looking for a buyer for the system for some time. In 2008, the Washington State Dept of Health approved the sale of Empire Health Services to Community Health Services, Inc.(CHS) CHS, a for profit corporation operates 123 hospitals in 29 states with an aggregate of approximately 18,000 licensed beds. In 1994, the joint venture with Sacred Heart Medical Center occured. Inland Northwest Health Services is established. The status of this joint venture and its continuing are also unknown until a sale is determined through the state of Washington.
Valley Hospital and Medical Center was initially named Spokane Valley General Hospital. It opened in 1969, operated by American Medicorp Inc with 95 general acute beds. The first administrator was A. Gene Brim. In 1971 a 28 bed addition was added. Humana, Inc. acquired American Medicorp Inc in 1978. In 1981, St. Luke’s Medical Hospital purchased the hospital. In 1984, the hospital is renamed Valley Hospital and Medical Center. In 1985, the hospital became part of the regional, not for profit multi-hospital system called Empire Health Services along with St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital and Deaconess Medical Center. Currently, Valley Hospital and Medical Center has 123 beds. In 2003 construction was completed on a 53,000 sq. ft addition which increases the hospital size by 40%. This did not change the bed capacity. Valley was part of the purchase of Empire Health Services in 2008 by CHS, so it is part of the for profit organization.
Holy Family Hospital opened in 1964. It was a 138 bed facility in North Spokane. The first administrator was Sr. Mary Agnes Koenig O.P. Built by the Dominican Sisters originally from Speyer, Germany at the request of the north side community, The Dominicans had come to Montana in 1925 and in 1926 took charge of a hospital in Conrad, Montana. In the 1930’s, 1940’s, and the 1950’s the order was asked to operate rural hospitals in northeastern Washington including Mt. Carmel in Colville, St. Josephs in Chewelah, and St. Martin’s in Tonasket. By 1989 the hospital had expanded 4 times. In 1993 the Dominican Sisters transferred ownership of the Dominican Network including Holy Family Hospital, Mt Carmel, St. Joseph, and Holy Family Adult Daycare Providence Health Care/Eastern Washington Service Area. Holy Family Hospital is currently part of Province Health & Services. Holy Family Hospital is licensed for 272 beds.
Sacred Heart Hospital opened in 1887 in downtown Spokane on the south bank of the Spokane River. The hospital could accommodate about 100 patients. The hospital was sponsored by the Sisters of Providence. The first administrator was Sr. Joseph Arrimathea. The Sisters of Providence trace their origins to Montreal, Canada, 1843 with French Canadian traditions. In 1910 a new Sacred Heart opened on 8th Avenue Spokane’s lower south side. It could accommodate up to 1000 patients. In 1971, Sacred Heart Medical Center was completed and occupied. In 1984 a 97-bed addition was completed. In 2003, a Children’s Hospital opened as well as a Women’s Hospital to open 2004. Sacred Heart was part of PSEW. Sacred Heart currently is licensed for 719 beds. On May 14, 2010, the Washington State Department of Health approved a certificate of need to expand the hospital and increase the number of beds. DOH had previously approved a request for 21 level II nursery beds in the Children’s Hospital. In 1992 the Sisters of Providence formed Providence Services to coordinate and guide their sponsored organizations in eastern Washington and western Montana. In 1993 The Dominican Network transferred ownership to Providence Services. In 1998, Providence Services Eastern Washington was formed as part of Providence Services. PSEW was a regional delivery network of organizations offering healthcare. On September 1, 2003, Providence Services Eastern Washington changed its name to Providence Health Care. Currently Sacred Heart is called Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital and is part of Providence Health & Services.
Providence Health Care Eastern Washington Ministries included the following healthcare organizations as of June 2010:
Providence DominiCare, Chewelah, WA
Providence Emilie Court Assisted Living, Spokane, WA
Providence Adult Day Health Spokane, WA
Providence Mt Carmel Hospital, Colville, WA
PAML-Providence Associates Medical Laboratories, Spokane, WA
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, WA
Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, Spokane, WA
Providence St. Joseph Care Center, Spokane, WA
Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chewelah,WA
Providence Holy Family Hospital, Spokane, WA
Providence VNA Home Health, Spokane, WA
Providence Physician Services, Spokane,WA
The Deer Parks Hospital opened in 1947 after a hospital auxiliary started raising funds in 1945. The first administrator was Roy Mitchell. In l957, a new facility was opened and named the Tri County Hospital and Clinic. Twelve hundred families were organized into a coop securing $100 per family to open the new facility. The hospital closed its doors in 1959. It was sold in 1979 and reopened in 1980. Mr. Robert Brown served as administration /owner until 1995. At that time the facility was sold to the Sisters of Providence. It is now part of the Providence Health Care/Eastern Washington Service Area of the Providence Health & Services continuum. This was a 25 bed fully accredited Critical Access Hospital providing both acute care and long term care services.
Providence Services Eastern Washington (PSEW) then became Providence Health Care and is a sponsoring health system of Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS). In 2005, Providence Services and Providence Health System agreed to explore combining the health, long term care, housing and education services of the 2 systems into a single, new integrated ministry. Both organizations are under the sponsorship of the Sisters of Providence, whose ministry covers dozens of communities in Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The organizations combined in 2006 and the system is called Providence Health & Services. The combined organization has 27 hospitals, more than 35 non-acute facilities, physician clinics, health plans, a liberal arts university, 45,000 employees and numerous other health and education services.
St. Luke’s Hospital opened in 1897 by the All Saints Episcopal Church, and then named Spokane Protestant Sanitorium with 15 beds. Three women opened the hospital. It is not known who served as the first administrator. In 1904, St. Luke’s Hospital was built with 50 beds for $27, 000 in NW Spokane. The Shriners Hospital was constructed adjacent to St. Luke’s Hospital in 1939. In 1970 the new St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital was dedicated in Spokane’s lower south side within two blocks of Sacred heart Medical Center and 1.5 miles from Deaconess with 146 beds. In 1981 St. Luke’s purchased Spokane Valley General Hospital. In 1985 St. Luke’s, Valley, and Deaconess merge to become Empire Health Services. In 1992 Empire announced that St. Luke’s would become Deaconess Rehabilitation Institute. This occurred in 1993. In 1994 Deaconess announced that it would jointly provide rehabilitation services with Sacred Heart. In September of 1994 St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute opened its doors at the 1970 location on the lower south side of Spokane.
The coordination of services led to the development of INHS. This was the second major collaboration by Empire and PSEW thru INHS. The first was critical air transport combined in August 1994 from Lifebird at Deaconess and Heartflite at Sacred Heart called Northwest Medstar. 1994 began the collaboration to jointly provide services through INHS. INHS oversees a variety of healthcare companies and services including:
Children’s Miracle Network: Raises funds for and creates awareness of, pediatric services and programs throughout the Inland Northwest region.
Community Health Education and Research: Provides a variety of public and professional education opportunities.
Information Resource Management (IRM): The information technology division of INHS
Northwest Medstar: Critical air transport services
Northwest Medvan: Patient transportation services
Northwest TeleHealth: Connects patients, physicians and communities through the TeleHealth network.
Regional Outreach and Management: Regional management as well as clinical and educational coordination
Spokane MediDirect: Connects regional physicians or other providers with physician specialists and services in Spokane.
St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute: Physical rehabilitation hospital
Eastern State Hospital (ESH) was established in 1888 as the Eastern Washington Hospital for the Insane by legislative act. A one hundred sixty acre plot of land was donated for the hospital at the Medical Lake site which was widely acclaimed for its medicinal properties. In March 1891, the hospital opened. The first superintendent was Dr. John Semple. The hospital reached its peak census in 1954, with 2274 patients. The first 50 years were considered custodial care for the protection of the both the person and the community. With the introduction of the community mental health center legislation during the 1960’s, the hospital population began to decline. In 1989, the legislature passed Senate Bill 5400, which shifted the responsibility for psychiatric treatment and use of mental health funds to the counties. Currently ESH has 274 licensed beds.
Shriners Hospital in Spokane was established in 1924. It was a temporarily rented wing of St. Luke’s Hospital which had 14 beds. The first superintendent was Grace Bratton.
A separate building was built in 1939. Shriners is part of a 22 hospital system offering a complete range of children’s medical and rehabilitation services. This network of no-cost hospitals offers care to children with orthopedic problems, burns and spinal cord injuries up to their 18th birthday, absolutely free of charge. In the early 1990’s, a new building was erected across the street from Deaconess Medical Center. Shriners Hospital is currently licensed for 30 beds.
The Spokane Veteran’s Administration Medical Center is a 36 bed general medical and surgical facility with a 38 bed rehabilitation oriented nursing home unit that also provides hospice and respite care. The VA hospital is a part of the federal Veteran’s hospital system. It has a very large outpatient clinic. It was established in 1951 with 46 beds. The first administrator was Dr. Norbert C. Trauba.
Kootenai County had 1 hospital until 2005. Kootenai County borders Spokane county as a part of northern Idaho. Kootenai Medical Center (KMC) is the acute care hospital for Kootenai County. In 1966, Kootenai Memorial hospital opened replacing Lake City General Hospital and Coeur d’Alene General Hospital. In 1970, 1972, and 1978 building projects doubled the bed capacity to 181. 1984, a replacement facility was opened and the hospital was renamed Kootenai Medical Center. KMC is a 225 bed community owned hospital owned and operated by the Kootenai Hospital District. The Kootenai Hospital District board of trustees is made up of seven county citizens, elected to fulfill six year staggered terms. KMC is the lowest cost hospital of its size in the state of Idaho. In 1987, the Kootenai Cancer Center opened its doors. More than 20 years later, the Cancer Center continues to grow. In 2007 the Kootenai Cancer Center at Bonner General Hospital opened in Sandpoint, Idaho, and in 2008 the Kootenai Cancer Center at the Kootenai Health Park in Post Falls, Idaho opened. In the summer of 2003, KMC opened a new open-heart cardiology service and continues to increase inpatient beds.
In 1999, Kootenai acquired a behavioral health component. Today, Kootenai Behavioral Health Center offers adult inpatient and outpatient care, chemical dependency treatment and both residential and acute programs for youth.
In 2005, North Idaho Advanced Care Hospital (NIACH) opened its doors in Post Falls, Idaho. NIACH is a 40 bed long term acute care hospital (LTAC) . It is owned and operated by Ernest Health, Inc. which specializes in post acute care/ rehabilitation. Patients generally have extended stays because of their involved rehabilitation needs.
Updated September 2011
References
About INHS (Outland Northwest Health Services). (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2003, from http://www.inhs.org/newsite/about/html/about.html
Community Relations for Deaconess and Valley Hospital and Medical Center. (n.d.). Valley Hospital and Medical Center: History of Major Events. Spokane, WA: Author.
Crabtree, M. (2005, May). Interview on Spokane Shriner Hospital History. Spokane, WA.
Deer Park Hospital Administration. (May 10, 2005). Deer Park Hospital History and Administrators List. Deer Park, WA: Author.
Deer Park Tribune (March 18, 2008). Deer Park Hospital Closes.
Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration. Executive Summary Spokane VA Medical Center. Retrieved July 28,2003, from http://www.spokane.med.va.gov/Trip/Trip%20Pack%2004%2023%2003.htm
Dominick, E.(2008). Email communication. Associate Archivist, Sisters of Providence,
Seattle, WA. [email protected]
Gilkey, P. & Crabtree, M. The Deaconess Story 1896-1996. Spokane, Washington: Deaconess Medical Center, 1996.
Heritage of Healing: The Story of St. Luke’s Hospital. (n.d.). St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute. Spokane, WA: Author.
Kootenai Medical Center website, www.kmc.org retrieved June 22, 2010.
Providence Health Care. (2004). Spokane, WA.
Providence Sacred Heart Website, www2.providence.org/Spokane/news/news-releases
Retrieved June 22, 2010.
Sacred Heart Medical Center Newsletter, Monday AM., September 26, 2005.
Sharman, L. (n.d.). A Measure of Leaven: The Dominican Sisters of Spokane. Holy
Family Hospital. Spokane, WA: Author.
Shideler, J.C. (1986). A Century of Caring. Sacred Heart Medical Center. Spokane, WA: Author.
Shriners International Headquarters (n.d.). A Shocking History of the Shrine and Shriners Hospitals. [Brochure]. Tampa, FL: Author.
Spokesman Review, Business in Brief., Wednesday, April 12,2006. pg A6.
Spokesman Review, (November 3, 2007). Board Votes to Close Deer Park Hospital.
Stimson, W. Stimson, E., Stimson, P., Beck, W. & Nelson, L. Eastern State Hospital, Medical Lake, WA. 1891-1991. Medical Lake, WA, (n.d.).
www.niach.ernesthealth.com