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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Kootenai Health completes new hospitality center

Coeur d’Alene-based Kootenai Health’s hospitality center is complete and will begin serving patients in August.

The hospitality center – which celebrated its grand opening Wednesday – emerged from a partnership between Kootenai Health, the Community Cancer Fund and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Inland Northwest to provide low-cost overnight stays for adults as well as free accomodations for pediatric patients and their families.

The hospitality center, located on the northwest corner of the Kootenai Health campus, has 14 adult rooms and six Ronald McDonald House rooms for pediatric patient families. The center will provide a “home-like” setting with a kitchen, laundry facilities and recreation space, according to a Kootenai Health news release.

Kootenai Health has grown during the past five years and serves patients from around the region. One-third of all patients at Kootenai Health are from outside the county, which prompted the need for accessible, affordable lodging, according to the release.

“The demand for a Ronald McDonald House at Kootenai Health stems from the recent expansion of its neonatal intensive care unit as well as expanding pediatric services,” said Mike Forness, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Inland Northwest in a statement. “It will provide a free place where families can stay so they can be close to their baby or child.”

The adult portion of the hospitality center will retain the Walden House name with a prominent display honoring the mission and story of the Walden family. The existing Walden House building will be retired to make way for continued growth and development of medical offices.

Kootenai Health provides medical services for patients in North Idaho and throughout the Inland Northwest. Its main campus in Coeur d’Alene includes a 330-bed community-owned hospital.