Hospital Dodges Entanglement, Becomes Non-Profit

CDAPress coverage of Kootenai Health’s transition from community hospital to a 501(c)(3) hasn’t been bad. But if you blinked you missed it. The process culminated at lightning speed. One has to wonder, did the ever burning dumpster fire at NIC, here, here, here, and here, AND here, and, yet again, here, influence the rapid nature of the decision? After the most expensive election for NIC trustee candidates, the community has spoken. And the results appear disastrous as a brand new warning from the college’s accreditation body. 

The option for Community District Hospitals to transition to non-profits became legal July 1, 2022. Rumors of a Kootenai Health sale swirled and were addressed November 16th. Board members met Wednesday, December 6th. An information session was held Thursday, December 8th. December 13th the Board approved the transition with a 6-1 vote. Lightning speed and opportune timing. 

The stated benefits of the transition are clear and seem reasonable.

Kootenai Health’s white paper exploring the transition is here. If we can learn anything from the NIC debacle, let’s leave some decisions to the pros.