Stories by Arielle Dreher for the Spokesman-Review

News > Health

‘There’s a need for more’: Five years later, MultiCare plans to keep expanding access to primary care

Wed., May 11, 2022

It’s been five years since MultiCare entered the health care market in Spokane County, purchasing Deaconess and Valley Hospitals from Community Health Systems halfway through 2017 and turning the vast majority of the region’s care into a nonprofit landscape.

News

As pandemic ends, state works to ensure coverage to those who might lose Medicaid

Wed., May 11, 2022

As the pandemic erased jobs and suddenly left thousands of people without employer-sponsored health insurance coverage, many enrolled in the government’s Medicaid program.

News > Pacific NW

Preparing for the next pandemic: Sacred Heart special pathogens unit resumes preparedness drills

Mon., May 9, 2022

Healthcare providers from Kootenai and Spokane counties held drills Thursday to prepare for the transport of a patient with a highly infectious disease to the unit at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center designed to treat special pathogens. The practice is intended to prepare the hospital, and the region, for the next potential pandemic.

News

Abortion providers in Washington are preparing to care for more patients should Roe fall

Sun., May 8, 2022

Some Washington health care providers are looking at expanding their abortion services to serve those who might travel to get procedures from other states, in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court potentially overruling Roe vs. Wade.

News > Health

What’s next? How the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to look over the next few months

Sat., May 7, 2022

We’re still not done with omicron.

News > Health

Here’s a look at local COVID-19 numbers for Thursday, May 5

UPDATED: Fri., May 6, 2022

The Spokane Regional Health District reported 62 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths on Thursday.

News > Health

Local COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations modestly increasing

UPDATED: Thu., May 5, 2022

A modest increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations means people at high risk of severe disease from the virus should consider taking more precautions, including wearing masks again, health officials said.

News > Health

Here’s a look at Spokane County COVID-19 numbers for Tuesday, May 3

UPDATED: Wed., May 4, 2022

The Spokane Regional Health District reported 96 new COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths.

News

Developments in blood clot treatment saved one man’s life after long COVID-19. He’s hoping it helps others, too

UPDATED: Tue., May 3, 2022

When Eugene Roberts heard while lying in the emergency room that he had blood clots in the main pulmonary artery to his lungs, he began to prepare to die.

News

Washington likely will see influx of women seeking abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned

UPDATED: Tue., May 3, 2022

Washington is set to become an abortion haven state if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, as a draft opinion leaked to Politico suggests the high court will do later this year.

News

Here’s a look at local COVID-19 numbers for Friday, April 29

UPDATED: Sat., April 30, 2022

The Spokane Regional Health District reported 170 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths.

News > Health

Here’s a look at local COVID-19 numbers for Thursday, April 28

UPDATED: Fri., April 29, 2022

The Spokane Regional Health District reported 72 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths.

News > Health

COVID-19 cases slightly increasing in Spokane County

UPDATED: Thu., April 28, 2022

Spokane County is starting to see a slight uptick in confirmed cases of COVID-19 from the past 10 days.

News > Health

The man behind the vulture: Bloomsday icon returns after pandemic, heart bypass

UPDATED: Tue., April 26, 2022

Bill Robinson has been enjoying his revenge for 35 years.

News > Health

Here’s a look at local COVID-19 numbers for Tuesday, April 26

UPDATED: Tue., April 26, 2022

The Spokane Regional Health District reported 55 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths on Tuesday.

News

Here’s a look at local COVID-19 numbers for Monday, April 25

UPDATED: Wed., April 27, 2022

The Spokane Regional Health District reported 149 new COVID-19 cases on Monday and from over the weekend.

News

VA deputy secretary visits Mann-Grandstaff

Tue., April 26, 2022

Donald Remy, deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, visited Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center on Monday amid the continued troubled rollout of the electronic health records system and proposed modernization plans that could alter how care is delivered to veterans in the Inland Northwest.

News > Health

Here’s a look at local COVID-19 numbers for Friday, April 22

UPDATED: Sat., April 23, 2022

The Spokane Regional Health District reported 122 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths on Friday.

News > Health

Here’s a look at local COVID-19 numbers for Thursday, April 21

UPDATED: Fri., April 22, 2022

The Spokane Regional Health District reported 42 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths on Thursday.

News > Health

‘There’s a huge need’: Doctors look to stem rise of Hepatitis C cases in Spokane County

Thu., April 21, 2022

Last month, a huge RV sat among health care provider booths at the annual Homeless Connect at the Spokane Convention Center.

News > Health

West Side starting to see uptick in BA.2 cases, but COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths stable

UPDATED: Wed., April 20, 2022

Some parts of Washington are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases due to the rise and spread of the BA.2 sub-variant of omicron as well as relaxed precautionary measures.